George Hook is ambassador for ‘Gateway to Europe’ Silicon Valley mission

13 Mar 2014

Broadcaster and rugby commentator George Hook has been named official ambassador for the ‘Ireland, Gateway to Europe’ event at Silicon Valley Bank in California next month, aimed at encouraging C-suite US executives to invest in Ireland.

Ireland, Gateway to Europe is 100pc privately funded, with companies financing their own participation.

Irish business leaders will meet their counterparts at a summit in Silicon Valley Bank, San Francisco, California, on 4 April.

As Ireland’s largest private industry-led FDI initiative, Ireland, Gateway to Europe, is a not-for-profit collaborative initiative to assist US-based founders, CFOs, CTOs and VCs in considering using Ireland as a base to internationalise.

More than 750 US investors have attended The Ireland, Gateway To Europe events to date, and at least 600 attendees are expected this year.

Previous speakers at events have included Guidewire, LogMeIn, Microsoft, CA Technologies, HubSpot and Congressman Richard Neal (Massachusetts). This year, there will be speakers from Silicon Valley Bank, IDA Ireland, Nitro and many others, to share their story of setting up in Ireland.

Championing Team Ireland

George Hook

George Hook, broadcaster and rugby commentator

“George is a champion of our great nation – whether it is sport or business, and he believes that Ireland remains one of the best places in the world to do business,” said Ireland, Gateway to Europe co-founder Adrian McGennis.

“The vision of our mission is to encourage and educate US companies who are looking to expand into Europe to choose Ireland as their location of choice.

“We aim to supply the necessary information, build trust and provide contacts in Ireland for these companies to execute their plans. Having George come along to speak to attendees as passionately as he does is of huge benefit to us.”

Silicon Valley image at top via Shutterstock

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com