Polycom

By CIO New Zealand staff | Monday, January 11 2010

Polycom axed 3 percent of its workforce or some 80 employees in 2009, citing a need to reinvest in strategic growth areas.

Global HQ: Pleasanton, California, US
Website: www.polycom.com
Global leader: Robert Hagerty, CEO, chairman and president
Local leader: Hansjoerg Wagner, VP and MD, Asia-Pacific
Core activity: Corporate communications, video-conferencing and voice communications
Revenue: US$1.1 billion (FY08 ended December 31)
Key customers: AAPT, New Zealand Telepaediatrics, Adobe Systems
Employees: 2600

Polycom axed 3 percent of its workforce or some 80 employees in 2009, citing a need to reinvest in strategic growth areas. The company is facing some problems with its go-to-market model, but analysts predict it has a bright future ahead of it with video-conferencing expected to take off over the next year or so. There has been some chatter that the financial crisis has pushed down airline prices as carriers attempt to hold onto holiday makers and business travellers alike, and that once airfare prices rebound video-conferencing will start to look a more attractive alternative.

Gartner has forecast that telepresence will replace 2.1 million airline seats a year by 2012.

In March, Polycom launched a new office in Perth, touted as the next phase in its expansion into Australia and New Zealand. The company’s most recent annual report showed continuing growth at a rate of about 15 percent year-on-year. Revenue has also continued to increase in 2009. Rachael Bolton