Forbes listing prompts BPO [24]7 to expand PHL site

Business process outsourcing (BPO) firm [24]7 is eyeing to open three more facilities in the country, a decision that was influenced by its inclusion in the Forbes’ list of America’s Most Promising Companies. In a media briefing Wednesday, Rienzi Ramirez, Philippines & Latin America chief delivery officer, revealed that the company is set to open new facilities in Quezon City, Alabang and Metro Cebu in the next three years. This will result in at least 3,000 job openings, he noted. The company recently opened its fourth site in Ortigas Center, Pasig City. The site needs about 1,000 new employees for its operations, Ramirez added. According to the [24]7 official, the plan to investment more in the country came about after the company ranked 31st in Forbes Magazines’ Top 100 most promising companies in America, a first for the company. According to Forbes, the companies that applied were gauged on sales and hiring growth, quality of management team and investors, margins, market size and key partnerships. In a Skype conference call with [24]7’s co-founder and chief executive PV Kannan, the CEO said 2012 revenues reached $250 million, up about 20 percent from a year earlier. However, Ramirez declined to disclose the Philippine operation’s share to the company's global revenues. “[24]7 operations in the Philippines, particularly its pool of local talents, are recognized by [24]7 headquarters as key contributor to overall success of the company,” Ramirez said. “The Philippine operation is the largest [in the company] globally. It is a critical piece as clients preferred [customer service representatives] to be from the Philippines,” he noted. The company employs more than 10,000 people globally, of which about 40 percent or 4,500 are in the Philippines making the country its largest site. [24]7 is also in Guatemala, India, Latin America and United States. Its clients are based in the United Kingdom, US and Australia. Ramirez noted that the company caters to industries such as banking and finance, telecommunications and retail. — VS, GMA News