Global Shares has opened a brand new office Cork city and has plans to double its headcount there over the next two years.
The new Cork office – at Penrose Wharf in the city centre – currently has 30 staff including software developers, share plan analysts and an inside sales team.
In the last year, it has more than doubled its overall workforce to in excess of 300 staff and growth is set to continue over the next 12 months.
Speaking at the official opening of the new premises yesterday, the leader of the Seanad, Senator Jerry Buttimer said Global Shares is the epitome of a truly global company and that other Irish firms could use it as a template to success.
He said: “This is the latest example of the strength and ambition of an Irish enterprise that has set its sights globally and is really succeeding in building itself to become one of the main players on the world stage.”
He added: “Global Shares helps companies all over the world – and here in Ireland – attract and retain essential staff by managing their employee share plans. What started as a small company in Clonakilty has grown into a truly global operation and that’s something to be extremely proud of.”
Billy Hanley, Senior Development Adviser, Enterprise Ireland added, “Enterprise Ireland has worked closely with Global Shares, both in Ireland and internationally, since its establishment. It is a great example of an Irish technology company, with a clear ambition to expand its reach internationally all the while growing its base of new high-quality jobs in Ireland.”
“Our aim is to help more Irish companies like Global Share to compete and win sustained business in overseas markets and it is helpful to be able to draw on Global Shares’ success to encourage other that it is possible to build scale. Congratulations to all the management and staff on their achievements to date and we look forward to continuing to work with Global Shares to help further their global ambition.”
Tim Houstoun, CEO at Global Shares, said: “Equity incentives are important tools for both attracting and retaining talent but perhaps, more importantly, when employees become owners of the company they work for this can act as a corporate glue – creating a sense of togetherness with common goals and shared values. This has the result of increasing productivity. Global Shares helps companies manage this entire process and we’re delighted to be expanding and growing alongside the companies we work with daily.”
He also welcomed changes to the Key Employee Engagement Programme (Keep) made in this year’s Budget, which helps start-ups and SMEs, especially in the tech sector, retain staff by offering tax breaks on share options.
He said: “The idea of employee ownership and equity compensation originated in Silicon Valley and has spread outwards from there. It’s an important aspect of the start-up and SME culture and it’s great to see that the Government is recognising the power of employee ownership and supporting entrepreneurship.”
Global Shares was named Deloitte’s Fintech company of the year in 2017 and the Deloitte Fast 50 list for the second consecutive year.
Cork City Office Grand Opening image gallery
