Brigade to up headcount to 4,000

HYDERABAD: US-based Brigade Corporation, a global provider of customer relationship management (CRM) and BPO solutions, has announced the acquisition of Hyderabad-based Webhelp Global Services in an all-cash deal. The company intends to increase the headcount from the present 1,400 to 4,000 by mid 2006. The $17 million company also aims to reach the magical

"Webhelp Global Services is diversified into the same vertical space and has got effective voice-based service capabilities with a strong 400 odd workforce. Besides, it has got excellent client contracts and specially trained tech-support," said Brigade Corporation chairman and CEO, Sri Dasari.

Claiming to be the first third-party BPO company in the country setting up its operations in 1998, Dasari elaborated, "We would be expanding both organically and inorganically. We are the biggest BPO company in Andhra Pradesh in terms of size and revenues and we would be adding 400 people every quarter."

The company with its facility in Chennai also intends to increase the manpower from the present 300 to 600 by March 2005. Detailing the investments, Dasari said, "We would be investing around $20 million in the next five to 12 months. We have also acquired land in Hyderabad for setting up our own campus for which the construction work would commence in the first quarter of the new financial year."

The company has also acquired space in Chennai and would be investing Rs seven crore for setting up the facility in Chennai. Adding further on the company's plans, Dasari said, "Once we reach the 4,000 mark, we would then look beyond the existing facilities in Chennai and Hyderabad and opt for tier-two cities like Pune, Vizag and others."