Richard Bledsoe, TeleTech GM, SVP and chief operations officer for Asia.

Richard Bledsoe, the American executive appointed in mid-2009 to lead call center firm TeleTech in the Philippines, will get his chance to formally inaugurate two new sites in the urban jungle of Makati.

The unveiling of the new facilities -- at the EcoPlaza Building in the Don Chino Roces Extension and at the GT International Tower along Ayala Avenue -- marks the first time that Bledsoe will preside in an unveiling ceremony as general manager.

The US-based call center operator was previously headed by India-born executive Maulik Parekh who oversaw the company’s expansion in the countryside. This time, TeleTech is going back to its urban roots by opening its newest sites in the country’s main financial district.

The ultra-modern EcoPlaza Building site is expected to go live first with the GT Tower following next. No exact date has been set for the actual unveiling.

According to the company, one of the driving forces behind its expansion is the consolidation of Teletech’s Global Business Services (GBS).

The “first-class facility” in EcoPlaza Building, the company said, will house 300 seats of specialized back-office functions and shared services that support the global TeleTech operations with finance and accounting, payroll processing, human resource outsourcing, quality assurance, and workforce management.

In a statement, Bledsoe, who is also TeleTech’s senior vice president and chief operations officer for Asia, said he sees the new site as a strategic step toward improving the global support that the Philippines provides for TeleTech worldwide.

Globally, TeleTech serves around 100 clients with approximately 48,000 employees in 17 countries.

“We believe that we will be able to retain many of our key employees with this consolidation and also attract new talented employees to help strengthen the global shared services that we provide to the worldwide TeleTech business,” he stated.

Bledsoe said the new facilities feature state-of-the-art amenities like health clinics, break rooms, quiet rooms, and lounge and locker area. The building also offers covered car park as well as restaurants, retail shops, and banking services.

Teletech is currently the largest BPO solutions provider in the country with an estimated workforce of 17,000 employees scattered over a dozen locations across the Philippines.

In Metro Manila, TeleTech has delivery centers in Pasay City, Novaliches in Quezon City, and Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. The rest of its Luzon presence is in Cainta in Rizal, Pampanga, Bacoor in Cavite, Lipa City in Batangas, and Sta. Rosa in Laguna.

The company is also present in the Visayas with centers in Cebu, Dumaguete, Iloilo, and Bacolod.

Bledsoe, who joined TeleTech in January, has more than 20 years of experience in executive leadership roles with more than 25 years in the BPO industry.

As part of his focus to boost TeleTech’s competitive position, Bledsoe’s team is expanding key accounts and continuing to hire qualified human resources across the country.

He said the current economic slowdown could even be beneficial to the company. “With economic pressure comes the opportunity to refine your business model, and refocus on core competencies. TeleTech is helping clients do just that,” he said in a statement.