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Quest: Why I did a Davos selfie challenge

By Richard Quest, CNN
January 25, 2014 -- Updated 1658 GMT (0058 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Selfie is the word du jour and became a cause celebre during Nelson Mandela's funeral
  • Quest decided to embark on a selfie challenge in Davos, at the World Economic Forum
  • Here is the result -- and a guest appearance from executive producer Penny Manis

Editor's note: Richard Quest is CNN's international business correspondent and presenter of Quest Means Business; the definitive word on how we earn and spend our money. Check out his selfie challenge below and follow him on Twitter. CNN executive producer Penny Manis also embarked on a selfie challenge, of sorts. See hers with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and follow her on Twitter.

Davos (CNN) -- Selfie is the word du jour, and it became cause celebre at Nelson Mandela's funeral when the Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt took a selfie with U.S. President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

But there is no easy way to ask serious-minded men and women who hold high office, and who have matters of state on their mind, "do you mind if I take a quick selfie?"

To be sure, they know what it is and may even have engaged in selfie-ing themselves. But in the grand world of Davos, it is perhaps unseemly to be seen taking selfies.

Which is why I decided the selfie challenge was such a good idea. Who would and who would not agree to the selfie?

Out of consideration for their feelings I am not revealing who refused. Nor will I show you the selfie of the central banker that is best left in my iPhone.

No, what is here are the good and the great that said yes. And to be honest, most seem to enjoy it anyway.

The Royalty

(Ok, not exactly royalty in the traditional sense.)

The international leaders

With Christine Lagarde and Ban Ki Moon

With Ban Ki-Moon, the U.N. Secretary-General, and Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund.

The politicians

With politicians

Top row from left: Tony Blair, former UK Prime Minister, George Osborne, the UK Chancellor and Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London.

Bottom row from left: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister, Alex Stubb, Finnish Minister for European Affairs, and Pierre Moscovici, Finance Minister of France.

The business executives

The CEOs

From left: Bob Dudley, chief executive of BP, Christophe de Margerie, chief executive of Total S.A., Christopher J. Nassetta, who heads Hilton Worldwide, and Jacob Frenkel, chair of JPMorgan Chase International.

The colleagues

with World Business Today's anchor Nina dos Santos

With World Business Today anchor Nina dos Santos.

And here's executive producer Penny Manis with her selfie, featuring U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry -- or is it a photobomb?

Penny Manis with John Kerry

See Richard Quest's full selfie collection below:

In Davos, no world leader or business tycoon is safe from Richard Quest's "Davos Selfie Challenge" Take a look: Bono In Davos, no world leader or business tycoon is safe from Richard Quest's "Davos Selfie Challenge" Take a look: Bono
Bono
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