BPO execs meet PNoy in NYC, reveal PHL expansion plans

Two leading United States business process outsourcing (BPO) companies have committed to expand their operations in the Philippines. During their courtesy calls on President Benigno Aquino III Monday (Tuesday in Manila) in New York, Jeffrey Fox, president and CEO of Convergys Corporation, and Bill Bloom, executive vice president of EXL Service, assured that their BPO firms will invest more in the Philippines. Aquino met Fox and Bloom in the Guggenheim Room of the Omni Berkshires Hotel in New York. Aquino is in New York to attend the official launch of Open Government Partnership upon the invitation of US President Barack Obama and Brazil President Dilma Rousseff. Convergys courtesy call Fox, during his courtesy call to Aquino, said expressed Convergys' pledge to partner with the Philippine government to alleviate poverty, provide more jobs and spur economic growth. "I met with President Aquino to re-emphasize the partnership and growth opportunities that Convergys and the country of the Philippines have together and to confirm our long-term commitment to invest in the Philippines," Fox said. He added that he took the time to personally thank the President for all the help he has done in making the BPO industry in the country flourish. "We appreciate everything that the government does to make sure that we’re good partners," Fox said. "The President has a history of being engaged and very supportive of not only our industry but I think all industries that can bring quality jobs to the Philippines," Fox added. Bloom huddle with Aquino Bloom told Aquino of EXL's growth and expansion programs in Manila. Bloom said they made their operations in the Philippines a “model center" that will supply the growing demand for highly trained and skilled workers to cater to clients with “higher end" needs. He said that his company has a growing base of clients who need higher end services aside from traditional call center work. Bloom said the “middle office," of EXL addresses needs of professionals in health and business fields. “So that would include work that is typically provided to physicians, nurses or lawyers or accountants and we’re building models such that we can offer those services to our clients here in the US from our centers in the Philippines," Bloom said. — Amita Legaspi/ELR/RSJ, GMA News