LOS ANGELES, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--Apr 17, 2008 -- Renowned international financial executive Joseph J. Plumeri, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Willis Group, will be a keynote speaker at the 2008 ACG Los Angeles Business Conference, to be held September 16 and 17 in Beverly Hills.

Under Mr. Plumeri's leadership, London-based Willis, one of the world's leading insurance underwriters, has nearly doubled in size since he joined the company in 2001, to revenues over $2.6 billion per year. The 180-year-old firm's 16,000 associates operate in most of the world's developed and developing nations, including China, Russia, India and most of the countries of Latin America.

Prior to joining Willis, Mr. Plumeri oversaw the North American retail banking operations of Citibank. He also served as Chairman and CEO of Citigroup's Primerica Financial Services group, and Vice Chairman of Travelers Group. Earlier, as President of Shearson, he oversaw the merger of Smith Barney and Shearson into Citigroup's Salomon Smith Barney unit.

Other keynote speakers at the 2008 ACGLA Business Conference will include political strategist and former senior White House advisor Karl Rove; ABC Chief Washington Correspondent George Stephanopoulos; and economist and former Secretary of Labor Richard Reich.

The Conference will also host the nation's largest "Capital Connection," featuring more than 170 private equity and hedge funds, venture capital investors and other financing sources, which cumulatively have billions of dollars they are eager to invest.

Now in its 11th year, the ACG Los Angeles Business Conference is the premier West Coast event focusing on corporate finance and M&A (mergers and acquisition) activity for middle-market companies.

In addition to globally renowned speakers from the worlds of business, technology and public affairs, the two-day conference features an array of technical and breakout sessions that explore strategies and issues related to finance and corporate growth. More than 1,500 corporate executives and professionals from across the country and abroad are expected to attend.

Conference registration is $495 for ACG members and $645 for others. Information and registration is available online at www.ACGLA.org or by phone at 310-426-9710.

The conference is presented by ACG Los Angeles, in association with ACG Chapters in Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, the 101 Corridor and the Silicon Valley, and the Los Angeles Business Journal.

The Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) is the premier association for and about professionals involved in middle-market corporate growth, corporate development, and mergers and acquisitions. ACG's more than 11,000 members in 51 chapters are leaders in corporations, private equity, finance, and professional service firms who are focused on building value in their organizations.

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