Mr Morrison has announced his intention to retire from his post in March 2009.
Mrs Foster said: “Leslie Morrison came back to his native Northern Ireland in 2002, following a long and successful career in North America and the Far East.
“He has led Invest NI from its formation and has played a pivotal role in its many successes. These include major investments by locally-owned companies such as Almac, Norbrook and Randox; international investors including Allstate, Liberty, Citi; and, most recently, the half billion pound Bombardier C Series project.
“In March of next year he will complete seven years in that demanding role. I thank him for his dedicated public service and for the professionalism that he has brought to the complex and crucial work of business development. I wish him well for the remainder of his time in Invest NI and for the future.”
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