BPO major, Sutherland Global Services announced the opening of its fourth centre in Philippines at Camarines Sur, on Wednesday. The company plans further expansions in Eastern Europe, while gearing up for expansion in Tier II cities in India.

Sutherland hired about 3,000 professionals in the Phillipines in 2007 and now employs over 5,600 people there.

Sutherland is planning centres in Bulgaria in Eastern Europe on the overseas front, and in Chennai, Madurai, Thiruchirapalli and Tirunelveli in India.

Sutherland has also announced plans to set up its first global campus on the IT Corridor in Chennai, investing close to Rs 200 crore. When fully operational, the campus will occupy over 10,000 people. First phase of construction will commence in the second half of this year, he added.

Sutherland is among the four companies that were allotted 62 acres at the Sholinganallur IT park near Chennai. The company has also received allotments for 25 acres at the Madurai, Thiruchirapalli and Tirunelveli SEZs promoted by the TN government.

Commenting on the company's growth in India, Vellodi said, "We are pleased with the progress we have made in India in 2007, having ramped our headcount to over 11,000 people. We hired over 3,000 employees in the year." The company has six facilities in Chennai and one each in Kochi and Mumbai. Within 18 months of its launch in Kochi, Sutherland has increased its headcount to over 1,500 against its original target of 750 employees, Vellodi said.

Sutherland now has over 21,000 employees across its 22 centres in India, the US, Philippines, Canada, Eastern Europe and Mexico.