The uplifting story of Citi's astounding success in Belfast will move centerstage at the New York-New Belfast Conference Luncheon in the Big Apple on 23 June.
On course to employ 3,600 professionals in Belfast, Citi was among the first US companies to set up shop in Belfast after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.
Leigh Meyer, Citi Site Head in Belfast and Global Head of FXLM Ops, will share the story of the bluechip company's meteoric rise with the audience at the 13th annual New York-New Belfast conference.
Despite Brexit turbulence and political stalemate at Stormont, Citi is just one of the global firms pressing ahead with expansion plans in Belfast. KPMG, Deloitte and PwC have all announced significant investment plans in the region where around 43,000 are now employed in the professional and financial services sector.
Meyer will be travelling from Belfast as part of of the first official economic mission from the city since the Covid storm hit. In 2020 and 2021, the New York-New Belfast conference was held online only while in 2022, due to travel restrictions, there was no visiting delegation from Belfast to the in-person event. Belfast speakers were beamed in for a hybrid offering.
Led by the incoming Lord Mayor, the delegation will include Darragh McCarthy, founder of regulatory financial tech company FinTrU which employs 1,600 between its Derry and Belfast sites and Clare Guinness, the recently-appointed Director of Belfast's new Innovation District.
Innovation City Belfast is a partnership formed by seven of the city's anchor institutions — Belfast City Council, Belfast Harbour, Belfast Metropolitan College, Catalyst, Queen's University, University of Ulster and Invest Northern Ireland. Its mission is to "combine knowledge, resources and influence to make Belfast an economic powerhouse for Northern Ireland by attracting investment to help business grow, scale and compete through innovation."
Opening session of New York/New Belfast Conference stimulating commercial, art & educational links between our cities #NYNB18 pic.twitter.com/eJcyILpqQY
— Bill Shaw (@Billthunderroad) June 8, 2018
Belfast's Innovation District comprises 400 acres right in the heart of the city and boasting both a waterfront location and access to the new city campus of the University of Ulster.
The 13th annual New York-New Belfast conference will bring together Irish American leaders and Belfast boosters in the New York Athletic Club on 23 June to discuss transatlantic partnerships and co-operation.
"As the world emerges from the Covid storm, we are proud to rejuvenate this transatlantic partnership with an in-person celebration of the ties that bind the people of these two great cities," said conference co-founder Connla McCann.
Among the Honorary Chairs of the annual conference are Sean O'Dowd, MD at Silvercrest Asset Management, Mary Ann Pierce, founder of MAP Digital, Mike Brewster, MD of Investments at Brewster Financial Strategies Group, Wells Fargo Advisors, and retired New Jersey State Judge Hon. Francine Schott, JSC.
You can find out more details about registration and tickets for the New York-New Belfast conference luncheon online.
News: Design teams announced for ambitious Queen's-led City Deal Innovation Centres https://t.co/ph959AMJ9C @QUBelfast @ICBelfast #BRCityDeal pic.twitter.com/d2c9w89YQ4
— Belfast City Council (@belfastcc) May 24, 2022
