Market research firm creates 80 jobs

AN INTERNATIONAL market research company is to create about 80 jobs in Athlone, Co Westmeath, expanding its pilot effort established there early last year.

US-based NPD will create the roles over the next three years at IDA’s business park in Garrycastle, where it already employs 20 people.

The company, which provides comprehensive consumer and retail information for a range of industries, has already begun recruiting for some of the positions.

The company said the new jobs would be in data classification, data analytics, quality assurance and software development.

The investment is being supported by IDA Ireland.

NPD chief executive Tod Johnson said Athlone was chosen due to a “deep talent pool of well-educated and multilingual people”, and the presence of Athlone Institute of Technology.

The jobs were announced by Minister of State for Small Business John Perry. “Ireland’s ability to attract investment from companies of the calibre of the NPD group is most encouraging,” Mr Perry said. “Today’s announcement demonstrates that Ireland is very much open for business and is an excellent location to host the global operations of multinational companies.”