LinkedIn, the online professional networking service, has continued its Irish acquisition spree with plans for a new corporate headquarters in Dublin.
So far this year LinkedIn — often described as Facebook for suits — has cranked up its Irish workforce from 450 people to over 600. Its latest move to even bigger purpose built premises not far from its existing Wilton Place offices could double that figure to 1,200.
Construction of its new headquarters will begin in May next year with the state-of-the-art building expected to be completed by the beginning of 2017. Industry sources claim the investment, including the cost of construction, would amount to €90m (£72m). LinkedIn itself says the 188,000sq ft high-rise offices are part of the company’s “investment” in the country and linked to its determination to “see its current Irish workforce grow”.
“Dublin is now home to a very vibrant digital technology sector and with that comes an important ecosystem for companies like ours as well as the strong pool of talented digital professionals that we need access to in order to further grow our operations in the future,” said Sharon McCooey, a senior director with LinkedIn Ireland.
Earlier this year the internet search giant Google moved into larger Dublin offices and both Facebook and Twitter are understood to be negotiating bigger offices mot far away to house their ever increasing workforces.
All three expansions are also likely to be greeted with relief by Irish authorities which have come under pressure recently on the back of European investigations into Apple tax dealings, triggering fears of a spread to other technology multinational firms.
LinkedIn has been in Dublin since March, 2010. The company, which has more than 300m members in almost every country in the world, bases a variety of functions including sales, marketing, analytics and operations at its Wilton Place offices. Irish staff now make up more than 10 per cent of LinkedIn’s overall global headcount, which stands at 5,700. Its Irish staff service all regions outside the US and Canada.
The IDA — the agency responsible for industrial development in Ireland — assisted LinkedIn with its latest property acquisition. Its chief executive, Martin Shanahan, said the investment “speaks volumes” about the country’s talented workforce. “This was one of the key factors in LinkedIn’s decision to make a long-term commitment here,” he added.
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