Zendesk officially opens European HQ in Ranelagh
Cloud-based computer service software provider Zendesk has today officially opened its Dublin development centre at Grand Parade in Ranelagh, which has capacity to allow the company to grow its headcount from its current 52 to 150.
The company’s CEO Mikkel Svane was joined by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton at the new office this evening.
Zendesk announced the opening of the Dublin office at the end of 2012 with two engineers and a plan to grow to 25 by the end of 2013. Having reached that number a month early, the company has more than doubled its headcount in the last six months to 52 employees.
“The Government has an Action Plan for Jobs that is focused on growing a number of fast expanding areas such as digital and technology enterprise,” said the Taoiseach. “As this sector continues to grow in Ireland I am delighted to mark this important milestone for Zendesk. The company’s rapid expansion is an endorsement of Ireland as an enterprise location and the taking on three floors of a new building illustrates both the company’s ambition and ability to attract talent in Ireland.”
“This year the Dublin office has become the fastest-growing Zendesk office in Europe, as well as the largest office by number of employees, not only in Europe, but also outside of the US,” said Svane. “The Dublin office serves as one of Zendesk’s five product development hubs around the world with a team of highly skilled software engineers, as well as sales professionals and customer advocates.”
“Today’s announcement that it is expanding its operations in Dublin with the capacity to grow from 52 to 150 people is a great boost,” said Minister Bruton. “Our Action Plan for Jobs has targeted cloud as an area with particular growth potential. I look forward to working with Zendesk as they grow their operations in Ireland. ”
Colum Twomey, vice president of product engineering at Zendesk and based in Dublin, said the company is committed to Dublin and its new location. “We moved from a one-floor location to a new space with three floors and the capacity for as many as 150 people in the future, providing us with lots of room to continue to grow our team,” he said.
“We’re also committing to new community engagement projects for 2014 to show our commitment to setting down roots in Dublin. Those commitments include at least €30,000 in financial support to local charities; having at least 80pc of our local employees engaged in at least one community activity in 2014; and 75 hours of volunteer service with local non-profits and community organisations,” he said.
Barry O’Leary, CEO of IDA Ireland, said Zendesk’s Dublin operations play a strategically important role in the company’s global development footprint. “This expansion by Zendesk is another endorsement of Ireland’s reputation as the location of choice for fast-growing businesses to expand into international markets,” he said.