Graeme K. Deans is a vice president of A.T. Kearney, the global management consulting firm. He currently leads A.T. Kearney's North American Strategy management consulting practice. Mr. Deans is based in Toronto and also serves as Chairman of A.T. Kearney Canada.

He was formerly the Managing Director of A.T. Kearney's operations across Southeast Asia and India and prior to that the head of A.T. Kearney's Asian Automotive consulting practice. Mr. Deans' consulting specialties include business and marketing strategy, organizational design and effectiveness, and mergers and acquisitions. His consulting work has focused primarily on the automotive, consumer products and financial services industries.

Mr. Deans is the co-author of the award-winning business book "Winning The Merger Endgame" (McGraw-Hill, 2002) and speaks frequently on business strategy issues. His latest book, "STRETCH! How Great Companies Grow In Good Times And Bad" (John Wiley), has just been released.

Business paradigms are being turned on their head and leaders are realizing that the formula for success is 90% execution and 10% strategy, not vice-versa. For many leaders, developing a strategy or making an acquisition is the easy part, but realizing tangible business results is the real challenge. Why is turning strategy into reality so hard? Because most business leaders underestimate how difficult it is to get their organization and their people to implement and execute successfully. In this presentation, Graeme Deans draws from his experience advising senior executives at companies all over the world including North America, Asia and Europe to describe implementation challenges facing companies today and offers down-to-earth, pragmatic advice about how to break through them, so your organization can achieve the results you are striving for.

With share prices at precariously high valuations and M&A booming again, expectations for profitable growth have never been higher. And yet most companies don't have a growth plan in place that is designed to beat their competition. In this keynote presentation, Graeme Deans draws from his experience advising senior executives at companies all over the world including North America, Asia and Europe to describe the growth challenge facing companies today. Using a four-step framework, he offers practical solutions on growth strategy and M&A that are tailored to your industry. Through an abundance of real-life company case studies, and backed up by a database of the performance over the past 16 years of 29,000 companies globally, this speech concludes that it's up to you to stretch to fit the competitive and economic pressures of today's business climate -- and Graeme can show you how to do it!

China joined the World Trade Organization two years ago - they are now among the largest of the world's economies and are already one of the most significant trading partners of the United States. China was chosen to host the 2008 Olympics and welcome the world. Ten years ago, hundreds of millions of middle class Chinese wanted goods and services offered in the global marketplace and today, they have the means to fulfill that desire. China's GDP in 2003 was estimated at $1,300,000,000,000 and has grown 8% per year over the past 3 years, They are ranked #2 in the world in terms of purchasing power and by 2007 China is expected to have 500 million cell phone users...

We've heard the rumours, the whispers, the wild speculation: that China, an ancient civilization of unheard of economic potential will soon wake from its slumber and change the world's economy forever. But when? And how? And what does it mean to you? Countless companies are already strategizing their future plans with China in mind as a driver for growth in the decades to come. Are you? Top Chinese companies are now profiting domestically and around the world. How many can you count among your clients?

Drawing upon his unique firsthand experience and expertise, Graeme Deans will give you the opportunity to participate in the rapid rise of China as a global economic power by identifying where your industry's opportunities lie, and where your hazards are hidden. He will focus his speech tightly upon your interests, your concerns and your success.

You've ridden the Bull and been mauled by the Bear. Now is the time to dance with the Dragon.