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Chairman and President of ING DIRECT to speak at Thunderbird

Arkadi Kuhlmann, chairman and president of ING DIRECT USA, will speak 10:15 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18 at Thunderbird School of Global Management. Kuhlmann will present his topic, “Game Changer – Creative Innovation in Times of Crisis,” to students, faculty and staff. The event will be open to the media and general public.

ING DIRECT USA is part of ING Group of the Netherlands, one of the world’s largest financial services institutions. Kuhlmann joined ING as president in June 1996, when he started the first ING DIRECT in Canada. Currently, he serves as chairman of the board of ING DIRECT Canada and is a member of the Global Management Team for ING DIRECT N.V. and the ING DIRECT N.V. Supervisory Board. He is on the ING Foundation Board, ING Americas Advisory Board, ING Direct Council and the ING Group Leadership Council.

Following the launch of ING Direct in Canada, he embarked on the launch of ING DIRECT USA in September 2000. In just eight years, ING DIRECT USA gained the trust and savings of more than 7.7 million customers and $90.1 billion in assets. It now has become the largest savings bank in the country.

Kuhlmann’s book, “The Orange Code: How ING Direct Succeeded by Being a Rebel with a Cause,” was published in 2008. A reception and book sale and signing will follow the presentation.

Members of the media are asked to contact Brian Camen at brian.camen@thunderbird.edu or 602-978-7922 if you are planning to cover the event. Kuhlmann also is available for media requests.