US multinational Canto to expand Cork office with creation of 50 new jobs

Located on South Mall, the software company said its Cork hub will help several key areas, including AI research, cloud infrastructure optimisation and frontend modernisation

The Cork office will help with several key initiatives, Canto said, including advanced AI research, cloud infrastructure optimisation, frontend modernisation, and the continued development of Canto’s unified digital asset management and product information management (PIM) platform. Picture: Larry Cummins

US digital asset management firm Canto is expanding its presence in Ireland with 50 new jobs to be created at its Cork office.

Expected to be filled in the next three years, the multinational's expansion will see its employee headcount in Cork grow to more than 80, with plans to grow its strategic European hub part of the company's global product development strategy. 

Established in Ireland in October 2023 and located on South Mall, Canto helps global brands maximise their digital content through AI.

The Cork office will help with several key initiatives, Canto said, including advanced AI research, cloud infrastructure optimisation, frontend modernisation, and the continued development of Canto’s unified digital asset management and product information management (PIM) platform.

The announcement follows a period of substantial growth for Canto, with the company serving around 4,000 customers globally across retail, manufacturing, healthcare, education and technology.

Speaking on the firm's growing Irish presence, CEO of Canto, Wain Kellum said the 50 new jobs will be spread across the company's operations. 

"We first came here because of the university system and the ability to hire exceptional engineers. We wanted to build a centre of excellence and when we did that, we saw the quality of people you can hire here across all departments of the company."

"Cork is fantastic for us. It is an unbelievable place to hire good talent."

Canto's expansion comes as US companies face increasing pressure from US President Donald Trump to invest domestically. However, speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr Kellum said its Cork expansion is crucial to the multinational.

"We are a fast-growing software that serves an ever-increasing number of customers all over the world. It is impossible to build a global company in just one specific geography.

"There is also not a single geography that we are not adding to. But we like the talent here, as well as the time zone and accessibility. We continue to grow rapidly in Europe, but also in the US."

Commenting on the announcement, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said the investment "underscores our dedication to innovation and technological advancement, reinforcing Ireland's position as a leader in AI and software development.

"The Cork region, with its strong educational institutions like University College Cork and Munster Technological University, provides an excellent environment for fostering innovation and developing specialised talent."

The expansion is supported by the IDA, with CEO of the agency Michael Lohan saying Canto's choice of Cork is a "strong endorsement of the country’s reputation as a leading hub for innovative technology companies." 

"Our deep talent pool, stable business environment, and strong track record in supporting global companies make Ireland an attractive location for growth and innovation," Mr Lohan continued. 

Looking forward, Mr Kellum said the company will continue to expand in new markets, which will be helped by its Cork hub.

"Right now, 60% of our revenues come from the US, with our business in Europe taking much of the remainder.

"There's a massive opportunity for us to expand into Asia-Pacific, so it would be fairly typical for a software company like us to end up with more revenue outside the US than inside," Mr Kellum continued. 

"Our Cork office will help us service those customers we add across Europe and through Eurasia."