Dennis D. Swanson, President of Fox Television Stations Group has been nominated as President of the Ireland-U.S. Council to succeed Michael J. Gibbons, formerly an Executive Vice-President at the Estée Lauder Companies, Inc. who will step down having served in the role since 2002.

Mr. Swanson, who is based in New York City, is a former Broadcaster of the Year in America and has had an extensive and successful management career having worked at all of the commercial television networks in the United States. He discovered Oprah and launched her talk-show career. As head of ABC Sports, he successfully lobbied the International Olympic Committee to stagger the Winter and Summer Games.

A native of Wilmar, California, he was raised in Illinois and graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Journalism and later an M.S. in Communications and Political Science. Prior to joining Fox Television, the former Marine was Chief Operating Officer of Viacom's 40 CBS and UPN stations. He took that position after serving as President of WNBC in New York and as co-Chairman of NBC’s Olympics coverage. The Fox Television Stations group is a unit of News Corporation and owns 35 television stations in the United States.

Mr. Swanson, who has been a Vice President of the Council, will commence his term of office as Council President later this year. In remarks following Mr. Swanson’s nomination, Mr. Gibbons, said “It is wonderful news for the Council that Dennis has agreed to serve as President of the organization. It has been a distinct honor and a great privilege for me to have led the Council as President for the past six years. I believe the organization is being placed in the excellent and capable hands of a man who has been a steadfast and dedicated supporter of the Council for many years.”

In remarks, Mr. Swanson noted ”I am honored to have been nominated as President of the Council. Under Mike Gibbons’ leadership the organization has expanded its activities, membership and influence. The Council has grown in stature and importance during Mike’s term of office. He has been an enthusiastic leader in encouraging program activities and Council initiatives keyed to developing stronger economic ties and business bonds between Ireland and America. During his tenure, he has encouraged broader support for the Council and its programs with many innovations, including the development of a dynamic website and increased emphasis on support for the arts.”

The President of the Council’s Chapter in Ireland, Mr. Brian Goggin, Group Chief Executive of Bank of Ireland welcomed Dennis Swanson’s decision “I know that every member of the Council will join me in welcoming his decision to agree to serve as Council President. I have shared Council platforms with Dennis in the United States and in Ireland, most recently in Belfast, and have been impressed with his commitment to the organization and its mission. Of course, he will assume an office that has been so well-served by Mike Gibbons these past six years.”

Mr. Gibbons recently retired as an Executive Vice President at the Estée Lauder Companies, Inc., one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products, where he has served for the past 40 years. A native New Yorker, Mr. Gibbons is a former Chairman of the International Center in New York, a private, not-for-profit organization that welcomes and assists immigrants and refugees new to America. He is a past Director of the American-Ireland Fund, the Eugene O’Neill Theater Foundation and the former co-chairman of the Knights of St. Patrick.

The Ireland-U.S. Council was founded in 1963 by business leaders in America and Ireland. A principal objective is to encourage business links between America and Ireland, North & South. In pursuit of its mission, the Council, among other activities, operates scholarship and internship programs, undertakes various publishing initiatives and frequently hosts seminar platforms and other business-oriented events in Ireland and in America. The Council also stages various events, including several supporting the arts.