One of world’s biggest insurance firms to set up in city centre

There was good news on the jobs front for Galway this week, with the announcement of 260 positions in two new companies.

Two hundred of the jobs will be created by one of the world’s biggest insurance and asset management companies, MetLife.

This week, the company formally announced a new ‘Global Technology Campus’ for the city – the jobs news was first revealed by the Galway City Tribune last July.

Recruiting for the 200 skilled IT worker roles will begin immediately, and the campus is expected to be up-and-running by the middle of next year.

The company has secured a city centre location, believed to be the Hynes Building, St Augustine Street – which is about to undergo a major revamp – for its new operation and will begin recruiting immediately.

And further expansion of the company in Galway is already believed to be on the cards. MetLife already employs 300 people in Dublin.

The Galway campus will focus on digital innovation and solutions for the customers across the globe.

Marty Lippert, Head of MetLife’s Global Technology and Operations said: “The digital initiatives we will drive from the Galway campus are at the heart of our commitment to earning the right to be the customer’s first choice.

“Bringing together a wide array of technologists in a single hub will not only increase our operating leverage, but also accelerate our culture of collaboration.”

The announcement was welcomed by Conor O’Dowd, President of Galway Chamber, who described it as a vote of confidence for the region.

“The scale of this investment is indicative of the confidence in Galway and the Region. We will continue to work with the government agencies, our third level colleges and the wider business community to make Galway and the Region a destination of choice for inward investment,” he said.

Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland said: ”Ireland is uniquely positioned to become a leading global centre for ‘Fintech’ (financial technology) investment, where global multinationals like MetLife can develop and implement their digital capabilities to their customers worldwide.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.