Executive Board
Through the depth of both our personal and professional experience within the Island of Ireland and North Carolina, we can skillfully guide and support our alliance partners. Whether you are seeking to establish a business or navigate cultural and political challenges, we have the resources and connections to ensure your success.
Chairman
Honory Consul of Ireland (NC)
John Young
R. John Young (Ph.D.) has more than 40 years of experience coaching chief executives and their direct reports to lead change within their organizations. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of London, and a doctorate from Purdue University. He has taught at Washington University in St. Louis, Purdue University and is a member of the American Psychological Association. A native of Antrim, he is the Founder of the McLaughlin Young Group, a human capital firm that impacts organizational performance and provides a full range of counseling and consulting services. He is the author of The Five Essential Leadership Questions: Living with Passion, Leading through Trust, and Being Intentional: Making Work and Play One and the Same.
President
Liam Fitzgerald
Liam Fitzgerald (MBA) has over 25 years of experience working in multiple countries and industries. Liam brings expertise in cross-cultural collaboration, public-private partnerships, and multi-industry knowledge of how best to deepen the commercial ties between countries. With roots in hospitality, leisure and commercial real estate, he is now focused on delivering services to the financial services industry here in the US and internationally. A native of Limerick, Liam has lived and worked extensively in the United Kingdom and the Middle East, and is excited about firmly established roots here in Charlotte, North Carolina with his family.
US Partnership Development
Jim Mannix
Jim Mannix (MBA) is a seasoned business development executive, with 25 years of experience in the technology, finance & investment industries, Jim has experienced success in both small and Fortune 100 companies - as employee and owner alike. As a graduate of University of Notre Dame and an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Siena College he is a native of New York, and a long time Charlotte resident. Jim is currently serving as the President of the Charlotte Irish Connection, as well as on the boards of the Notre Dame Club of Charlotte and Charlotte City Club. He was selected the Grand Marshal of the Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2023 and is an active member of the Charlotte Rotary.
Secretary & Treasurer
Eoghan Nolan
Eoghan Nolan (MSc) is an experienced technology and product leader with 25 years working with technology and product teams in fast growing FinTech as well as internet technology companies in the UK, USA and Ireland. Eoghan brings broad experience working with start-ups, growth stage companies and world-class technology organizations looking to expand and grow their businesses. A native of Meath, Eoghan’s qualifications include an MSc in both Computer Science and Finance from UCD Smurfit School of Business and a BA in Economics from Trinity College Dublin.
Charlotte Metro - Membership Development
Tom Brennan
Tom Brennan (QFA, BA) is a seasoned business leader and real estate professional with over 25 years of experience across financial services, luxury branding, and real estate markets in the US, Ireland, and internationally. Tom has built a unique career spanning financial advisory, brand spokesperson roles for global luxury icons like Waterford Crystal, and most recently as a top-producing REALTOR® with Compass—the #1 brokerage in Charlotte. A native of Waterford, Tom holds a BA in Business Administration from the Waterford Institute of Technology and is a Qualified Financial Advisor (QFA) from University College Dublin.
Raleigh-Durham - Membership Development
Brian Flannery
Brian Flannery (EMBA) is a global technology executive with over 15 years of experience leading enterprise sales and business development teams across cloud infrastructure, SaaS, and emerging AI technologies. He currently serves as Vice President of Global Sales at Synadia, the creators of the AI and edge messaging platform NATS.io. Brian grew up outside the US, but is a dual Irish and US Citizen and holds a BA in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned his Executive MBA from the London School of Business & Finance.
Advisory Board
Our Advisory Board plays a crucial role in providing strategic guidance and expertise to help the Alliance achieve its mission. This group of senior executives from across a wide range of industries and organizations offer valuable insights, connections, and resources that enhance the our effectiveness and reach.
Mairead Magner
SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer at Trane Technologies
Mairéad is responsible for developing and implementing global human resources strategies that support the company's business objectives and enhance the capabilities of its more than 40,000 team members worldwide. Originally from Newcastle West, Co. Limerick, Mairéad has been living in North Carolina since 2012. She holds a Bachelor of Business Studies from the University of Limerick, Ireland.
Catherina Blewitt
VP Technology, Consumer Content and Business at IDA Ireland
Catherina oversees business development across seven southeastern U.S. states. Based in Atlanta, she relocated from Galway in 2022 after a decade as West Region Manager. With a master’s in Regional and Urban Planning, she has held various executive roles advancing IDA Ireland’s regional and corporate initiatives.
Keith Burns
Managing Shareholder
Maynard Nexsen
Keith is a Shareholder and the Managing Shareholder of the Raleigh office at Maynard Nexsen. With over 30 years of legal experience, he focuses his practice on real estate development, finance, economic development, and public-private partnerships. Keith advises clients on matters related to loans, refinances, joint ventures, acquisitions, and land development. Keith holds a J.D. from Wake Forest University and a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Ryan Combs
Executive Director at Research Triangle Regional Partnership, Honorary Consul of Canada
Ryan Combs is the executive director of RTRP and works closely with economic development organizations in each of member counties to market the competitive advantages of the Research Triangle Region to potential investors. A native of Raleigh, Ryan graduated from Broughton High School and North Carolina State University, where he was a pitcher for the Wolfpack baseball team.
Ken Lee
CEO Carn Interational
Born and raised in Ireland, and based in Charlotte, NC for two decades, Ken has devoted his 30-year career to connecting employers and employees across the globe. With a deep understanding of both local and multinational businesses, he has built several search companies, applying best-in-class technologies, data-driven processes and, most importantly, a keen intuition about human nature and how it drives business success.
Simon McMinn
Global Vice President of Sales at Concentrix
Simon specializes in managing complex sales with Fortune 1000 companies. Before joining Concentrix in 2006, Simon held leadership roles at companies like Rubric and Transware, where he was instrumental in driving growth and establishing partnerships. He began his career as a software engineer at Lotus Development. Simon holds a degree in Applied Computing from the University of Ulster and has a passion for history, politics, and international sports.
R. Bruce Thompson II
Partner, Government & Public Policy Group Leader
Parker Poe
Bruce leads the Government & Public Policy Group at Parker Poe, where he focuses on governmental and regulatory affairs at both the state and federal level. Recognized as one of North Carolina’s most influential lobbyists and political influencers, he advises clients on legislative strategy, economic development, and navigating public policy issues in Raleigh and Washington, DC. He is a former Assistant Attorney General for North Carolina and has been named to The Best Lawyers in America since 2008.
Originally from North Carolina, Bruce is a graduate of Wake Forest School of Law.
Neil Manning
President & COO
ARRAY Technologies
Neil Manning serves as President & Chief Operating Officer of ARRAY Technologies, one of the world’s leading providers of utility-scale solar tracking solutions. Prior to joining ARRAY in 2023, Neil held executive roles at Rotork, a FTSE 250 engineering firm, where he led the company’s global energy and services divisions. Neil holds an MBA from Virginia Tech and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Deeply proud of his Irish heritage, Neil maintains strong ties to County Cork, where his family originates.