Mr. Pierre Languetin Awarded the D.K. Ludwig Medal
Mr. Pierre Languetin, Member of the Board of Directors, was awarded the D.K. Ludwig Award, the highest recognition that the Institute bestows, at the December 10th Board of Directors meeting in Zurich, Switzerland. The award was presented to Mr. Languetin by LICR President, Mr. Ed McDermott.
Fellow Board Member, Mr. John Gordan III, and former Board Member, Mr. George Cuendet, reflected on Mr. Languetin’s distinguished career and his 20 years of dedicated service to the Institute. Mr. Languetin resigned from the Board as of the year-end. The D.K. Ludwig Award is “…reserved for those select few who have made outstanding contributions to the life and vitality of the institute and helped shape its character and culture,” a statement that is truly befitting of Mr. Languetin.
Mr. Pierre Languetin (left) receives the D.K. Ludwig Medal from LICR President, Mr. Edward A. McDermott, Jr
Mr. Languetin, a native of Switzerland, graduated from the University of Lausanne with a degree in economics, a field in which he rapidly developed a reputation of excellence. Throughout his career, his main interests have been in European economic cooperation and integration, international trade and energy problems.
He began his career in international economic relations and worked as a foreign trade negotiator representing Switzerland at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Free Trade Organization (EFTA). He served on a variety of OECD committees from 1963-1976, represented Switzerland at several meetings of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and served on the International Energy Agency’s Board of Directors from 1974-1976.
In 1976, Mr. Languetin transferred from the Economics Ministry to the Swiss National Bank and ascended to the position of President by 1981. He also served as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Bank of International Settlements in Basel. To acknowledge his many accomplishments, the University of Lausanne presented him with an honorary doctorate in 1979.