May 2nd, 2019. Tralee. JRI America, Inc. today announced it is to further expand its Technology Centre in Tralee, Co. Kerry, creating 100 new jobs over five years. 

Since 2011, when JRI America, Inc. established in Ireland, it has successfully grown its team in Tralee to 100 staff.

The project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.

JRI America, Inc., is a subsidiary of the Japanese IT financial services company, Japan Research Institute Ltd ("JRI"), which is the specialist IT subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group ("SMFG"). 

JRI America, Inc. now plans to expand its Tralee Technology Centre with the creation of a Security Operations Centre (SOC) involving c.25 roles across a range of security-related functions including Security Operations, Security Event/Incident Monitoring, Threat Vulnerability Analysis & Management & Network/Systems Security. This Tralee SOC will work closely with the group’s existing SOC in Japan to monitor, assess, mitigate and investigate Cybersecurity threats/incidents on behalf of the group’s global operations. The remainder of the proposed 100-person expansion will involve additional roles being created within JRI America Tralee’s existing Development, QA/Testing, Network, Infrastructure, Data Centre support and Helpdesk teams. Recruitment for the new roles is underway. 

Speaking at today’s announcement in Tralee, Managing Director & General Manager, CIO Americas and EMEA and President & COO JRI America, Inc. Michael O’Dea said: “JRI America's Tralee Technology Centre continues to expand upon its vital role assisting SMBC Group's IT support in the Americas and EMEA.  Today's announcement of the commencement of operations in our Security Operations Centre in Tralee is a welcome addition providing additional roles necessary to our Cybersecurity capability”

Minister of State Brendan Griffin, who attended today’s announcement, said: “The jobs created by JRI America, Inc. continue to contribute positively to our rural communities and to the strengthening and diversification of the wider economy of Kerry. I welcome today’s announcement that JRI America, Inc. will continue to focus on supporting jobs in this region steadily over the next 5 years. “

IDA Ireland CEO Martin Shanahan said: “This proposed expansion will enhance the group’s Technology Centre in Tralee and significantly underpin its strategic importance in the wider JRI/SMBC group. It is an excellent announcement which will be of substantial benefit to the local and regional economy.  It supports  IDA’s strategy of winning additional investments for regional locations.   It will also support the recently announced Cyber Ireland Cluster initiative with which JRI Tralee is already engaged.  I wish JRI continued success here.”

In Ireland, SMFG/SMBC employs nearly 300 staff at its five entities; Sumitomo Mitsui Finance Dublin Ltd., JRI America Irish Branch, its Software Development Centre established in Tralee in 2011, SMBC Bank EU AG Dublin branch which was established in Dublin in 2014, Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company – Dublin branch which opened in 2014 and SMBC Aviation Capital Ltd. which established in Dublin in 2012. 

For more information on the new roles go to: www.jri-america.com    

About the company

Japan Research Institute Ltd (“JRI”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (“SMBC”) which in turn is part of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (“SMFG”), Japan's second-largest bank by market capitalization and a Fortune Global 200 company. SMFG offers a broad range of financial services, primarily banking-related. The group is also engaged in leasing, securities, credit cards, mortgage securitization, venture capital and other credit related businesses and employs 73,859 people (as of Sept. 2018) worldwide and has a stated strategic objective of further global expansion.

SMBC operates in more than 50 countries globally, offering a broad range of financial services, primarily banking-related, with the wider group also engaged in leasing, securities, credit cards, mortgage securitization, venture capital and other credit related businesses. 

In Ireland, SMFG/SMBC employs over 300 staff in five separate operations:

Sumitomo Mitsui Finance Dublin Ltd: Established in 1989, SMBC was the first global bank to go into the IFSC in Dublin. 10 people are currently employed.

JRI America, Inc. - Ireland Branch (JRI Tralee): In 2011, JRI established its Technology Centre in Tralee, to support its Western Hemisphere operations in the Americas and EMEA.  This operation currently employs 100 people and has recently moved into new, larger offices in Tralee to facilitate the doubling of its headcount to 200 people over the next 5 years. Capabilities created to date in Tralee include Software Development, Quality Assurance, Network Support, Infrastructure Engineering & Support, IT Security & Helpdesk services;

SMBC Bank EU AG– Dublin Branch: This branch currently employs 8 people and was established in 2014 to augment the bank’s network in Europe and to further enhance SMBC’s capabilities to deliver services to clients, particularly in the aircraft finance sector;  

Sumitomo Mitsui Finance & Leasing Company – Dublin Branch: This facility employs 3 people and was established in Dublin in 2014 to provide support services to its sister company, SMBC Aviation Capital Limited;

SMBC Aviation Capital Ltd: In 2012, SMFG/SMBC acquired Dublin-based RBS Aviation Capital. This operation has become the world’s fourth largest operating lessor in the aircraft financing industry and currently employs c. 160 in Dublin.

Contact

Press Office (JRI America Inc. Tralee)
press@jri-america.com
066 7178800

Ellen Lynch
Regional Communications, Press & PR Executive
IDA Ireland
ellen.lynch@ida.ie 
+ 353 87 4112084