Symantec Corp., the US maker of anti-virus software, announced that it will establish a new European Customer Management Centre in Dublin - - creating up to 200 jobs in 2013, and a further 200 positions being created over the next two years. The new centre will provide a Europe-wide sales and support function to Symantec customers and partners. The initiative is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation through IDA Ireland, the government agency responsible for the attraction and development of foreign investment in Ireland. The demand for multilingual recruits means that more than half of the staff may have to be hired overseas.

Symantec will be looking for the highly skilled, multilingual team in Dublin to play a central role in achieving Symantec’s mission of protecting and managing customers’ information. The team is responsible for delivering an enhanced partner support function, demonstrating Symantec’s continued commitment to developing improved collaboration with its channel.

Symantec is already well established in Ireland. Since 1991 its base in Blanchardstown, Dublin has been home to a Security Operations Centre, as well as operations in business authentication, software development and testing. These business units have played a crucial role in helping to protect businesses and consumers from increasing levels of cyber-crime. The European Customer Management Centre will be located alongside these existing functions.

Welcoming the announcement, Enda Kenny, taoiseach, said, "I welcome this significant announcement by Symantec which will see the addition of 400 high-quality jobs. Symantec's establishment of its European Customer Management Centre in Dublin is a signal of its continuing commitment to Ireland and contribution to our economic recovery. It is also a testament to our talented and flexible workforce. For our part, the Government is committed to working with companies like Symantec to grow sustainable jobs and get our country working again."

Commenting on the announcement, Matthew Ellard, EMEA senior vice president, Symantec said, “We are eager to continue our success in Ireland — building off of a 20 year presence in the country. These new jobs offer the opportunity for talented and driven individuals to join a high-performing company, which is focused on enabling its employees to develop their skills and enhance their career. I look forward to the continued growth of Symantec Ireland and consistently delighting our customers and partners with our addition of the new European Customer Management Centre in Dublin.

ICT Ireland director Paul Sweetman said: “Symantec is already a significant employer in Ireland and today's announcement reaffirms Ireland's attractiveness as a key location for foreign investment. Against the backdrop of new measures to support the technology sector, announced in the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs, continued strong growth is expected. With over 16,500 jobs announced in the last three years, the focus must remain on ensuring that Irish workers have the right skills to meet the demand from high-tech companies. This must include a renewed emphasis on foreign language skills."

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