Online auction giant opens European headquarters in Dundalk

Online retail and auction giant eBay has opened its European headquarters in Dundalk, and will employ 1,450 people in the coming years.

The Louth operation will provide support for eBay customers and its payment service subsidiary PayPal, across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

The Dundalk site was open for business just 11 weeks after contracts were signed. More than 385 people already work there, and the company expects to employ 1,450 by 2015. The company employs more than 2,100 people at its eBay and PayPal centres in Dublin.

The team in Dundalk provides customer support in English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish, and Russian.

Speaking at the launch of the headquarters, PayPal president David Marcus said it was “another milestone” for eBay in Ireland.

“In the 10 years since we opened our first customer service centre here, eBay and PayPal have thrived by creating new opportunities for consumers and businesses through connected commerce. Ireland has played a crucial role in making that happen across Europe, thanks to its ideal business environment and talented people.”

He said 80% of eBay Inc staff in Ireland were Irish, a percentage rate he said was rare to find in other countries. “There is no such other place in the world where you can actually find that diversified and the fact that a lot of people want to come to Ireland for a host of other reasons, so it’s the perfect combination for us.”

CEO of the IDA, Barry O’Leary, said eBay’s decision enhanced Ireland’s status as one of the main hubs in Europe for internet businesses.

“EBay is one of Ireland’s largest multinational employers. The eBay.ie site is facilitating thousands of Irish businesses to sell their products to a global audience. The opening of eBay’s operations centre further enhances Ireland’s status as the ‘internet capital of Europe’ and as a leading location for employment intensive services investments. This investment embeds eBay’s existing employment in the North-East where the company’s growth continues apace.”

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said it was a testament to the skills available in the Irish workforce and the attractiveness of doing business here that world-leading companies like eBay choose to invest in Ireland on a long-term basis.