ESCP Celebrates 8th ESCP Alumni & Friends Summer Soirée in London

Organised on behalf of Lord David Gold (London Campus Chairman of the Trustee Board and member of the House of Lords), Professor Kamran Ramzdoost (Dean of ESCP Business School London), Jean-Stéphane Arcis (Class of '85 and President of the ESCP Foundation), and Bertrand Dumazy (Class of '94, Director of the ESCP Alumni Association), this was a truly memorable evening for all.

The event brought together alumni from five decades—from the Class of 1983 to the Class of 2023—currently working from companies like British Airways, Chanel, Citi, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, Unilever, Form Motor Company, JP Morgan, and many more.

The Soirée commenced at 6pm, with guests welcomed by the warm summer sun and breathtaking views over the River Thames and the City of London. The setting provided a perfect backdrop for reconnecting with old friends and making new connections. The relaxed atmosphere, enhanced by delicious canapés and refreshing drinks, set the stage for an evening of celebration and reflection on the past year's achievements.

Following the welcome reception, guests heard from a select group of speakers for the night:
 

• Gwenolé Le Blevennec, Director - Head of French Nexus at SG Kleinwort Hambros Bank, shared a warm welcome speech as the host for the event.
   
• Professor Kamran Ramzdoost highlighted recent accomplishments of the London Campus, including receiving the full UK Degree Awarding Powers and consistent top five rankings performance across all programmes, with the most recent update on the Master in Finance ranking 1st worldwide for the second year in a row. The speech also touched on the steady progress of the 10-year Estate Development Plan in London, the developments on the London branch of the Blue Factory, and the Dean's vision for the future of the Campus in the coming months.
   
• Lord David Gold reflected on the international outlook and remarkable progress of ESCP and its impact on the global business community.
   
• Florence Dupuy-Pardo, Director of International Development at the ESCP Foundation, spoke about the Foundation's ongoing efforts to support students and foster innovation within the ESCP community through four strategic pillars: Inclusion and Equal Opportunity, Student Experience, Academic Excellence, and Entrepreneurship. She also announced the new "Adopt a Chair" campaign dedicated to enhancing the student experience at the London Campus. This offers alumni a chance to pro-actively support the ongoing development of the London campus, revamping the campus' 'Chapel' classroom to increase capacity and tech.

Following speeches, attendees continued strengthening bonds over a freshly grilled BBQ meal while enjoying a spectacular sunset. The Soirée concluded at 9:45 pm with the beautiful weather and stunning venue contributing to the event's success and creating a memorable experience for all who attended.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to SG Kleinwort Hambros Bank for their generous hospitality and support in making this evening possible.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back soon for another unforgettable Alumni & Friends Christmas celebration in December 2024, or at the many Alumni dinners, monthly after-work networking drinks, and themed corporate events, conferences and masterclasses throughout the year!