FDI of the Month

December 2016: HubSpot

By Business & Finance
11 January 2017
Pictured at the launch of Hubspot’s new Dublin office (L-R) are Christian Kinnear (Hubspot), JD Sherman (Hubspot), Richard Bruton TD, Jeetu Mahtani (Hubspot) and Martin Shanahan (IDA Ireland)

A new office, jobs, and a string of announcements made 2016 one to remember for HubSpot.

2016 was a transformative year for HubSpot in Dublin. In spring the Massachusetts-based inbound marketing software company made an announcement that revealed much about its growth in recent years: it was committing to hire 320 extra Dublin-based employees over the next three years, and it officially opened its new One Dockland Central office close to its original North Quay Wall base.

“When HubSpot established its first international office and EMEA headquarters in Dublin just over three years ago, few of us could have imagined the growth and success we’d see.” the company explained. “We delivered on our promise to bring aboard more than 150 employees across all aspects of HubSpot’s business, including sales, marketing, services, support and a full engineering team who have pioneered some of HubSpot’s most important product development initiatives.”

The high-tech office space features a fitness room, rooftop terrace and electronic desks that convert from sitting to standing at the push of a button. “HubSpot has just scratched the surface of what we can achieve in EMEA,” said managing director of EMEA Christian Kinnear.

“We’re proud to be leading that charge from Dublin and excited about the outstanding opportunities we can provide employees across all functions. It’s our mission to create remarkable experiences and results for our customers and with the right people, there will be no stopping what we can accomplish.”

EXPANSION AND INNOVATION

A string of further announcements followed throughout the year. The company’s European operations are set to expand in 2017 with the opening of an office in Berlin, where the company has had a presence since 2013. It will become the second office in the region, after Dublin, and the seventh globally in a network that also includes Sydney, Tokyo and Portsmouth (New Hampshire).

Back in Dublin, HubSpot held its ConnectED: Write Your Future in Tech event at the One Dockland Central HQ, as director of engineering Barbara McCarthy explained. “Getting a job in tech should be about talent, not about who you know or where you’re from,” she said.

“This programme is designed to empower students who are passionate about technology by rewarding what really matters: their ability to make an impact. I believe it’s our job as companies to help students connect that passion with opportunities.” The event welcomed students from IT Tallaght, Maynooth, Dundalk IT, DIT and Trinity College Dublin, among others.

It’s our mission to create remarkable experiences and results for our customers and with the right people, there will be no stopping what we can accomplish

November also saw the company host its annual Inbound event, where it outlined the current state of the industry and the future of HubSpot. “In the past, we told software what we wanted it to do. As AI technology evolves, that dynamic is shifting,” said co-founder Dharmesh Shah.

“Soon, software will be able to learn what we wish it could do, opening doors for businesses to transform how they interact with and serve their customers.”

Several new products and innovations were announced, such as HubSpot Marketing Free, a Unified HubSpot Mobile App, Visual Workflows, and Enhanced Reporting.

“At HubSpot, we strive to provide our customers with the tools they need to grow their revenue, streamline operations, and create a delightful user experience,” said Christopher O’Donnell, the company’s VP of product. “The new products and updates we announced at Inbound this year will help them do just that, all within the full growth stack HubSpot platform.”

Head of Irish operations

Christian Kinnear is managing director of EMEA at HubSpot. Kinnear joined HubSpot from Google’s Dublin office where he served most recently as their international head of sales development.

Christian KinnearTogether with Declan Fitzgerald, HubSpot’s global recruitment director, Kinnear is focused on establishing HubSpot as a leading employer in Dublin for workers from across Europe.

He is responsible for coordinating the company’s sales strategy across key regions for growth. In addition to his enthusiasm for sales, Christian is an avid fan of rugby. He has also received a certificate of appreciation from the French government for the time he spent working there as an archaeologist.