Martyn Johnson

N.C. Dept. of Commerce European Investment Director Martyn Johnson has 30 years of experience in the field of economic development, working for both regional and state organizations. Twenty of those years he has lived in North Carolina and worked for the State of North Carolina.

Martyn was born in England, grew up in Australia, has an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Sydney plus a Master of City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Business Administration, Finance from Michigan State University. Additionally he is a Certified Economic Developer, International Economic Development Council and a Certified Economic Development Finance Professional, National Development Council.

Martyn is part of the Commerce European Group, whose goal is to identify viable European manufacturing candidates for targeting with special recruitment efforts, including those of the Commerce European office in Frankfurt, Germany. In his position, Martyn provides site selection services to European companies conducting analysis of potential facility sites in North Carolina. Site selection services include: financing, labor availability, available sites, training, environment permitting, community and site tours, visa assistance, incentive packages, and infrastructure. North Carolina is an excellent fit for European companies to locate their East Coast U.S. operations due to our central location, skilled labor force and management, universities, recruitment and training programs, moderate cost structure, manufacturing base, and economic development infrastructure.

Martyn says economic development infrastructure has been a large part of North Carolina's success. The easier it appears to be to locate in one location rather than another, the more likely a client will choose that location. Communities that have detailed information on their sites, buildings and communities have an edge on their competition particularly, when it comes to recruiting European companies. Global perspective, language classes and schools, apprenticeship programs and cultural activities are also of concern to European clients.