Dr. R. John Young, founder of McLaughlin Young Group, has been appointed as Ireland’s First Honorary Consul for North Carolina.

Welcoming the appointment, Ireland’s Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore TD, said: “We are delighted to be appointing a first Honorary Consul in the state of North Carolina. The direct air connection between Charlotte and Dublin courtesy of US Airways provides huge opportunities in terms of boosting business and tourism connections between Ireland and North Carolina and we are confident John [Young] is the right man to help us in this endeavour.”

Dr. Young is the author of The Five Essential Leadership Questions and has more than 30 years of experience coaching executives and their direct reports to lead change within their organizations. A leading member of the Irish community in Charlotte for many years, he has helped found the Irish Society of Charlotte in 1986 and served as its President. He regularly conducts an executive leadership seminar in his native country of Ireland.

“Honorary Consuls play a critical role for Ireland in the U.S., helping to provide essential consular services to Irish citizens and to deliver our trade, investment, tourism and cultural messages to new and diverse audiences,” said Anne Anderson, the Ambassador of Ireland to the United States. “John’s [Young] appointment enhances this network of dedicated and articulate advocates for Ireland and we are delighted to have him on board. We are conscious too that Charlotte’s strengths in areas like banking and energy and the outstanding reputation of the Research Triangle for education and research present opportunities from which we hope to capitalise in all our interests.”

The Consul General of Ireland for the U.S. southeast, Paul Gleeson, adds: “North Carolina has been a priority state for us since it hosted the first official Irish Government trade mission to the U.S. southeast in September 2011. John’s [Young] appointment helps to solidify and grow our collaborations with a state rightly recognised as at the forefront of cutting-edge innovation in areas like technology and new media. These are priority sectors for Ireland too and there is no doubt our economic recovery can be enhanced by deepening collaboration with North Carolina’s entrepreneurs, businesses and institutes of higher education.”

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to connect Ireland, where I was born, and North Carolina, where I have lived for the past thirty years. Both the country and the state have incredible natural beauty, a commitment to education and culture, and a progressive business environment. I have always called both home, and look forward to further developing and nurturing the relationship between Ireland and North Carolina,” said Dr. Young.

About McLaughlin Young Group

Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., McLaughlin Young Group specializes in working with individuals, management and organizations to address the issues affecting the health and productivity of the workforce. Its services include leadership development, an employee assistance program (EAP), and change management improvement. It is currently contracted by organizations ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies that rely on them to support and develop the people impacting their bottom line. McLaughlin Young’s network includes almost 30,000 clinicians and consultants spanning more than 150 countries. For more information, visit http://mygroup.com or call 704-529-1428.