The new office reflects a huge increase in membership, with the millionth UK member signing up in October of last year. Eyres, formerly managing director of travel site SideStep Eureop and GM AltaVista, will lead the team as it seeks to raise its European profile.
- What is LinkedIn's unique selling point?
Our USP is simple: we are totally focused on the professional community and on helping professional people extract maximum value from their business networks. We have more than 18 million professionals globally, with more than one million in the UK.
- What are your key responsibilities in the new role?
It involves building a strong team here and leading the strategic planning and execution for LinkedIn in Europe. I'll be overseeing marketing, PR, commercial sales and business development, and partner relations, all with the goal of building the brand throughout Europe and engaging with LinkedIn's users from a wide variety of industry segments.
- How has your background prepared you for this role?
I spent ten years with Compaq Computers, followed by nine years working in internet companies. I've spent eight years running the European operations for US organisations and this is the second time I have started from a position of being the first employee. I have lived through the bubble and the re-growth and transitioned from engineering and product roles to the business side, so my background has prepared me well.
- What is your first major challenge?
Getting a strong team in place quickly while developing a strategy that will deliver growth across at least ten major European markets is probably the first major challenge.
- What is your 12-month plan for LinkedIn?
We have very ambitious plans for LinkedIn in 2008. Building the business commercially and greatly increasing the user base throughout Europe are core objectives. As LinkedIn adds such value to the way professionals get their work done, clearly communicating the brand, values, and product benefits throughout Europe is a key element of the plan.
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