Edward Crawford likely to be confirmed as the next US Ambassador to Ireland

Edward Crawford won the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee’s unanimous endorsement on Wednesday, signaling that he is likely to be confirmed as the next US Ambassador to Ireland.

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The US Senate will now vote on whether or not to confirm Crawford, but the Committee’s endorsement makes it likely that he will officially be named Ambassador.

President Trump announced Crawford as his pick for Ambassador to Ireland in October. The role has been vacant since 2017 when Kevin O’Malley, who served under President Barack Obama, resigned.

Ohio-native Crawford, who served as the finance chairman for the Republican National Committee’s Ohio campaign during the 2016 presidential campaign, was an early supporter of Trump’s bid for the US Presidency.

The 80-year-old billionaire’s parents both hail from Co Cork in Ireland.

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A statement from the White House addressing Trump’s nomination of Crawford read:

“Mr. Crawford currently serves as Chairman and CEO of The Edward Crawford Group and Park-Ohio Industries, Inc.  He is the recipient of the Northeast Ohio Business Hall of Fame Entrepreneurial Award, Small Business News Master Innovator Award, Ernst & Young Northeast Ohio Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and the Small Business Administration Man of the Year-Ohio Award.  He served in the Specialist Aviation Company, 107th Armored Cavalry, Army National Guard, and attended John Carroll University.”

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Crawford is the founder of Park-Ohio Holdings which operates more than 125 manufacturing sites and supply-chain facilities around the world, including in Ireland. The company employs 7,500 people.

Following his nomination in October, Crawford stepped down as chief executive of the company; his son Matthew has since assumed the role.