Avolon Launches Personnel Exchange Programme with Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Dublin | 13 January, 2014: Avolon (NYSE: AVOL), the international aircraft leasing company, today announces the launch of an innovative project with the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (“DFAT”). The initiative, which will involve a series of personnel exchange programmes between DFAT and Avolon, aims to further Ireland’s role in the global economy through enriching skillsets, contacts and experience of key personnel in both the public and private sectors.

The project was launched today at the ‘Representing the Global Island’ conference in Dublin Castle by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charles Flanagan TD and Dómhnal Slattery, CEO of Avolon.

Minister Flanagan TD commented: “As part of our campaign to broaden the economic recovery by increasing Ireland’s role in the global economy, this programme will help to enrich the skillsets, contacts and experience of key personnel in both the public and private sectors.”
“I believe there is much we can learn from each other, which will be of mutual benefit. The first exchanges will take place with global aviation leasing company, Avolon, with further exchanges planned for this year.”

Dómhnal Slattery, Avolon CEO, added: “This is an exciting and promising initiative that we have nurtured with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and are proud to launch today. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has an impressive record of actively promoting the global economic interests of Ireland and is one of the most admired Foreign Services in the world.”

He concluded: “It is important that all the resources and assets of Ireland, both public and private, work together in the interest of Ireland’s global success. We are convinced that this exchange programme, which exemplifies this principle in practice, will enrich the skillsets of the teams of both organizations and feed into the global dimensions of the Irish public and private sectors, creating a new level of enthusiasm for public-private teamwork. We are proud to be the first partners of the Department in this novel partnership and will work to encourage other global Irish companies to join in deepening and enlarging this co-operation in the interest of the people of Ireland.”