Ciber to hire 1,000 more by 2011 end

 

Firm, which has invested over $50m in India, is looking at tier-2 locations

NYSE-LISTED Ciber, a system integration firm, said it would double its headcount in India by the end of 2011.
The company presently employs around 1,000 in India.

Ciber, which has invested over $50 million so far in India, is looking at tier-2 locations across India for expansion. Recently, the company opened an office in Chennai with about 100 employees to serve its clients in automotive verticals.

Going forward, the company said it would have majority of its workforce in India, which presently is at the third place next to the US and the UK in terms of total headcount. During recession, the company hired close to 500 people in India.

Tony Hadzi, president ­custom solutions divi sion, Ciber, said, "Many of our local customers have some kind of tie up with the compa nies in the US or UK.
The present political rhetoric in the US on outsourcing will always be there and it was always. We invest more on virtual infrastructure to keep our employees close across the waters, and there is a significant cost benefit in it. In general, I do not think any political situation will deter our business model."

David Peterschmidt, CEO, Ciber, said, "I have met lot of CIOs who said that they no longer look at outsourcing to India as a low-cost option. India has some expertise that cannot be found in the US. Hence, outsourcing to India is not an economic decision, it is a decision premised on fundamental issue of talent and capability.
Our investment in India will continue and it will be in line with our expansion."

During second quarter of 2010, the firm reported revenue of $265.4 million.