STREAM GLOBAL Services, a US firm that operates call centres around the world, is to create up to 400 jobs in Dublin, having won a contract with “a leading manufacturer of video game consoles”.
The Irish Timesunderstands the contract is with Microsoft to support customers of its Xbox 360 games console in the European market.
Separately, professional networking site LinkedIn is to add 35 finance positions to its international headquarters in Dublin.
Recruitment has already begun for Stream’s expansion, which is expected to be formally announced with IDA Ireland in coming weeks. Stream’s website lists a range of management, coaching and support vacancies at its Dublin office.
Earlier this month, Stream, which is quoted on the New York Stock Exchange, confirmed it had won a contract to provide support for a video games console in the US and Europe. It said the European service would be provided in 16 different languages, and would be located at its centre in Dublin.
Stream said the service would be fully operational in the third quarter of this year and the contract would generate more than $50 million (€40.4 million) a year in revenues.
Stream currently employs about 300 staff at its Santry offices on Dublin’s north side.
It provides technical support, customer service and sales for a number of clients which include software companies, PC manufacturers, service providers, airlines and consumer electronics makers. Services are provided in in 19 European languages.
Stream provides technical support services for Eircom’s residential and business broadband customers, and the €13.5 million contract was renewed last November.
Stream has 30,000 employees in 50 call centres in 22 countries around the world.
LinkedIn, which has more than 70 million members, has its corporate headquarters in Silicon Valley, but intends to base its international operations in Dublin.
The announcement was welcomed by IDA Ireland yesterday.
LinkedIn has appointed Sharon McCooey as its new international finance director. Ms McCooey previously ran her own consulting business and worked for software providers Business Objects, Zarion and Siebel Systems.
Half of LinkedIn’s members – who use the site primarily to network with other professionals in their field – are located outside the US. The site has 15 million members in Europe. Ms McCooey will appoint an initial team of five finance roles, and the firm plans to add up to 30 more employees.
LinkedIn is a privately owned company, with revenues driven from user subscriptions, advertising sales and software licensing.
