Keane to Up Headcount

Keane, an IT and business process services firm, has

announced plans to increase its employee base to 10,000 within the next

three-five years. The company's current headcount in India is 2,400 and is

expected to double by December 2006. According to Keane president and CEO, Brian

T. Keane, this announcement relates to the company's major transformational

initiative in which it is implementing a fully integrated global business model.

"India is central to our business model. As part of this

initiative, we would expand our vertical, business and technology practices in

India. We would be investing around $50-100 mn throughout India in

infrastructure, employees, training and facilities in the next three-five years.

We are also open to acquisitions in the Indian market place, but the primary

engine for growth would be inorganic," he added. Enumerating the reasons

for this ramp up, Keane said, "The number of projects coming in and the

change in Keane's operating model would drive this increase in headcount.

India is key to Keane's strategy and we intend to leverage its tremendous

resource strengths to drive Keane's growth."