Telefónica to create 100 new jobs in Dublin

Pictured at the Telefónica announcement (L-R) were Barry O'Leary, CEO, IDA Ireland, An Taoiseach Brian Cowen T.D., Ian Ruddy, Telefónica Europe People Services Director, Danuta Gray, Chief Executive, Telefónica O2 Ireland and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Batt O'Keeffe T.D.

We were up against some very tough competition from other countries but Ireland took the lead in terms of Government support and understanding of the needs of a global organisation. -  Danuta Gray, Chief Executive, Telefónica O2 Ireland

Dublin, Ireland, 20 May 2010 ---- Taoiseach Brian Cowen T.D, today announced that O2’s parent company, Telefónica is to establish a European People Services Centre in Dublin, creating 100 new high-skilled positions by the end of 2012.

The Telefónica Europe People Services centre will be a key part of the new Telefónica Europe HR structure being implemented in 2010.  It will be located in O2’s headquarters in Dublin’s Docklands and represents an investment of €25 million over five years. IDA Ireland worked closely with Telefónica Europe and the team in Telefónica O2 Ireland to attract this investment to Ireland and is assisting with the set up of the new operation.  This represents a significant step towards transforming Telefónica’s HR function, creating one pan-European team, delivering a distinct employee experience to everyone that works for Telefónica Europe. 

Telefónica Europe, which trades as O2 in a number of European markets including Ireland, the UK, Germany, Czech Republic and Slovakia, is a leading provider of integrated mobile, fixed and broadband services to over 54 million customers.  The new operation will provide HR services, support functions and administration to the 27,900 Telefónica Europe employees, in their respective local languages.

Speaking at the announcement Taoiseach Brian Cowen said: “I am delighted to announce that Telefónica Europe, which already has an established presence in Ireland through O2, will set up a European People Services Centre in Dublin.  The Shared Services Sector in Ireland is a key strategic component of our economy with over 100 Centres here employing 35,000 people. Clearly, it is also a vote of confidence in the local O2 management here in Dublin and I commend them on their success in securing this investment for Ireland.

The investment is excellent news for Ireland not only in terms of the high quality jobs to be created here, but it will further strengthen the strategic importance of Ireland to the wider Telefónica group.

It is an excellent endorsement by a global leader in the telecommunications arena that Ireland can provide the necessary skills and pro-business policies to assist leading companies to broaden the range of services in support of their European business models”.

Commenting, Danuta Gray, Chief Executive, Telefónica O2 Ireland said:  “I am  delighted that, together with the support of the IDA, we succeeded in securing 100 new jobs and a €25m investment for Ireland, at a time when the country most needs it.  We were up against some very tough competition from other countries but Ireland took the lead in terms of Government support and understanding of the needs of a global organisation.  Another very important factor was O2’s reputation in Ireland for delivering superb customer service which will follow through in terms of how the new European People Services Centre will support our 27,900 employees Europe-wide”.

Also commenting, Ian Ruddy, Telefónica Europe People Services Director said, “I am pleased that Ireland has been chosen and I am confident that the new venture will be a great success for us.  This new centre is a foundation for the transformation of our HR services, enabling us to provide a simple and consistently great experience to all our employees in Telefónica Europe.  We will immediately begin our recruitment process and it is planned that the Telefónica Europe People Services centre will be open for business in the Autumn of this year.”

Barry O’Leary, CEO, IDA Ireland added: “One of the objectives outlined in IDA’s strategy Horizon 2020, is our intention to target foreign companies that serve only the domestic market to establish centres of excellence with responsibility for regional or pan-European areas.  Today’s announcement that Telefonica Europe is to establish a European People Services Centre in Dublin is an example of this, and builds on the long established successful relationship between IDA and O2 Ireland.  Telefonica Europe’s decision to choose Ireland for this strategically important activity is very significant for Dublin and the country as a whole”.

For further information on job opportunities see www.o2peopleservices.com.

ENDS

For further information contact:

Telefonica O2 Ireland
Majella Fitzpatrick, Head of Corporate Affairs : +353 86 8142111

Government Press Office
Jacky Bryan, Press Officer: Mob: 0872531675

IDA Ireland
Gillian Lawless, Press & PR : +353 1 6034095/+353 87 9050699



About Telefónica Europe
Telefónica Europe is a business division of Telefónica, one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world, comprising mobile, fixed and DSL operations in the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia - all of which use ‘O2’ as their consumer brand. Telefónica Europe also has 50% ownership of the UK and Irish Tesco Mobile and German Tchibo Mobilfunk joint venture businesses.  In addition, the group includes the Isle of Man integrated fixed/mobile operator, Manx Telecom.  Telefónica Europe is headquartered in Slough, UK, and has some 49.2 million mobile and fixed customers.
 

About Telefónica O2 Ireland
Telefónica O2 Ireland is one of the leading telecommunications companies in Ireland, with over 1.7 million customers. Headquartered in Dublin's Docklands, and with a Customer Care Centre in Limerick, O2 has a total workforce of over 1,250 employees. O2 was ranked in the top two best large companies to work for by the Great Place to Work Institute Ireland in February this year.