Conference with globally known speakers opens Monday in Naples

Madeleine Albright

Ted Koppel

Karl Rove

Condoleezza Rice

Sir Richard Branson

NORTH NAPLES — A global financial conference is bringing big names to Naples this week.

Among the speakers are political strategist Karl Rove and former U.S. secretaries of state Condoleezza Rice and Madeleine Albright.

The fifth annual Global Financial Leadership Conference is Monday through Wednesday at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, beachfront resort.

"It's a great event at a great venue," said Laurie Bischel, a spokeswoman for CME Group in Chicago, which puts on the annual event.

Decision-makers from leading financial institutions will hear perspectives on global economic and financial trends. Topics will include the recent election's effect on domestic and international markets and the new global energy landscape.

Other notable speakers include Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group; James Carville, political strategist; television news personality Ted Koppel; John Lipsky, first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund; Edgar Perez, author of "The Speed Traders: An Insider's Look at the New High-Frequency Trading Phenomenon That is Transforming the Investing World"; Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia; and Jerry Webman, chief economist of the Oppenheimer Fund.

The conference is by invitation only.

Nearly 300 are expected to attend, Bischel said.

CME Group is also the title sponsor for a season-ending LPGA golf tournament that will play in North Naples on Thursday through Sunday, following the big-name financial conference. The golf tournament, known as CME Group Titleholders, will be at TwinEagles.

CME Group owns and operates securities and commodities exchanges in Chicago and New York City, as well as online trading platforms. It also owns the Dow Jones stock and financial indexes.