Venture capitalist and US Consul General Gregory Slayton will address the Institute of Directors next week at their annual general meeting.

?The IoD champions the entrepreneur and seeks to provide an environment conducive to business success,? said Reg Rawlins, chairman of the IoD Bermuda Branch ?I am confident that Mr. Slayton will impart a great deal of wisdom, knowledge and experience on what it takes to run a successful business and, perhaps, provide us with some pointers on how we can work to enhance the Bermuda business environment.?

Prior to moving to Bermuda, Mr. Slayton was managing director of Slayton Capital, a private venture capital firm. He has also worked extensively in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America managing micro-credit and economic development programmes for the poor. He occasionally co-teaches at the Harvard Business School and the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

IoD is dedicated to providing directors with the information and advice they require to help their business succeed. Its members span the spectrum from the largest international companies to the smallest private firms. Since the Bermuda branch was founded in Bermuda in 1991, it has actively supported the Young Enterprise programme, which encourages leadership amongst senior high school students.