The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) has selected Herbert C. Frey, who has worked for large multinational companies and has been an entrepreneur, to run the FCEDA’s Munich office and work with European companies considering expansion to the United States.

Frey was born and brought up in Switzerland. At 16 he began his working life as an apprentice to the Winterthur Insurance Group in Switzerland. After completing university studies, he returned to Winterthur and eventually became regional manager for Asia working in Hong Kong. Winterthur became the first European insurance company to receive an operating license in the People's Republic of China. Frey later moved to Shanghai where he established the mainland Chinese operation of Winterthur.

After receiving an MBA from Henley Management College in England, he worked for Gerling Industrial Insurance Company in Cologne, Germany, developing an expertise in Monte Carlo simulation, a technique for risk analysis. Since 2001 he has been an entrepreneur, founding a number of companies in the fields of risk management, real estate financing and the Internet.

“My background with large and small businesses and with business people around the world gives me an excellent perspective to help European companies that want to come to the U.S., and Fairfax County offers an excellent balance as a great business location with a high quality of life,” Frey said.

Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D., president and CEO of the FCEDA, noted the importance of a strong link on the continent. “Europe traditionally is one of our largest and strongest sources of companies interested in establishing U.S. operations, and Mr. Frey will be an invaluable resource for European companies that will find Fairfax County the ideal location from which to do so,” he said.

The FCEDA opened a continental European office in 2000 to complement a London office that opened in 1998. More than 130 companies from the continent and 80 from the United Kingdom are part of the dynamic, diverse Fairfax County business community. Click here for more information about the FCEDA’s outreach in Europe and elsewhere globally.

Time magazine called Fairfax County “one of the great economic success stories of our time.” Fairfax County offers businesses a state-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure, access to global markets through Washington Dulles International Airport, a vibrant investment capital community and a highly skilled, well-educated workforce.

The award-winning Fairfax County Economic Development Authority promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. The FCEDA offers site location and business development assistance, and connections with county and state government agencies, to help companies locate and expand in Fairfax County. In addition to its headquarters in Tysons Corner, Fairfax County’s largest business district, the FCEDA maintains marketing offices in six important global business centers: Bangalore, Munich, London, Los Angeles, Seoul and Tel Aviv.

FCEDAAlan Fogg, +1 703-790-0600 (o)+1 571-213-5065 (m)afogg@fceda.org