The Person of the Year Award is bestowed upon individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to international business through personal endeavor and achievement, who recognize the importance of international relationships, and who accept the challenges and responsibilities of being global players. Past recipients are:  

 Jean-François Théodore & John Thain, Co-Chairmen, NYSE Euronext, 2007
 Frederick W. Smith, President, Chairman & CEO, FedEx, 2006
 Anne Lauvergeon, Chairman of the Executive Board, Areva, 2005
 Jean-Cyril Spinetta, Chairman & CEO Air France, Chairman Air France-KLM, 2004
 Patrick Ricard, Chairman & CEO, Pernod Ricard, 2003
 Franck Riboud, Chairman & CEO, Groupe Danone, 2002
 Gerard Mestrallet, Chairman & CEO, Suez, 2001
 Jean-Marie Messier, Chairman & CEO, Vivendi, 2000
 Paul Dubrule and Gerard Pelisson, Accor (co-recipients), 1999
 Bertrand Collomb, Chairman & CEO, Lafarge, 1998
 Alex Trotman, Chairman & CEO, Ford Motor Company, 1997
 Marc Viénot, Chairman & CEO, Société Générale, 1996
 Jean-René Fourtou, Chairman & CEO, Rhône-Poulenc, 1995
 Claude Bébéar, Chairman & CEO, AXA Group and Richard Jenrette, Chairman & CEO, Equitable (co-recipients), 1994
 Didier Pineau-Valencienne, Chairman & CEO, Groupe Schneider, 1993
 Robert Fitzpatrick, President, Euro Disney, 1992
 Bernard Arnault, Head of LVMH, 1991
 Armand Hammer, Chairman & CEO, Occidental Petroleum, 1990
 Lindsay Owen-Jones, Chairman, L’Oréal, 1989
 Rand V. Araskog, Chief Executive Officer, ITT Corporation, 1988
 John H. Gutfreund, Chairman & CEO, Solomon, Inc., 1987
 Jacques Cousteau, Founder, Cousteau Society, 1986
 Malcolm Forbes, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, Forbes Magazine, 1985
 Jacques Maisonrouge, International Business Machines, 1984