An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD today opened the new Hibernian Insurance Centre at Knocknacarra.
An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD today opened the new Hibernian Insurance Centre at Knocknacarra.
Hibernian is the first company to locate in the Galway West Business Park, a major new business and retail expansion to the west of the city. 246 jobs have been created in a region that has been targeted under the government’s borders, midland and west development initiative.
Speaking at the opening the Taoiseach said: “Hibernian’s decision to move to this part of the west shows their faith in the skills and commitment of the people of Galway and the attractiveness of the city as a location for successful financial services business. I am sure that Hibernian’s confidence will be rewarded by many beneficial years for both the community here in Galway and Hibernian itself.”
Hibernian’s new chief executive Bryan Jenkins had huge praise for Galway as a centre for business in Ireland: “We are delighted with the location in the Galway West Business Park, it is a state of the art office complex with plenty of room for expansion. The well educated labour pool, excellent transport links and availability of reasonably priced housing has also been a huge plus for us”.
The function of the new office will be to process all general insurance business sourced from the west and mid-west region. It will also serve as Hibernian’s main direct service centre for the whole of Ireland, as well as a broker and claims service point.
Bryan Jenkins also added: “Galway is part of a major relocation drive by Hibernian. Since our merger with Norwich Union in 2000 we now have the scale and core skill base to justify establishing major business centres outside Dublin, a new Cork office was opened in September last year and Galway this year. We are very pleased that both relocations have been so successful."
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Press contact:
Kela O’Riordan, 01 617 8164, 086 606 8842,
kela.oriordan@hibernian.ie
Notes to editors:
- Hibernian is part of the Aviva plc (formerly CGNU), the fifth largest insurance group in Europe, and seventh globally (based on gross worldwide premia). Contd….
- Hibernian is Ireland’s largest composite insurer, ranked first for general insurance and top five for life and pensions
- Galway is Hibernian’s second major relocation away from Dublin; an office was opened in Cork’s Airport Business Park in September 2001
- The Hibernian Group employs almost 2,000 staff countrywide
- A photograph is available by ISDN
- Hibernian news releases are also available on www.hibernian.ie