Claire McLeveighn
Vice President of Trade and Investment, Empire State Development Corporation & Global NY
Claire McLeveighn is Vice President of Trade and Investment at Empire State Development (ESD), New York State’s economic development agency. Ms. McLeveighn leads ESD’s International Division in its role as New York’s global connection and international business source. Ms. McLeveighn oversees a staff of professional trade specialists in ESD’s New York City and regional offices as well as foreign representatives in Canada, China, Israel, Mexico, South Africa, and UK/Europe, promoting New York State exports, assisting New York’s small-medium size companies and attracting foreign investment to New York. Ms. McLeveighn works in collaboration with other ESD departments to promote agency global initiatives and programs and with New York State Regional Economic Development Councils to advance export opportunities for New York companies and provide guidance for advancing export assistance opportunities. As ESD’s representative for international business activities, Ms. McLeveighn interfaces with foreign consular and trade representatives, international business executives, industry leaders, and advocacy groups in support of trade cooperation and foreign investment.
Ms. McLeveighn has extensive experience forging partnerships across multiple sectors to foster trade and investment. Previously, Ms. McLeveighn was Manager of International Engagement for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, facilitating global initiatives with Atlanta’s business community, international stakeholders, and government entities, supporting the airport’s role as a catalyst in international business development. As Director of External Affairs and International Relations for the City of Atlanta, Ms. McLeveighn managed state and federal relations and directed the international initiatives of the Mayor’s Office, serving on public-private teams to attract foreign direct investment to the city, liaising with foreign trade offices and bi-national chambers of commerce and directing international protocol. Ms. McLeveighn represented the City of Atlanta in negotiations between Delta Air Lines and the Civil Aviation Administration of China to establish a direct Atlanta-Shanghai flight. Ms. McLeveighn also administered the Atlanta Sister Cities program, leading a strategic planning process that repositioned the Atlanta Sister Cities Commission to undertake new initiatives in economic development, sustainability and best practices in public-private partnerships in collaboration with the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and United Nations/CIFAL (Centre International de Formation des Autorités Locales).
Ms. McLeveighn earned a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Brown University.