BUSINESS INFORMATION and risk specialist Dun & Bradstreet (DB) will create 100 jobs in the Republic over the next 18 months at a new data processing centre.
The company confirmed yesterday that it was opening a new base in Sandyford, Dublin, and was set to begin recruiting shortly.
It intends to hire 100 people between now and the middle of next year, but it is understood that it will ultimately expand the operation beyond this.
The group has taken a property at the Chase building in Sandyford, which has the capacity for significantly more staff than 100.
D&B has a database of financial, risk and other information on between 160 million and 170 million companies around the world.
Its clients use this information to mitigate credit and supplier risk, to assess potential suppliers, clients or customers, and for other decisions, such as marketing and developing new businesses.
Staff in the Irish office will input and update information on the company’s systems.
The work will involve both data processing and interpreting and analysing the information.
D&B originally used a subcontractor to do this but recently decided to move it back in-house.
The company already has operations in Ireland and chose to locate this business here because of the combination of skills available.
Yesterday’s news came in a week where employers in financial services and medical devices, both seen as key industries, announced severe cuts.
IDA chief executive Barry O’Leary welcomed D&B’s announcement. “Its decision to choose Ireland for this strategically important and knowledge-driven activity is very significant for Dublin and the country as a whole,” he said.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan also welcomed the news.
D&B is based in the US and listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Its market capitalisation is in excess of $3.5 billion (€2.5 billion).
Its latest figures show that last year’s revenues came to more than $1 billion and it had net profits approaching $290 million.
