Date:15/03/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/03/15/stories/2005031502090500.htm

Back Perot Systems to hire more in India

Our Bureau

Mr Ross Perot Jr, Chairman, Perot Systems (right), with Mr Peter Altabef, President and CEO, at a press conference in Bangalore on Monday. — G.R.N. Somashekar

Bangalore , March 14

PEROT Systems plans to add some 800 people to its IT services and business process operations in India in the current year. The company, at present, has 4,500 people in India, of which 1,600 are in the business process operations, while the rest are with its IT services operations.

The company's headcount grew in India by 20-24 per cent last year. "We expect to grow at last year's level," said Ms Padma Ravichander, Managing Director of Perot's Technology Services. "We will grow as the revenue demands," she added.

Mr Ross Perot Junior, Chairman of Perot Systems, said the company would continue to look at acquisitions both in India and overseas. About one-third of the company's 15,000 global work force operate out of India and is keen to expand its operations here, he added.

Perot Systems Technology Services (PSTS) has two operations in the country — applications services (Noida and Bangalore) and business process solutions (Chennai). The company has 13 acres of land in Bangalore, 25 acres in Noida and recently expanded its facilities in Chennai.

The company's board of directors are now in Bangalore to review the corporate strategy, signalling India's growing importance in the company's global plans. It has recently included Mr Anuroop Tony Singh, Vice-Chairman of Max New York Life Insurance, and Ms Padma Ravichander (Senior Executive - India/Asia-Pacific Region, Managing Director - Technology Services) onto its board.

"Perot Systems' India operations are a cornerstone of our emerging global delivery model of integrated IT, BPO and consulting solutions. It is important for the Board to meet here to provide more solutions for our customers, opportunity for our employees, and value for our shareowners," said the President and CEO, Mr Peter Altabef said. The company has recently started providing technology infrastructure services from India, he added.