By Business & Finance 
Ian Hyland, Business & Finance; John Farrelly, SAS Ireland; and Cathriona Hallahan, Microsoft Ireland.
In Ireland, Microsoft has consistently shown a strong commitment to its output here and continues to invest in its operations, people and performance mechanisms.
Since establishing in Ireland in 1985, Microsoft, the world’s largest software company has continued to invest in Ireland. More recently, the company has shown its commitment to Ireland through a number of important expansions and key investments.
In 2012, Microsoft announced plans to expand its Dublin data centre by investing an additional $130m in the facility, bringing the facility’s total investment to $630m. The centre provides services to customers in the EMEA region and was Microsoft’s first mega data centre outside of the US.
With employee numbers reaching 2,000, Microsoft is a substantial and important employer in Ireland, not to mention the indirect jobs generated and the development of trade links with local businesses that are playing a key role in driving economic growth overall.
In December 2013, Microsoft announced plans to invest a further €170m in Ireland, creating 380 construction jobs at the company’s facility in Clondalkin, Co. Dublin, bringing the company’s total investment in the facility to €594m.
While in 2014, as Microsoft prepared to celebrate its 30th year in operation in Ireland, it was announced that the global software giant would begin construction on a new purpose-built campus in South Dublin. This new facility will become home to all existing employees with the scope to grow and create additional jobs.
In January this year, Microsoft Corp. released its financial results which saw an 8% rise in revenue over 2014, rising to $26.47bn last quarter.
Pioneering product launches
Microsoft also recently launching a number of innovative products. The launch of Windows 10, it’s new operating system, signals a new era for Microsoft users and promises a faster, simpler and more efficient browsing capability.
The eagerly awaited ‘HoloLens’ is the world’s first holographic computer ,which tech experts are saying will allow users to see and hear high definition holograms in the world around them. Both Windows 10 and HoloLens will be on the market later this year.
About the CEO
Cathriona Hallahan joined Microsoft in 1986 and over the past 29 years has held a variety of senior roles in both finance and operations. She has managed large teams with regional and global responsibilities across a range of functions including global responsibilities for MBS and Enterprise Services as well as directing supply chain management, logistics, customer care and IT and financial support for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Previous to her role as MD of Microsoft Ireland, Hallahan was managing director for Microsoft’s Dublin-based EMEA Operations Centre (EOC) for the past four years. In this role, she was responsible for a 600 strong team that manages operations across 120 countries.
In addition to her Microsoft responsibilities, she also sits on the boards of Vhi Healthcare, the American Chamber of Commerce and of Kanchi Network. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum, the Institute of Directors, the Institute of Accounting Technicians (IATI) and is a fellow of ACCA.
Business & Finance, Company of the Month
Business & Finance, in association with SAS Ireland, recognises excellence in business through the ‘Company of the Month’ award. The Company of the Month award recognises the company which best demonstrates outstanding business leadership, sustainable growth, innovative strategy, strong financial returns and employee development.
