Rich Beyer, head of Freescale Semiconductor, has development plans for the Romanian unit, but is waiting for the economy to rebound. Two months ago, the company won a major contract, after a presentation by Romanian employees.
Freescale Semiconductor US company, one of the world's biggest semiconductor producers, which owns a software development centre on the Romanian market employing over 200 people, plans to recruit further after the economy recovers.
"We slowed down recruitment plans last year, as some customers delayed their contracts. However, we have projects underway that we'd like to step up with the help of the Romanian team after the economy recovers, a moment when the centre in Romania is going to boast significant growth," stated Rich Beyer, Freescale's CEO.
"We've received a lot of orders for products developed in Romania," added Steve Wainwright, CEO of Freescale EMEA.
The company had around 130 employees on the Romanian market in 2007, and advanced to 200 last year, when it planned to recruit another 50 people.
Freescale's Bucharest centre, working exclusively for the parent company, has been present on the market for ten years. Beyer says its importance has grown a lot lately because of Freescale clients owning plants in Romania, such as Continental or Dacia/Renault suppliers. Freescale works through Avnet, Arrow and Future Electronics distributors.
Freescale official, who took over the CEO position a year ago, explained the company won a very large contract two months ago, after a presentation by the Romanian employees. "Without that impact, the client, considering a solution of our rivals, told us we would have stood no chance. At the same time, last week we won a contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars, with the Romanian team having played an important role this time, too".
Freescale globally posted $840m revenues in Q1, 2009, down 40% from a year ago and 11% less than in Q4, 2008.
Freescale Semiconductor Romania started its operations in 2000 under the name of Centrul de Dezvoltare Software Motorola, as part of Motorola's semiconductor product sector, from which it split in 2004, becoming an independent company.
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