IN FOCUS
Robert O’Brien with Invest NI’s John Hood
“Thirdly, we model ourselves on the fast growing technology companies in SF – using technology to help scale their environments. We adopt a mindset, to say, we are from Derry but we are not defined by Derry. We are actively competing against these global firms and from the outset it’s a challenge, and we are going to win.” While Belfast remains Northern Ireland’s tech capital, Robert isn’t shy about attracting people away from it, and actively targeting workers in the North West who commute to the larger city, each day.
phase of growth will take us towards just below the 200 employee mark,” he says. “It’s driven by demand for the product.” While there are software developers and those from other technical backgrounds, Robert says the majority of his staff come into the role with no expertise in cyber-security, and it has a range of extensive training schemes, internally. Robert’s background in tech entrepreneurship began in 1990 with AMT-Sybex, based at Dargan Crescent. That led to other businesses in Dublin and Swindon, before returning to Derry in the early 2000s.
“If they have the talent and work ethic they can do extremely well, and are paid well above the average for the North West,” he says. “We have to compete with Belfast companies trying to take our talent.” The firm currently has an active campaign in Belfast, aimed at targeting workers with long daily commutes to reconsider staying in Derry.
On to Brexit. Technology and software is an industry largely immune to the potential impacts of the UK’s exit from the EU. But generally speaking, Robert believes we are in a period of local and international political stasis, with no one truly able to lead.
MetaCompliance is firmly in growth mode. “The second phase is now over, and the third
“There are people that are trying to simplify things that are complex. I fear that people,
NOVEMBER 2019
because they are lazy or tired or disinterested, will accept those soundbites,” he said. “What is happening here and in America is we are not seeing politicians of significant weight. You don’t see anyone that you would want to take things forward – there are a lot of vested interests. “Attacks on the Press and attacks on the judiciary – they are all very sinister developments. I just feel ordinary people will end up the worse off.” Back to positivity and Robert wants MetaCompliance “to be one of the largest cyber-security firms in the world”. “We can grow to £50m… 300 people. That would put us as one of the largest in the UK, if not Europe. “Things look very promising for us. We have the opportunity to become an example for other tech companies. That’s how you create an ecosystem of positivity. You lead by example.” ■
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