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{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = Foundever Group
| name = Foundever Group S.A.
| logo = Foundever logo.svg
| logo = Foundever logo.svg
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
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}}
}}


'''Foundever Group''' (previously known as '''Sitel Group''') is a privately owned [[contact center telephony| customer experience  
'''Foundever Group S.A.''' (previously known as '''Sitel Group'''<ref name="Foundever 2023"/>) is a privately owned [[contact center telephony| customer experience technology]] company headquartered in Luxembourg City. Foundever provides outsourced sales, technical support, customer service, and other business processes for large companies. The company has 170,000 employees and $4 billion in revenue.
technology]] company headquartered in Luxembourg City. Foundever provides outsourced sales, technical support, customer service, and other business processes for large companies. The company has 170,000 employees and $4 billion in revenue.


Foundever started as a subsidiary of [[United Technologies]] called '''HQ800''' before being bought by then-President James Lynch in 1985. Renamed to Sitel, it grew quickly and became the first telemarketing organization to go public in 1995. It expanded internationally in the 1990s and 2000s. Financial problems prompted layoffs and restructuring in 2001. In 2007, majority owner [[Onex Corporation]] de-listed Sitel from [[NASDAQ]]. Groupe Acticall SAS, the current owner and operator, acquired Sitel in 2015. In 2021, Sitel merged with [[Sykes Enterprises]] to form Foundever. As off December 2024 the company laid off a significant number of employees as a result of flawed financial planning and client loss.
Foundever started as a subsidiary of [[United Technologies]] called '''HQ800''' before being bought by then-President James Lynch in 1985. Renamed to Sitel, it grew quickly and became the first telemarketing organization to go public in 1995. It expanded internationally in the 1990s and 2000s. Financial problems prompted layoffs and restructuring in 2001. In 2007, majority owner [[Onex Corporation]] de-listed Sitel from [[NASDAQ]]. Groupe Acticall SAS, the current owner and operator, acquired Sitel in 2015. In 2021, Sitel merged with [[Sykes Enterprises]] to form Foundever.  


==History==
==History==


=== Early history ===
=== Early history ===
Foundever started as a subsidiary of [[United Technologies]] called HQ800 and located in Omaha, Nebraska.<ref name="book">{{cite book|title=International Directory of Company Histories|volume=128|pages=415–418|chapter=Sitel Worldwide Corporation|first=Jay|last=Pederson|year=2000|publisher=St James Press}}</ref> Its then-President, James F. Lynch, bought the company for $165,000 in 1985.<ref name="Henry 1999">{{cite news | last=Henry | first=Kristine | title=Sitel seeking remedy for its growing pains| newspaper=The Baltimore Sun | date=February 28, 1999 | url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1999-02-28-9902270238-story.html | access-date=October 12, 2019}}</ref> He renamed it "'''SITEL'''/'''Sitel'''," which stands for "System International TELemarketing."<ref name="book" /> At the time, SITEL had about $100 million in annual revenue<ref name=":0">{{cite news|title=Founder of Sitel takes reins again 2 top officers resign as teleservices firm moves to cut costs|newspaper=The Sun|first=Dan|last=Dang|date=March 31, 2001}}</ref> and 16 employees.<ref name="journal">{{cite journal|journal=CONfines of International Relations and Political Science|title=Los call centers y los nuevos trabajos del siglo XXI|issn=1870-3569|first=Jordy|last=Micheli Thirion|page=56|language=Spanish}}</ref>
Foundever started as a subsidiary of [[United Technologies]] called HQ800 and located in [[Omaha, Nebraska]].<ref name="book">{{cite book|title=International Directory of Company Histories|volume=128|pages=415–418|chapter=Sitel Worldwide Corporation|first=Jay|last=Pederson|year=2000|publisher=St James Press}}</ref> Its then-President, James F. Lynch, bought the company for $165,000 in 1985.<ref name="Henry 1999">{{cite news | last=Henry | first=Kristine | title=Sitel seeking remedy for its growing pains| newspaper=The Baltimore Sun | date=February 28, 1999 | url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1999-02-28-9902270238-story.html | access-date=October 12, 2019}}</ref> He renamed it "'''SITEL'''/'''Sitel'''," which stands for "System International TELemarketing."<ref name="book" /> At the time, SITEL had about $100 million in annual revenue<ref name=":0">{{cite news|title=Founder of Sitel takes reins again 2 top officers resign as teleservices firm moves to cut costs|newspaper=The Sun|first=Dan|last=Dang|date=March 31, 2001}}</ref> and 16 employees.<ref name="journal">{{cite journal|journal=CONfines of International Relations and Political Science|title=Los call centers y los nuevos trabajos del siglo XXI|issn=1870-3569|first=Jordy|last=Micheli Thirion|page=56|language=Spanish}}</ref>


Sitel was listed on [[NASDAQ]] in 1995.<ref name="The New York Times 1995">{{cite web | title=Investing IT: At the Gate; With New Issues, Small Can Be Beautiful | website=The New York Times | date=September 10, 1995 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/10/business/investing-it-at-the-gate-with-new-issues-small-can-be-beautiful.html | accessdate=October 13, 2019}}</ref><ref name="cc">{{cite news|title=Sitel founder goes to work on rebuilding|last=Monegain|first=Bernie|newspaper=CC News|publisher= Yarmouth|date=June 1, 2001}}</ref> Afterwards, it expanded internationally by opening new offices and acquiring other call center companies abroad.<ref name="book" /><ref name="Henry 1999" /> For example, in 1996 Sitel acquired [[London]]-based telemarketing company Mitre PLC for $230 million.<ref name=":1">{{cite web | title=Sitel to Acquire Mitre PLC For $230 Million in Stock | website=WSJ | date=June 7, 1996 | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB834165969747997500 | ref={{sfnref | WSJ | 1996}} | access-date=October 13, 2019}}</ref> Simultaneously, Sitel announced it bought a 69.2 percent interest in Teleaction, a Spanish-focused telemarketing company, for about $24 million.<ref>{{cite web | title=Sitel Announces Acquisitions Totaling $289 Million | website=The New York Times | date=June 8, 1996 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/08/business/company-news-sitel-announces-acquisitions-totaling-289-million.html | ref={{sfnref | The New York Times | 1996}} | access-date=October 13, 2019}}</ref> That same year, Sitel acquired Canadian Telephone Corporation.<ref name="journal" />
Sitel was listed on [[NASDAQ]] in 1995.<ref name="The New York Times 1995">{{cite web | title=Investing IT: At the Gate; With New Issues, Small Can Be Beautiful | website=The New York Times | date=September 10, 1995 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/10/business/investing-it-at-the-gate-with-new-issues-small-can-be-beautiful.html | accessdate=October 13, 2019}}</ref><ref name="cc">{{cite news|title=Sitel founder goes to work on rebuilding|last=Monegain|first=Bernie|newspaper=CC News|publisher= Yarmouth|date=June 1, 2001}}</ref> Afterwards, it expanded internationally by opening new offices and acquiring other call center companies abroad.<ref name="book" /><ref name="Henry 1999" /> For example, in 1996 Sitel acquired [[London]]-based telemarketing company Mitre PLC for $230 million.<ref name=":1">{{cite web | title=Sitel to Acquire Mitre PLC For $230 Million in Stock | website=WSJ | date=June 7, 1996 | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB834165969747997500 | ref={{sfnref | WSJ | 1996}} | access-date=October 13, 2019}}</ref> Simultaneously, Sitel announced it bought a 69.2 percent interest in Teleaction, a Spanish-focused telemarketing company, for about $24 million.<ref>{{cite web | title=Sitel Announces Acquisitions Totaling $289 Million | website=The New York Times | date=June 8, 1996 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/08/business/company-news-sitel-announces-acquisitions-totaling-289-million.html | ref={{sfnref | The New York Times | 1996}} | access-date=October 13, 2019}}</ref> That same year, Sitel acquired Canadian Telephone Corporation.<ref name="journal" />
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=== Ownership changes ===
=== Ownership changes ===
By 2005, Sitel had $1 billion in annual revenue.<ref name="journal" /> The majority owner of Sitel Group, [[Onex Corporation]], bought-out shareholders for $450 million in 2007, taking Sitel off NASDAQ and making it a privately-owned company.<ref name="Roumeliotis 2015" /> Sitel was merged with Onex Corporation's subsidiary ClientLogic Corporation.<ref name="reuters20072">{{cite web | last=Sharma  | first= Rakesh | title=Sitel says shareholders vote for merger with ClientLogic | website=U.S. | date=January 12, 2007 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sitel-takeover-clientlogic-idUSWNAS725020070112 | accessdate=November 6, 2019}}</ref> Onex paid an additional $51 million in 2008 and $60 million in 2014 to buy preferred shares, bringing its ownership of Sitel to 86 percent.<ref name="Roumeliotis 2015" />
By 2005, Sitel had $1 billion in annual revenue.<ref name="journal" /> The majority owner of Sitel Group, [[Onex Corporation]], bought-out shareholders for $450 million in 2007, taking Sitel off NASDAQ and making it a privately owned company.<ref name="Roumeliotis 2015" /> Sitel was merged with Onex Corporation's subsidiary ClientLogic Corporation.<ref name="reuters20072">{{cite web | last=Sharma  | first= Rakesh | title=Sitel says shareholders vote for merger with ClientLogic | website=U.S. | date=January 12, 2007 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sitel-takeover-clientlogic-idUSWNAS725020070112 | accessdate=November 6, 2019}}</ref> Onex paid an additional $51 million in 2008 and $60 million in 2014 to buy preferred shares, bringing its ownership of Sitel to 86 percent.<ref name="Roumeliotis 2015" />


France-based Group Acticall, which was founded in 1995 by Laurent Uberti and Olivier Camino,<ref name="Guerrero. 2017">{{cite web | last=Guerrero | first=C.M. | title=French call-center giant making its new home in Miami | website=Miami Herald | date=June 23, 2017 | url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/biz-monday/article157886769.html | access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref> acquired Sitel in 2015, valuing the company at $850 million.<ref name="ReutersFrance">{{cite web | last=Snyder | first= Brian | title=Acticall, acteur majeur des centres d'appel avec le rachat de Sitel | website=Reuters France | date=September 18, 2015 | url=https://fr.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idFRKCN0RI1X620150918 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218200546/https://fr.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idFRKCN0RI1X620150918 | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 18, 2019 | language=fr | accessdate=October 24, 2019}}</ref>
France-based Group Acticall, which was founded in 1995 by Laurent Uberti and Olivier Camino,<ref name="Guerrero. 2017">{{cite web | last=Guerrero | first=C.M. | title=French call-center giant making its new home in Miami | website=Miami Herald | date=June 23, 2017 | url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/biz-monday/article157886769.html | access-date=October 24, 2019}}</ref> acquired Sitel in 2015, valuing the company at $850 million.<ref name="ReutersFrance">{{cite web | last=Snyder | first= Brian | title=Acticall, acteur majeur des centres d'appel avec le rachat de Sitel | website=Reuters France | date=September 18, 2015 | url=https://fr.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idFRKCN0RI1X620150918 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218200546/https://fr.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idFRKCN0RI1X620150918 | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 18, 2019 | language=fr | accessdate=October 24, 2019}}</ref>
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* [https://foundever.com/ Official website]
* [https://foundever.com/ Official website]
* [https://foundever.com/about/who-we-are/ Foundever - Who We Are]
* [https://foundever.com/about/who-we-are/ Foundever - Who We Are]
[[Category:Companies based in Miami]]
[[Category:Companies based in Miami]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1985]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1985]]
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[[Category:Call centre companies]]
[[Category:Call centre companies]]
[[Category:OMERS]]
[[Category:OMERS]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in Luxembourg]]
[[Category:1995 initial public offerings]]
[[Category:1995 initial public offerings]]
[[Category:2015 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:2015 mergers and acquisitions]]

Latest revision as of 08:35, 12 August 2025

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Foundever Group S.A. (previously known as Sitel Group[1]) is a privately owned customer experience technology company headquartered in Luxembourg City. Foundever provides outsourced sales, technical support, customer service, and other business processes for large companies. The company has 170,000 employees and $4 billion in revenue.

Foundever started as a subsidiary of United Technologies called HQ800 before being bought by then-President James Lynch in 1985. Renamed to Sitel, it grew quickly and became the first telemarketing organization to go public in 1995. It expanded internationally in the 1990s and 2000s. Financial problems prompted layoffs and restructuring in 2001. In 2007, majority owner Onex Corporation de-listed Sitel from NASDAQ. Groupe Acticall SAS, the current owner and operator, acquired Sitel in 2015. In 2021, Sitel merged with Sykes Enterprises to form Foundever.

History

Early history

Foundever started as a subsidiary of United Technologies called HQ800 and located in Omaha, Nebraska.[2] Its then-President, James F. Lynch, bought the company for $165,000 in 1985.[3] He renamed it "SITEL/Sitel," which stands for "System International TELemarketing."[2] At the time, SITEL had about $100 million in annual revenue[4] and 16 employees.[5]

Sitel was listed on NASDAQ in 1995.[6][7] Afterwards, it expanded internationally by opening new offices and acquiring other call center companies abroad.[2][3] For example, in 1996 Sitel acquired London-based telemarketing company Mitre PLC for $230 million.[8] Simultaneously, Sitel announced it bought a 69.2 percent interest in Teleaction, a Spanish-focused telemarketing company, for about $24 million.[9] That same year, Sitel acquired Canadian Telephone Corporation.[5]

In the 1990s, Sitel grew about twelve-fold to $600 million in revenues.[4] Sitel had 24,000 employees and 70 call centers but was struggling to turn a profit.[3][7] It had substantial debt from the cost of acquisitions[7] and expenses related to closing unprofitable call centers it had acquired.[3] In 2001, Sitel was restructured to reduce taxes[7] and hundreds of middle-management positions were cut.[3]

Ownership changes

By 2005, Sitel had $1 billion in annual revenue.[5] The majority owner of Sitel Group, Onex Corporation, bought-out shareholders for $450 million in 2007, taking Sitel off NASDAQ and making it a privately owned company.[10] Sitel was merged with Onex Corporation's subsidiary ClientLogic Corporation.[11] Onex paid an additional $51 million in 2008 and $60 million in 2014 to buy preferred shares, bringing its ownership of Sitel to 86 percent.[10]

France-based Group Acticall, which was founded in 1995 by Laurent Uberti and Olivier Camino,[12] acquired Sitel in 2015, valuing the company at $850 million.[13]

In June 2021, Sitel acquired a public customer service company Sykes Enterprises for $2.2 billion.[14] In March 2023, Sitel and Sykes fully merged to form Foundever.[15][16]

2022 data breach

Okta, a large identity and access management company, had a security breach in early 2022 that it blamed on Sykes, one of many companies which provides customer support services for Okta.[17] Documents leaked in May 2022 raised serious questions about Sitel/Sykes' security defenses, and gaps in Okta's response to being notified of the security breach by Sitel.[18]

Products and services

Foundever provides out-sourced call center services, as well as consulting, analytics, and support for other business processes.[19] The company operates out of large buildings with employees that speak different languages.[12] Its call centers are used for things like sales, customer service, collections, and back-office work.[7][10] For example, employees might take a phone order for a consumer product or troubleshoot problems with a bank account.[12] It also operates sub-brands for things like training and IT software.[12] It also develops customer service chatbots.[12]

Initially, Sitel primarily did sales calls for insurance and credit card companies.[20] It started specializing in different industries and services in 1990.[5] Sitel started doing inbound calls in 1990[3] tech support in 1997[5] and customer relationship management in 2001.[7]

References

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  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  17. ↑ https://techcrunch.com/2022/03/23/okta-breach-sykes-sitel/ Okta says hundreds of companies impacted by security breach by Zack Whittaker TechCrunch March 23, 2002 Retrieved 4/4/22
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

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