First Minister
Alex Salmond has hailed his recent trip to New York as ‘his most
successful Scotland Week programme to date’ as he confirmed a total of
1,073 new and secured Scottish jobs.
The First Minister
said:
“The US is
the largest inward investor into Scotland, therefore it is vital we continue to
build on this lucrative business relationship. I was delighted to announce more
than 1,000 jobs during Scotland Week 2014 – the most successful programme
to date – and I have every confidence we will see further investment this
year and in years to come.
“Investment
between our two countries is on the rise, which is why it is so important to
maximise this successful economic relationship between Scottish and American
businesses. It is a key priority for us to make it quicker and easier for
business to continue between our two countries.
“Business
growth and investment are at the heart of our policies to secure economic
growth. While the Scottish Government will continue to do all we can to help
our businesses thrive, with the full fiscal and economic powers of independence
we could do even more to support companies, strengthen our economy and create
jobs.”
Notes To Editors
Highlights of the
First Minister’s 2014 programme included:
- Announcing 1,073 new and secured jobs in Glenrothes,
Alloa, Renfrew, Glasgow, Kilmarnock and Livingston
- Participating in an audienced interview and Q&A
hosted by the Wall Street Journal which was live streamed to 1,190 people, with
the top three countries being USA, UK and Canada
- Delivering the inaugural Caledonian Lecture, entitled
‘The Common Weal’, at Glasgow Caledonian University New York campus
– the first university in the United Kingdom to open a campus in New York
(http://news.scotland.gov.uk/Speeches-Briefings/Alex-Salmond-in-New-York-G
lasgow-Caledonian-University-speech-April-7-2014-b45.aspx)
- Delivering a keynote address at the prestigious
Bloomberg New Energy Summit declaring Scotland’s green energy ambition.
The summit was also addressed by the US Secretary of Energy Dr Ernest Moniz,
Jill C Anderson Chief of Staff of the New York Power Authority and Michael
Bloomberg (http://news.scotland.gov.uk/Speeches-Briefings/Alex-Salmond-in-New-York-B
loomberg-New-Energy-Finance-Summit-April-8-2014-b55.aspx)
- Firing
the starting gun for the annual Scotland Run where 10,000 people registered to
participate in the 10k in Central Park which was covered by WNBC, WABC, WPIX
and BBC
- Notable
media engagements involved Reuters, Bloomberg, New York Times, Huffington Post
and MSNBC’s Morning Joe programme (averages just over 200,000 viewers a
day and its website has approximately 875,000 unique visitors per
month.
- Addressing an event marking the 50th Anniversary of Edinburgh Napier
University.
- Announcing sales by independent brewer Innis & Gunn
increased by 9,000% and welcomed the US Government lifting the meat ban http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Toasting-Scottish-exports-b26.aspx
- Opening
of renewable technology company Smarter Grid Solutions first overseas office.
Smarter Grid Solutions has already won a contract to model and simulate
microgrid applications for the New York metro area. The First Minister met with
Chairman Robert Armour, CEO Gerry Docherty and CTO Bob Currie (http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Smarter-Grid-Solutions-open-in-New-York-
b35.aspx)
- Leading a
New York Scotland Week Trade Mission of 17 Scottish companies (http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/FM-to-announce-hundreds-of-new-jobs-for-
Scotland-b21.aspx)
The First Minister
undertook the following business meetings:
- Meeting
with Ken Donnelly, Director Bank of America, Global Banking and Markets Risk;
Suzanne Buchta, MD, Green Debt Capital Markets (Green Bond); John Lynch, MD,
EMEA Sector Head, Energy Renewables; Alexandra Liftman, Global Environment
Executive, Bank of America
- Meeting
with Rupert Murdoch, Executive Chairman of News Corp and Chairman and CEO of
21st Century Fox
- Attended
a meeting at Citibank HQ with Bill Mills, CEO North America and Alan S
MacDonald, Chief Client Officer (he is also Vice Chairman of Citibank; Chair of
Citigroup’s Pension Fund Committee; Chairman of Citigroup’s Private
Equity Funds Committee and member of the Business Development and Business
Practices Committees)
- Meeting
with David M Cote, Chairman and CEO of
Honeywell.
- Meeting
with Huntington Ingalls Pete Diakun Vice President of Energy Programs (also
President of Newport News Industrial Corp. (NNI) and Newport News Energy); Mike
Duman Program Director of Newport News Shipbuilding & Vice President,
Newport News Energy); Tim Wilkins Founder, Paliria Energy.
- Meeting
with PRA UK (400 new jobs announced): Steve Frederickson – Chairman,
President and CEO, Donald Redmond – Vice President, Government Relations
(http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Up-to-400-new-jobs-created-at-PRA-UK-in-
Kilmarnock-b3b.aspx)
- Meeting
with Arthur J Gallagher & Co. (67 new jobs announced): Alastair Hessett -
Chief Accounting Officer Glasgow for Arthur J.Gallagher International/Giles
Insurance Brokers and Douglas K. Howell - Chief Financial Officer Arthur J
Gallagher & Co, Itasca, Illinois (http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Glasgow-Finance-Centre-for-US-insurance-
firm-b44.aspx)
- Meeting
with National Oilwell Varco (45 new jobs announced): Clay C Williams - Chief
Executive Officer (http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Glasgow-Finance-Centre-for-US-insurance-
firm-b44.aspx)
- Meeting
with Ceridian (130 new jobs announced): Stuart Harvey - Chief Executive Officer
and President of Ceridian Corporation (http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/US-firm-Ceridian-to-create-130-new-jobs-
b2b.aspx)
Other Scotland
Week ministerial meetings included:
Mrs Salmond
accompanied the First Minister on his visit to New York for Scotland Week and
as such had an official programme of engagements. As well as her role
accompanying the First Minister on a number of his official engagements, the
programme included meetings with Gino Francesconi, the Carnegie Hall’s
Museum Director and Archivist; Scottish sculptor Andy Scott, creator of the
hugely popular Kelpies statues; and, a fact-finding visit to High Line Park to
see how the community-lead project combines regeneration and
conservation.