It's quite staggering how highly western ex heads of government are seen in some circles. Heads of some quite large companies will pay a fortune just to have them turn up, utter some stupid speech and then have the all important photograph with the CEO before trousering £50k + expenses.
Italian companies are prone to this, it's all about the CEO's perceived status and since he can book it all to the company.
Now if you were Clinton, Major, Blair or Broon would you turn it down?
Tony Blair at Finmeccanica's Managers Convention