Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced that Livingston International, a global logistics company focused on customs brokerage and trade compliance, will locate its new U.S. headquarters in Chicago. By the end of 2015, Livingston expects to add 75 employees at its new Chicago office that will be located in the historic Chicago Board of Trade building at 141 West Jackson Boulevard. Attracting new headquarters to Chicago is part of Mayor Emanuel's commitment to create jobs for residents in neighborhoods across Chicago.

“Livingston’s commitment to Chicago as its U.S. headquarters further reinforces the City’s commitment to help Chicago businesses increase their global competitiveness and support local job growth,” said Mayor Emanuel. "Our goal is to make Chicago a national leader in international trade for the job opportunities it creates for residents all throughout our city. So we welcome growing companies such as Livingston, which encourages small and medium-sized businesses to enter the global arena."

Livingston’s new U.S. headquarters will support the continued growth into the U.S. market. The new office will create employment opportunities ranging to all levels and areas of the business. The company chose Chicago for its highly skilled workforce, access to its transportation networks and the diversity of the City’s economy.

“We’ve tripled our revenue and doubled our employees in the U.S. over the last four years,” said CEO Steve Preston. “We are establishing a significant leadership presence in Chicago and expanding our suburban location to support the continued growth of our U.S. and international business. We selected Chicago because it is an international trade hub and it offers a large talent pool in areas strategic to our future.”

Livingston’s global headquarters is in Toronto and the company has a second U.S. office in Itasca, IL, which serves as a national processing center for the company’s air/sea customs brokerage operations.

“Chicago sits at the center of one of the largest trading areas in the world and is a non-stop global gateway to more than 200 international and domestic business centers,” said World Business Chicago (WBC) President & CEO Jeff Malehorn. “Chicago will provide Livingston with unique access to the world, along with an unmatched talent base to meet its workforce needs.”

Livingston’s choice to make Chicago its U.S. headquarters reflects on key aspects of Mayor Emanuel’s Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs, which WBC is implementing. These strategies include exceling as an advanced manufacturing hub, increasing exports, enhancing attractiveness as a center for business services and headquarters, and becoming a national leader in transportation, distribution and logistics.

About Livingston
North America’s number one company focused on customs brokerage and trade compliance, Livingston International also offers trade consulting, global trade management and international freight forwarding. Livingston employs over 3,200 staff at 125 key border points, sea ports, airports and other strategic locations across North America, Europe and Asia. www.livingstonintl.com

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