StarTek to generate another 1,000 jobs for Filipinos

To support the company’s expansion to a second facility

(Manila, Philippines, March 8, 2010) – To support its expansion to a second facility, business process outsourcing (BPO) services provider StarTek announced it is recruiting another 1,000 Filipino employees.

The company has operated a Makati call center since 2008. The expansion facility is expected to be operational in the third quarter. It is located at the Eton Cyberpod Corinthian business center adjacent to the Ortigas business district.

StarTek announced that it has appointed industry veteran Rod Spires to lead operations at the new facility. “StarTek has experienced significant growth in our Makati site. New program commitments from current telecommunications clients and new business opportunities have resulted in our expansion plans,” said Spires. “The new facility will seat over 2,100 agents and we are currently recruiting for over 1,000 new employee positions to meet existing demand.”

Mr. Spires has a strong background in leading and growing call center operations in the Philippines. Previously he held senior positions with Sykes and Sitel in Cebu, Baguio, and Manila. At Sitel (formerly ClientLogic), Spires played an instrumental role in growing pioneer operations in Baguio to 2,800 agents over three years. Most recently he served as vice president of operations for Sitel and was responsible for 4,500 agents in four facilities.

“We are excited to have an accomplished executive as managing director for our Ortigas site and we look forward to his contributions to our continued growth and success here in the Philippines,” said Larry Jones, President and CEO, StarTek.

The BPO industry is expected to expand significantly this year in terms of revenue and workforce as companies in the United States shift an increasing array of business processes offshore to facilitate recovery from the economic downturn that began in 2008. Department of Trade & Industry secretary Peter Favila said recently that the industry will employ more than 600,000 Filipinos by the end of this year. Last year, the BPO industry employed more than 400,000 according to the Business Processing Association of the Philippines.

According to employee feedback, StarTek is a popular employer because it provides genuine career opportunities supported by regular training, expanded benefits, and incentive compensation, according to Spires. The company also provides select employees the opportunity to undergo training in the United States. Training typically involves client-specific and skills development short-term courses that result in enhanced skill sets.

“Because call centers rely on human resources and their ability to use technology and adhere to optimized processes for productivity and overall company growth, we put great emphasis on partnering with our employees for career development,” said Joyce Peñalosa, StarTek Human Resources Director. Peñalosa said another reason StarTek attracts top talent is its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, which involve employee participation in community activities and outreach.

“The StarTek culture also contributes to employee development by emphasizing the importance of a balanced lifestyle,” Peñalosa said. The company fosters balanced lifestyles by supporting in-house guilds—called “Gigs”—that offer the opportunity to pursue special interests in a nurturing environment. Among popular gigs with regular activity schedules are those specializing in arts, photography, sports, community, lifestyle, and mountaineering, according to Peñalosa.

About StarTek
When it really matters, communications companies look to StarTek (NYSE: SRT), a leading provider of high-value business process outsourcing services. Since 1987, StarTek has partnered with its clients to solve strategic business challenges, improve customer retention, increase revenue, and reduce costs through an improved customer experience. Known for creating the highest customer service for clients and their customers, StarTek services include customer care, sales support, complex order processing, accounts receivable management, technical support, and other industry-specific processes. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, StarTek operates 18 facilities in North America and one facility in the Philippines. For more information, visit www.StarTek.com or call +1 303 262 4500.