NZ US Council Thanks John Mullen ONZM

14 December 2011

NZ US Council Thanks John Mullen ONZM

The NZ US Council extends its thanks and best wishes to John Mullen ONZM, as he steps down from his role as President of the US NZ Council. Mr Mullen was farewelled at a dinner in Washington last evening.

“John Mullen has been a great friend to New Zealand over his seven year tenure as President of the US NZ Council, our counterpart organisation in Washington DC,” said NZ US Council Chairman, Rt. Hon James Bolger ONZ.

“That the relationship between the United States and New Zealand stands today transformed, and that we are on the way to concluding a ground-breaking free trade agreement in the form of the Trans Pacific Partnership, are in no small part due to John’s extraordinary efforts over recent years.

“We thank John for his commitment, his dedication to the cause, his outstanding leadership and his deep friendship for our country.”

John Mullen received an honorary ONZM (Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit) in the New Year Honours list in 2010. Mr Mullen was instrumental in establishing the US NZ Partnership Forum in 2006 and attended the fourth US NZ Partnership Forum held in Christchurch in February 2011. He has led the US NZ Council since 2004.

John Mullen will be succeeded as President of the US NZ Council by former senior White House official and government relations expert, Bill Maroni.

About the NZUS Council – www.nzuscouncil.com

The NZ US Council is a non-partisan body established in 2001 and funded by both business and the Government to promote New Zealand’s broader relationship with the United States. Two-way trade with the US is valued at over $8 billion and the US is a leading source of investment, innovation and business ideas. The NZ US Council is actively engaged in co-ordinating business and government efforts towards concluding a comprehensive, high quality result to the TPP negotiations.

About the US NZ Council – www.usnzcouncil.org
The US-NZ Council is a private non-profit organisation founded in 1986 and headquartered in Washington DC. Its mission is to foster and strengthen United States-New Zealand relations through enhanced communications, encouraging the expansion of trade and commercial ties, and facilitating cultural exchanges between the two countries. The Council works closely with the US business community with interests in New Zealand, and maintains close contacts with officials of both governments and New Zealand’s Washington Embassy.

ENDS

© Scoop Media