Jamaica Gleaner

Concentrix Global now fully operationa­l in Ja

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INTERNATIO­NAL CUSTOMER services provider Concentrix Global is now fully operationa­l in Jamaica, having expanded its offerings to the outsourcin­g hub of Montego Bay, St James, three months ago.

Occupying the spanking-new 63,000square-foot building at the Montego Bay Free Zone in Fairview, the United Statesbase­d firm’s intention to recruit the best from Jamaica’s rich labour pool is very clear.

“Today marks another terrific achievemen­t in the expansion of Concentrix,” VicePresid­ent and General Manager Manfred Kissling said. “We are very excited to contribute to the developmen­t of Jamaica with a state-of-the art centre.”

“The addition of Jamaica to the Concentrix family is a key part of our growth strategy and extends our global footprint. This location will be home to the amazing staff that supports customer engagement for some of the world’s best and most iconic brands,” Kissling added.

Chris Caldwell, president of the company, also lauded the expansion to

Today marks another terrific achievemen­t in the expansion of Concentrix. We are very excited to contribute to the developmen­t of Jamaica with a stateof-the art centre.

Jamaica. “The Jamaican customer service industry expects to see a lot of growth in the coming years, and we hope to be part of it,” the president said. “Our focus is on becoming the employer of choice in the country. We are very pleased with our interactio­ns in the local market, and our staff has already generated exceptiona­l business outcomes for our clients and Concentrix,” he added.

Concentrix is a leading business services company operating in several countries, including Costa Rica, Uruguay, Colombia, Brazil, and Nicaragua. Concentrix reportedly boasts nearly 500 global clients across several continents, delivering technology-infused, omni-channel customer experience management, marketing optimisati­on, digital consulting, analytics and back-office solutions in over 40 different languages from more than 125 delivery centres. Most of its clients are in banking and finance services, healthcare, insurance, retail, and e-commerce.

NOT LOW-PAYING

Speaking at the official opening of Concentrix Global, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Dr Horace Chang rubbished the notion that the sector primarily entails call-centre operations for low-paying jobs.

“We have many Jamaican managers and supervisor­s who, in most instances, actually earn a lot better than [those in] a lot of the establishe­d industries. It is something that is not known, and there are still community leaders who speak glibly of the ‘lowpaying sweatshop’ activity, which is not true of the BPO sector,” he stated.

Chang argued that the success stories emerging from communitie­s across Montego Bay spoke to the “socio-economic impact that employment [in the BPO sector] has had on families”.

He added that many Jamaicans were already experienci­ng a diverse range of jobs in accounts, legal services, human resources and informatio­n technology through work secured in the industry.

Against this background, Chang contended that BPO is “the way of doing business” in the contempora­ry world, adding that Jamaica would have to be “a part of that process” in order to establish and maintain a dynamic economy.

Chang also noted that with the expansion of Kinston Wharves Limited and the Port of Kingston, the Government anticipate­d that even more diverse fields will be engaged in the sector.

“All told, the provision of reliable, safe and financiall­y rewarding opportunit­ies that this sector [can generate] for our youth cannot be understate­d,” he argued. The minister, in welcoming Concentrix to Montego Bay, said that with the firm’s occupation of 40,000 square feet and plans to employ upwards of 800 people, the company has “firmly establishe­d itself as a serious partner in economic growth and job creation.

“We are pleased that” you have recognised Jamaica as a valuable partner in the growth of your company and look forward to your expansion into other areas of the island in the near future,” Chang added.

All told, the provision of reliable, safe and financiall­y rewarding opportunit­ies that this sector (can generate) for our youth cannot b e understate­d.

 ??  ?? Professor Gordon Shirley, president and CEO of the Port Authority of Jamaica (left), and government minister Dr Horace Chang (third right) join (from left) Concentrix’s Ryan Grala, Manfred Kissling, Rick Rosso, and Monica Obando in the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the official opening of the US firm’s Jamaican operation at the Montego Bay Free Zone in March.
Professor Gordon Shirley, president and CEO of the Port Authority of Jamaica (left), and government minister Dr Horace Chang (third right) join (from left) Concentrix’s Ryan Grala, Manfred Kissling, Rick Rosso, and Monica Obando in the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the official opening of the US firm’s Jamaican operation at the Montego Bay Free Zone in March.
 ??  ?? Concentrix’s Ryan Grala and Monica Obando cut the cake following the ribbon cutting ceremony at the official opening of the US firm Jamaican operation at the Montego Bay Free Zone in March.
Concentrix’s Ryan Grala and Monica Obando cut the cake following the ribbon cutting ceremony at the official opening of the US firm Jamaican operation at the Montego Bay Free Zone in March.

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