IBEX selects 'magnificent waterfront' for regional HQ
Published:Friday | January 12, 2018 | 12:00 AMAvia Collinder/Business Reporter
American company IBEX Global, a provider of contact centre services and other business process outsourcing solutions, will launch its new Caribbean and Central American headquarters later today in space secured at the Digicel Building on the Kingston waterfront.
IBEX Global CEO Bob Dechant said ahead of the ceremony that the Jamaican site was chosen for a regional hub due to its "magnificent" harbour location, his love for Jamaica, and significant support of the Jamaican Government.
Through the new hub, Dechant said the company was aiming to increase its footprint across the region.
"We are in Managua, Nicaragua in Central America (750 seats). We are looking to further expand in the Caribbean within the next year. Those locations are confidential right now. However, we will continue our expansion in Jamaica as well," he said.
IBEX said in a release that the regional hub has been operational for a month and is served by more than 600 customer service agents and management staff.
It edges the Washington DC-based company closer to its long-term goal of 5,000 employees in Jamaica. It's already halfway there, with more than 2,500 employees overall.
IBEX invested around US$1.5 million in the waterfront centre.
"This makes our current capital investment in Jamaica over US$6 million," Dechant added.
"Jamaica is a logical location based on our scale in the market we currently have over 2,500 employees; proximity to the US, the magnificent waterfront facility that our partnership with Digicel has afforded us; and the pro-business mindset we have found from the government and others in the country. Finally, it is because of my personal passion for Jamaica as an amazing place to do business," he said.
The Kingston centre spans 41,000 square feet and 625 seats, but the IBEX CEO did not disclose the terms of the lease arrangements with Digicel.
He said, however, that the waterfront operation would be expanding further this year.
"We will be expanding another 17,000 square feet and 300 seats by end of Q2 2018 as well as another 5,000 square feet across the street for our recruiting and training hub for a total of 63,000 square feet and 925 seats," Dechant said.
IBEX Jamaica also operates a contact centre in Portmore.