Search Optics, a US digital marketing firm, is to create more than 100 jobs in Dublin over the next two years for its EMEA headquarters, which the company officially opened this week.
The company’s niche market is car dealers, to whom it provides digital marketing software that works across smart devices and makes ads more effective. The firm’s major markets are North and South America, as well as Australia. Clients include Ford, BMW and Toyota.
Search Optics’ new EMEA HQ is located in Fumbally Square, Dublin 8, and its setting up here was backed by IDA Ireland. The firm was founded in California in 1998 and has 12 offices in nine countries.
David Ponn, Search Optics’ global CEO, said that EMEA is a region that is ripe for growth. “It will benefit extensively from the digital marketing technology and hands-on expertise we bring to the marketplace,” he added.
“We are dedicated to providing real results for our clients, backed by local employees in Ireland, and, with our new EMEA home in Dublin supporting us geographically, economically and culturally, we are excited to join the Irish business community."
In Association with
Killarney native Brendan O’Brien was recently appointed as Search Optics’ chief strategy officer and EMEA president. O’Brien’s background is in mobile and digital customer experiences, and he has worked in the past with Accenture and IBM. O’Brien founded UCC spinout ThinkSmart, which developed cloud-based mobile analytics and insights. It was acquired by Cisco in 2012.
According to O’Brien: “Dublin is a diverse, vibrant city that offers us access to highly-skilled staff and a comprehensive technology infrastructure that will serve as the perfect base as we expand into EMEA. We already have over 15 employees in EMEA and are looking to quickly expand the business in Ireland, contributing to employment levels and the continuing success of the country. I believe that we now have an even brighter future ahead of us.”
Photo: Shane Nolan, IDA Ireland (left), David Ponn and Brendan O’Brien of Search Optics, and enterprise minister Richard Bruton (right). (Pic: Maxwell Photography)
