CGI Group Inc. (TSX: GIB.A; NYSE: GIB), a world-class leader in information technology and business process services, is well ahead of schedule for new hires at the Southwest Virginia Center of Excellence center of excellence in Russell County. CGI has operated the center in Russell County since March 2006. To date, CGI has 185 professionals occupying its new 42,000 square-foot software engineering and development center. This represents 45 more employees than initial projections for this point in time.
"We are very proud of our long term, successful partnership with the Commonwealth and view the Russell County facility as one of our greatest accomplishments in Virginia," said Nazzic Turner, Senior Vice-President, CGI. "Recruiting, hiring, and training great local talent is one of our proudest achievements for the Southwest Virginia Center of Excellence. As a result of the increased demand for the Center's services, CGI anticipates adding an additional 75 jobs beyond the 300 originally envisioned."
The center supports a wide range of CGI's global clients from different sectors including telecommunications, insurance and energy, as well as numerous Federal, state and local governmental agencies. The new 375 employee projection stems from current clients and related work. CGI also anticipates supporting future work under its Enterprise Applications public private partnership contract with the Commonwealth, which would further expand the workforce in the Center.
Over the past several months, U.S. Senator Jim Webb, Virginia Secretary of Technology Aneesh Chopra and Lt. Governor Bill Bolling toured the facility to get a first-hand look at the operation.
"We are very excited about the Southwest Virginia Center of Excellence and the prospect of bringing even more high quality and high paying jobs to the citizens of Southwest Virginia," said Patrick Gottschalk, Secretary of Commerce and Trade for the Commonwealth. "Local and regional hires make up more than 60 percent of the workforce at the CGI facility and locating the facility in Russell County has cut costs and reduced employee turnover for CGI at the same time."
The Southwest Virginia Center of Excellence is an important next step in CGI's plans to evolve its global delivery capabilities to support the growing demands of its global clients. Currently, CGI employs dedicated professionals servicing clients around the world in centers of excellence in Canada, the United States, as well as in Western Europe and India.
About CGI
Founded in 1976, CGI Group Inc. is one of the largest independent information technology and business process services firms in the world. CGI and its affiliated companies employ approximately 25,000 professionals. CGI provides end-to-end IT and business process services to clients worldwide from offices in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia Pacific as well as from centers of excellence in North America, Europe and India. CGI's annual revenue run rate stands at $3.8 billion (US$3.3 billion) and at March 31st, 2007, CGI's order backlog was $12.3 billion (US$10.8 billion). CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB) and are included in the S&P/TSX Composite Index as well as the S&P/TSX Capped Information Technology and MidCap Indices. Website: www.cgi.com.
CGI Forward- Looking Statements
All statements in this press release that do not directly and exclusively relate to historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are "forward-looking information" within the meaning of sections 138.3 and following of the Ontario Securities Act, as amended. These statements and this information represent CGI Group Inc.'s ("CGI") intentions, plans, expectations and beliefs, and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, of which many are beyond the control of the Company. These factors could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. These factors include and are not restricted to the timing and size of new contracts, acquisitions and other corporate developments; the ability to attract and retain qualified members; market competition in the rapidly-evolving information technology industry; general economic and business conditions, foreign exchange and other risks identified in the Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") in CGI's Annual Report or Form 40-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (filed on EDGAR at www.sec.gov), and in CGI's annual and quarterly MD&A and Annual Information Form filed with the Canadian securities authorities (filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com), as well as assumptions regarding the foregoing. The words "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "foresee," "plan," and similar expressions and variations thereof, identify certain of such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. In particular, statements relating to future performance are forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. CGI disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements or on this forward-looking information.
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For more information:
Media
Philippe Beauregard
Director, Corporate Communications and
Public Affairs
philippe.beauregard@cgi.com
514-841-3218
