NASHVILLE – Gov. Phil Bredesen and Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell announced today that Asurion, North America’s largest provider of enhanced services for the wireless communications industry, will relocate its corporate headquarters to the Nashville region, creating 600 new jobs over the next three years.
Asurion, serving approximately 10 million wireless subscribers, offers end-to-end solutions for wireless technology companies. Asurion’s products include handset and data device insurance programs, roadside assistance services, warranty management plans, equipment management solutions and customized products.
The relocation from San Mateo, Calif., to the Nashville region was announced at a joint press conference held by Gov. Phil Bredesen, Mayor Bill Purcell and Partnership 2010 Chair Beth Mooney.
“We are extremely proud that a world-leader in the technology industry such as Asurion has chosen to relocate its corporate headquarters in Tennessee,” said Gov. Bredesen. “Today’s announcement is a great win for this community. The positive economic impact Asurion brings to Middle Tennessee fits precisely with our broader Jobs Cabinet strategy to grow and recruit better-paying, higher-quality jobs.”
Asurion plans to lease approximately 75,000 square feet of office space in Davidson County for its new headquarters. The company will relocate more than a dozen executives to the Nashville region, which will be the primary location for its executive, sales, marketing, finance and headquarters staff.
Mooney said, “I am particularly excited because Asurion meets all three of the key criteria Partnership 2010 has set forth for recruiting business to Middle Tennessee – headquarters companies, high tech companies, high-paying companies. Asurion has it all.”
Asurion already has significant operations in the region, including 600 employees at its state-of-the-art customer assistance center in Nashville and technology/repair and reverse logistics center in LaVergne.
Mayor Bill Purcell welcomed Asurion, and noted, “This is a business with a total annual payroll of $25 million and an average management salary of over $100,000. These high-quality decision-maker jobs are the kind of jobs that communities fight for. There’s a reason Asurion chose the Nashville Region – because there is no better place to live and work.”
Commenting on the relocation to the Nashville region, Asurion CEO Bret Comolli thanked the group and said, “Some people may ask Why Tennessee? Why Nashville? The exceptional climate for business, high quality of the workforce, support from business leaders and Middle Tennessee’s sense of community weighed heavily in our decision.”
Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development Matthew Kisber added, “We are very pleased that Asurion will now call Tennessee home. No doubt, they will be an active and successful corporate citizen, and we look forward to a long and successful partnership with them.”
Asurion is the leading provider of value-added solutions to many of the world’s largest wireless carriers, system integrators and OEMs, including ALLTEL, AT&T Wireless, Bell Mobility, Cingular Wireless, Verizon Wireless, Palm, Compaq, Nokia and BlackBerry, among others. It has 1,200 employees worldwide, with offices in Dallas; Houston; San Mateo, Calif.; Moncton, New Brunswick; and Singapore.