Allstate Sales Group Inc. (ASG), a provider of turnkey engineering and construction services to the telecommunications industry, has announced it is to establish software development and CAD support centres in Waterford and Sligo, creating 200 jobs over the next three years. It is the company’s first operations outside the US. Headquartered in New Jersey, US, ASG was founded in 2008 and has operations in eight US locations, including offices in New York, Pittsburgh, Boston, Tampa and Atlanta, employing about 700 people.

Planning, designing, mapping and building pathways for telecos


Services provided include planning, designing, mapping and building the pathways that telecom service providers require to connect new voice and data customers. ASG will establish at WorkLab Waterford and IT Sligo Campus Innovation Centre during the initial start-up phase. The company is investigating permanent office options in Waterford and Sligo at present to scale its operations. ASG president and CEO Antony Tepedino said: “We are excited to have the opportunity to develop, work, and grow our international capabilities in Ireland. "Our industry, telecommunications, has never been so vibrant; there is no better place to launch our European expansion than Ireland. Ireland provides a wonderful platform to achieve our goals. "Its diverse community, business climate, and people will allow ASG to develop and grow. The IDA has laid the groundwork and the response is amazing. We look forward to many years of success in Ireland.”

'Quality jobs in regional locations'


Minster for Business, Enterprise & Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, said: “I am delighted to see ASG choose Ireland as their first location outside of the US. This investment is a great vote of confidence in Ireland’s regions, and builds on our commitment under the new Regional Enterprise Plans to provide the conditions for quality jobs in regional locations.” IDA Ireland CEO Martin Shanahan said: “This is an exciting announcement from this successful engineering services company which operates in a high growth sector. "Attracting investment into regional locations is a key focus for IDA Ireland and the fact that this company is establishing operations in not one, but two regional locations is terrific, spreading the benefit of the 100 jobs being created in each area across the southeast and northwest regions. "ASG is a welcome addition to the engineering and industrial technologies space and will be an excellent reference seller for other companies considering locating here. I wish David and his team every success with their new Irish operations.”

'It’s the people'


ASG’s director of European operations, David Olden, who will manage both Irish sites, said: “The question I get asked most often is why Sligo and Waterford ... the answer is simple, 'it’s the people'. "I believe both locations are on the cusp of major growth and I am delighted that ASG are now part of that development. I look forward to building a brand and culture that people can identify with and want to be part of.” The investment is supported by the government through IDA Ireland. The new roles will include a range of technical and office professionals, including software developers, CAD/ARC-GIS technicians, management, administrative support staff and HR staff. To find out more, go to: https://www.asginc.us/EUCareers