Just days before leaving office, Gov. Sonny Perdue on Thursday announced that Essen, Germany-based ThyssenKrupp is moving its IT headquarters to Alpharetta and planning to fill 110 jobs.
"I think it is very fitting that the last press conference that I hold as governor is focused on economic development and jobs for Georgia," said Perdue, whose term ends Monday. "I would prefer that more than any other thing."
ThyssenKrupp, which already has five other divisions in Georgia, including an elevator products manufacturing operation also headquartered in Alpharetta, said it will invest $30 million in the new IT subsidiary. The Alpharetta location will be the hub for all of ThyssenKrupp's IT operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. A timetable has not been announced.
ThyssenKrupp spokesman Matthew Rhodes could not provide salary ranges for the jobs, but said pay would be competitive. Jobs will include help desk support, network engineers, project managers, telecom engineers, data center managers and Microsoft Windows support.
The integrated materials, manufacturing and technology company chose Georgia because of the state's communications and technology infrastructure, ease of access to global markets via Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and its friendly business environment, said Robert Trotter, president and chief information officer of ThyssenKrupp IT Services North America.
Planned partnerships with the University System of Georgia also played a large role in the decision, he said.
"ThyssenKrupp IT Services is excited about becoming a part of Georgia's future," Trotter said.
The move to Alpharetta consolidates the company's North American IT operations, which have been scattered around the country. Executives with the company will move to Atlanta from outside Detroit.
ThyssenKrupp had global sales of $58.3 billion in fiscal 2009-2010 and $6.7 billion during that period in the U.S.
Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer Brandon Beach said the move proves that “north Fulton continues to be an attractive destination for international investment.”
Alpharetta Mayor Arthur Letchas agreed: “This is clear testimony to the positive business environment that Alpharetta offers and to Georgia’s strength as a location for technology industries.”
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