LinkedIn Expands its Presence in the European Market
London — January 24, 2008 — LinkedIn Corporation, the world’s largest professional network, today announced its expansion into the European market, with the opening of its first European operation in London, and the addition of Kevin Eyres as Managing Director, Europe. LinkedIn achieved significant international growth in 2007, doubling in size in all of its major regions including Europe, where it now has over 5 million members and is the largest professional network. In October 2007, LinkedIn signed up its millionth member in the UK, its largest market outside the US.
“LinkedIn has seen outstanding growth in Europe in the past year, and by opening an office in London we expect to accelerate our momentum and better serve our users in the European market,” said Dan Nye, CEO LinkedIn Corporation. “Kevin Eyres has a strong history of success in spearheading European operations for Internet-based businesses, his appointment will enable us to keep up with the increasing demand and growth in Europe.”
As LinkedIn’s Managing Director, Europe, Kevin Eyres will focus on developing, leading and delivering the company’s strategy and growth initiatives in Europe. Eyres has extensive experience in managing high technology businesses in the international arena, having served previously as European Managing Director for SideStep Europe, the Internet’s first and leading travel search engine, and as General Manager of AltaVista International, prior to its acquisition by Overture. Eyres started his career as an engineer at Compaq Computers where he spent ten years leading development teams during Compaq’s hyper growth phase.
LinkedIn is actively recruiting for several additional European positions in Marketing and Sales out of its London office.
About Kevin Eyres
Managing Director LinkedIn Europe Kevin Eyres has joined from SideStep Europe, the Internet’s first and leading travel search engine, where he was also European Managing Director. Eyres is focused on developing, leading and delivering the company’s strategy and growth initiatives in Europe. Eyres has extensive experience in high growth technology fields in the international arena having been General Manager of AltaVista International for three years, prior to the acquisition by Overture, VP of Engineering at AltaVista as well as a Director of Shopping.com. Eyres started his career as an engineer at Compaq Computers where he spent ten years leading development teams during Compaq’s hyper growth phase. Kevin holds a BS in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Texas in San Antonio and has six patents.
About LinkedIn
LinkedIn takes your professional network online, giving you access to people, jobs and opportunities like never before. Built upon trusted connections and relationships, LinkedIn has established the world’s largest and most powerful professional network. Currently, more than 18 million professionals are on LinkedIn, including senior-level executives from all five hundred of the Fortune 500 companies and almost every FTSE 100 company, as well as a wide range of household names in technology, financial services, media, consumer packaged goods, entertainment, and numerous other industries. With over 1 million professionals in the UK, LinkedIn has become one of the UK’s fastest-growing online brands, according to Nielsen Online and is the largest online professional network in Europe. LinkedIn is backed by world-class investors including Sequoia Capital, Greylock, the European Founders Fund and Bessemer Venture Partners.