Emmanuel Tchividjian: "The Swiss Banks & The Shoah How A PR Agency Made A Difference" 3/31

He spent nearly 20 years at global communications firm Ruder Finn, Inc. Wharton Club members and guests are invited to hear his fascinating story!

• As Hitler and the Nazis came to power in Germany and Austria in 1933, some wealthy German and Polish Jews transferred their money in Swiss Banks to avoid confiscation. They informed their wives and children that their future would be guaranteed. Many were later deported and murdered in concentration camps. 
• For years, survivors and heirs tried to collect their funds but to no avail. The Swiss banks, when presented with a request reacted in a very bureaucratic manner, applying internal bank rules and regulations to the letter, such as asking for death certificates of heirs. 
• Then one day the matter became public and caused a major scandal. The scandal of Dormant Accounts became a major international public relations disaster for both the Swiss banks and the government of Switzerland.
• Emmanuel had been involved in the past in Jewish-Christian relations to bring Christian communities to acknowledge the tragic past of the Church in relations to Judaism and Jews and to bring about a change of heart (repentance -Teshuva). That change of heart, if real, needed and needs to be followed by concrete actions. 
• When he first heard of the issue, he knew he needed to get involved. It was an opportunity to “do something” and not only “say something.” 
• Emmanuel was privileged, because of his connections with both Swiss banks and the Jewish communities in Israel, France, Switzerland and the US to engage personally in helping survivors and heirs recover what was duly theirs. It was an attempt to bring justice some 50 years later. 
• The presentation is not just the story of his involvement, but a dramatic account of how the issue was finally resolved with the help of the PR firm Emmanuel had joined, with over $1.2 billion recovered. 

Meet the Speaker: Emmanuel Tchividjian is an internationally recognized expert in ethics, compliance, and strategic communications, with over four decades of experience across corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors.

• He spent nearly 20 years at global communications firm Ruder Finn, Inc. as Senior Vice President and Ethics Officer, where he advised leadership and clients on ethics, crisis management, and compliance, served as the firm’s Ombudsman, and led ethics training initiatives.

• Earlier in his career, Mr. Tchividjian held senior leadership roles with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the New England–Israel Chamber of Commerce, and Keshet International, and served as an executive in international real estate and financial management based in Switzerland.

• He is accredited by the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics and is a recipient of the PRSA-New York Philip Dorf Award for Mentoring and the PRSA-New York President’s Award.

• A frequent speaker and published author, he has presented at leading universities, professional associations, and corporate forums, and has appeared on CNN, NY1, and WGBH.

• He has served on multiple ethics and governance boards and is widely published on ethical leadership and responsible communication.

• Wharton Club of DC Members - you can attend in-person with a free lunch or by Zoom

• President's Club/Lifetime: You and 2 guests may attend
• Other Members: Yourself only