McAfee establishes a Software Operations Centre in Cork

Plans to create 152 knowledge intensive software jobs

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin T.D., currently on a week-long marketing trip to the US with IDA Ireland, today (Thursday 28^th October 2004) visited the headquarters of McAfee Incorporated, in Santa Clara, California, where he announced that the company, one of the leading security software companies in the world, is to establish a major Software Operations Centre in Cork, with the support of IDA Ireland, to service international markets.

Minister Martin, speaking after meeting with senior executives of McAfee, said “This investment currently plans to create 152 knowledge intensive software jobs over three years. Over 80% of the jobs will require a third level qualification in disciplines such as software product development, engineering and localisation; finance and accounting and supply chain management”.

“The winning of this project is a coup for Ireland and IDA and further enhances Ireland’s reputation as a global centre for Software and Internet security,” said the Minister.

“This investment also shows that Ireland remains the location-of-choice for leading-edge technology companies and is in line with the Government’s policy and IDA’s goal of attracting high-value, knowledge-based operations and investments from companies like McAfee to Ireland,” Minister Martin added.

McAfee, Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, California, US, creates best-of-breed intrusion prevention and risk management solutions. McAfee's market-leading security products and services help large, medium and small businesses, government agencies, and consumers prevent intrusions on networks and protect computer systems from critical threats.

The Cork Centre will have a product development team established to carry out work on new products. Its operations will include multi-lingual product localisation, financial shared services and operations for international markets. The establishment of the Centre is the result of restructuring by McAfee of a number of its worldwide activities.

Stephen Richards, chief operating and chief financial officer for McAfee, said “There are many reason why we chose Ireland. We believe that Ireland’s technology capability, workforce expertise, flexible operating environment and track record of success in attracting the world’s leading companies will substantially improve the company’s operational performance.”

For more information please contact:

Alex Kingdom Tel: +44 207 025 6407

Charlotte Holder Tel: +44 207 025 6402

or see the Internet at http://www.mcafee.com/

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