As the world shrinks, workforce complexity grows.
By Gill Aldred and Jacqueline Hauser
 

Two decades after liberalisation, a region’s workforce finds its leadership.
By Sonia Ferencikova and Amy Gillett
 

 Providers are responding to buyers’ scepticism with consolidation. Will it work?
By Russ Banham

 Our editor-in-chief and managing director explore the meaning of ‘O’ in HRO.
 
By The Editors

 The publishers of Corporate Responsibility Officer (CRO), HRO Today, HRO Europe and FAO Today Magazines today announced that Dirk Olin, former National Editor of The American Lawyer, Editor of California Lawyer, and New York Times columnist, is now Vice President and Editorial Director. In this capacity, Olin will lead the company's print and online content efforts.
 

Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. today announced the promotion of Tom Blodgett to chief operating officer of all commercial operations. Tom Burlin, will serve as chief operating officer for all government operations, with a focus on the company's expanding public sector business. Together, Blodgett and Burlin will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of ACS.
 

In the largest comprehensive HRO deal this year year, IBM Global Services has won a 10-year, $324 million multi-process contract from Bristol-Myers Squibb.

HP said it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase EDS for $13.9 billion ($25 a share) and has won the approval of boards.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of the year and would more than double HP’s services revenue, which totaled $16.6 billion in fiscal 2007. The companies' collective services businesses, as of the end of each company's 2007 fiscal year, had revenues of more than $38 billion. Together they employ 210,000 employees in more than 80 countries.

Global HRO provider Convergys has won a five-year renewal of its contract with telecommunications firm Avaya Inc. Terms of the accord were not disclosed.

The renewal calls for Convergys to support Avaya globally from service centers in Jacksonville, FL; São Paulo, Brazil; Budapest, Hungary; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Convergys will continue to provide HR and finance transactional management, payroll administration, HR administration, benefits administration, service center support, and employee and manager self-service navigational support.

EDISON, N.J. and BRUSSELS, Belgium (March 20, 2008) – Crossing Media LLC, owner of HRO Today, FAO Today, CRO and HRO Europe magazines, today announced it has completed acquisition of the U.S. and European assets of SharedXpertise, owners and operators of SharedXpertise.com, the HRO Association and HRO World Europe Conference.