Jeremy Levin has a big task on his hands. The former Londoner has moved to Israel to become boss of the country’s largest company.

Israel needs a new way of banking if it is to progress beyond its position as a start-up nation. Such a sentiment is sounded by Michael Freedman, founder and executive director of Asquith Israel Merchant Bank, a new addition to the Israeli banking scene.

The participants:

MS: Sir Martin Sorrell, founder and chief executive of WPP
LF: Lord Fink, chief executive of ISAM fund manager and Conservative Party treasurer
SG: Stephen Grabiner, former head of global media at Apax Partners;
LD: Lloyd Dorfman, founder and chief executive of Travelex
NL: Nick Leslau, chairman of Prestbury Group and director of Max Plc

The world economy may remain in the doldrums, but not every economy is stagnant. With growth of nearly five per cent last year, Israel is one of the globe's most economically vibrant nations. So why is Israel doing so well when nearly everywhere else is struggling?

Balfour Beatty's Peter Zinkin is not a fan of the word "construction" - at least not when referring to the company he has worked in for more than three decades.

The planning and development director prefers to use the term "global infrastructure business." He explains: "We are not just a construction company.

As the threat of cyber attacks grow, IT security booms. The sector has seen exponential growth over recent years and according to International Data Corporation (IDC), global spending on IT security could reach $38 billion by 2014.

Stephen Marks last appeared in the JC in 1961. He was a schoolboy tennis champion who could barely afford to join his local tennis club.

Not many businessmen can claim to have attended a conference with Margaret Thatcher and spoken alongside US Republican Condoleezza Rice and Lord Stern, the influential climate-change expert. Metal expert Robert Voss can.

Mr Voss is the founder and managing director of metal traders, Voss International.

'We want to be world class," says Errol Damelin, talking about his high-profile start-up, Wonga. "And I don't mean bigger than Barclays. I mean like Facebook, Amazon and Apple."

Fantasy? Well, the smart-talking South African entrepreneur is certainly making a strong case.

Who would have thought it? Lego could be the key to improving global economies.

According to Israeli entrepreneur Amir Asor, the popular children's building brick is integral to training the next generation of engineers, who will in turn play an increasingly important role in solving some of the world's financial difficulties. So convinced is Mr Asor that he has set up a business based on it.

It is every venture capitalist's dream: invest in a young company and watch it grow on an unprecedented scale in a short space of time. And that is exactly what leading VC firm Greylock has managed to do - again and again.

It counts US-based Facebook, LinkedIn and Groupon among its successful investments.

In 2004 entrepreneur Rob Keve had a pivotal moment. The former venture capitalist realised there were changes afoot for customer service and came up with a concept to enable businesses to receive consumer feedback in real-time.

Image is everything. Just ask Doren Gabriel, the founder of photography firm, image 1st.

His business comprises DG Corporate, which specialises in taking company headshots. It has experienced an 80 per cent increase in revenues over the past year as companies seek ways to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market.

Bread is big business. Despite rising food inflation and curbs on consumer spending, sales of bread are on the rise, particularly among the artisan varieties.

Both Tesco and Waitrose have reported significant increases in sales of "speciality bread" and have expanded their ranges to cope with customer demand.

Ignore social media at your peril. Such a warning is sounded by Michael Raibin of niche property firm, Hatton Real Estate.

Earlier this year the young company, nominated for the Estates Gazette's Business Launch of the Year, became what is believed to be the first UK agency to execute a commercial property deal via Facebook.

Tzachi Wiesenfeld probably has access to most of the world's buildings. If not, he could no doubt find a way of getting in.

The Israeli engineer is the vice president of Assa Abloy, the world's leading door solutions and lock company. He heads the Europe, Middle East and Africa multi-billion dollar arm - the group's largest division.

An increasing number of Jewish investors are putting their faith - and cash - into Germany.

According to David Kaye, commercial director at leading investment-banking group Shore Capital plc, which reported a pre-tax profit of £4.3 million for the first half of the year, Israelis in particular are playing a more prominent role when it comes to investing in Germany.