Cleveland - – The London Stock Exchange Group ELITE initiative (ELITE), announced today that Cleveland has been selected as the home of its Americas headquarters. ELITE is the London Stock Exchange Group’s (LSEG) international business support program for small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs). In addition, LSEG-ELITE announced that Cleveland will host its Global-ELITE Day 2020 Conference in Cleveland.
“We are thrilled to welcome ELITE’s Americas headquarters to Cleveland,” said Joe Roman, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP). “From the onset of this process we recognized that ELITE is a unique organization generating incredible results for businesses around the globe. This is a very special opportunity for Cleveland and Ohio.”
ELITE had many options for its Americas headquarters location. A coalition of economic development partners – led by JobsOhio and GCP worked collaboratively to ensure Cleveland’s success – including the City of Cleveland, Team NEO, Cuyahoga County, and the Downtown Cleveland Alliance.
“We are pleased that LSEG-Elite Group has selected Cleveland for its Americas Headquarters,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson. This decision reinforces Cleveland as a world-class location to do business. We look forward to working with LSEG-Elite to build a successful business relationship, both with the City and our partners involved in this project.”
ELITE expects to begin the headquarter operations in Cleveland during Q1 2020 and will hit the ground running to build upon its success in supporting Ohio’s ambitious mid-market companies.
“As a G-20 endorsed global business, ELITE could have chosen anywhere in the United states for its Americas headquarters, and it chose Cleveland,” said J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio president and chief investment officer. “This investment decision builds on a partnership established when ELITE first entered the Americas market through Ohio in 2018, and demonstrates the positive experience it had in Cleveland, with its long standing institutional investment history, one of the largest concentration of private small and midmarket companies in the country, and a supportive and welcoming business community.”
Currently, there are more than 1,200 business and 400 advisors and investors across more than 40 countries in the ELITE network. The Cleveland headquarters will provide mid-market companies in the Americas with access to the skills and networks that can help them reach the next level.
“As Cuyahoga County and our partners work together to create an environment that is supportive and innovative for companies of all sizes and in any stage, the entrance of ELITE with their focus on mid-market companies from all over North and South America is a great addition to our county.” said Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish. “I am excited that we’re bringing the LSEG-ELITE international business headquarters to downtown Cleveland,”
ELITE also announced that its Global ELITE Day 2020 conference will be held in Cleveland - the first time that ELITEs international conference will be held outside of Europe.
“Cleveland welcomes the 2020 Global Elite Day conference and its many attendees from across the globe,” added Mayor Frank G. Jackson. “The conference will bring business representatives to our city to share ideas, build connections and experience our warm Cleveland hospitality.”
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