Deirdre O Meara 
Sharon McCooey, the Country Manager for LinkedIn in Ireland, has announced that she will retire at the end of June. McCooey, who has been in the role for 13 years, expressed her intention to travel after retirement and has no immediate plans to take up another role. LinkedIn, owned by Microsoft, currently employs over 2,000 people in Dublin, and a spokesperson for the company has confirmed that there are no major layoffs planned, although the global talent acquisition team has been reduced in size.
In an email to staff, McCooey reflected on her time at the company, describing it as “the icing on the cake of my 35-year professional career.” She joined LinkedIn in 2010, when there were only 78 million members, and has played a key role in the company’s growth to over 900 million members today, with over two million in Ireland. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to have been part of the company’s journey from its early days to the opening of its Dublin campus and the celebration of its 20th anniversary this year.
A process to appoint McCooey’s successor will begin shortly, and in the meantime, LinkedIn’s two adjacent office sites in Dublin, covering over 26,000 square metres, will continue to operate. The company spokesperson reiterated that there are no plans for any major layoffs, and that while hiring will continue in strategic roles, it will not be at the same pace. The spokesperson also confirmed that the recent reduction in the size of the global Talent Acquisition team was a result of this reduced need for hiring.
McCooey’s retirement plans include cycling and fulfilling a long-held promise to travel. “For starters, I will be back on my bike with my friends from Paris2Nice,” she said.
McCooey’s announcement has been met with praise and appreciation from colleagues and industry peers. She is widely regarded as a pioneer in the tech industry, having played a key role in establishing LinkedIn’s presence in Ireland and contributing to the country’s reputation as a hub for tech talent. Her departure marks the end of an era for LinkedIn in Ireland, but the company is well-positioned to continue its growth and success in the years to come.
