Continuing negative images of Northern Ireland in the global marketplace will hamper future growth, the newly appointed chairman of the Industrial Development Board (IDB) has said. Dr Alan Gillespie, the managing director of Goldman Sachs International, was named yesterday as the successor to outgoing chairman, Mr John B. McGuckian.

Dr Gillespie, who has worked in the investment banking sector for 20 years, said everyone in Northern Ireland had to realise the "eyes of the world are upon us and this is a burden our competitors don't have to shoulder".

He said he expected the most impressive growth in Northern Ireland to come from the telesales industry and new call centre operations.

Dr Gillespie will remain in his position with Goldman Sachs International.