Corkman takes over Scottish call centre

CORK businessman Pearse Flynn has taken full control of a call centre business in Scotland.

Mr Flynn bought out his business partner Jim Park, who along with the Corkman took over Glasgow-based Contact 4U last year.

Mr Flynn, the former chief executive of telecoms firm Damovo, is said to be planing to open three Contact 4U call centres this year, bringing the total to six.

Mr Flynn worked for the computer firm Compaq for 12 years in various roles in Europe and the US before moving to Newbridge Networks in 1999. He served as executive vice-president and general manager of its European operations before moving to Canada as chief operating officer.

He played a key role in the acquisition of Newbridge Networks by Alcatel for $7.1 billion in February 2000, becoming the president of the Alcatel Carrier Networking Group on completion of the transfer, before moving to Damovo.

He is a major shareholder in Celtic football club, along with several Irish investors, including Dermot Desmond, Eddie Jordan and Denis O’Brien and is in the process of buying Livingston football club.

It is not known how much Mr Flynn paid to buy-out his partner. When Mr Flynn bought Contact 4U, previously called CallPoint, he said the company had turnover of “single digit millions“.

While many call centres in Britain and Ireland are being closed with the jobs heading to India and the Far East, Contact4U has been expanding.

Speaking about this, Mr Flynn said: “I believe the time to make money is when people have a negative view. I don’t believe the quality end of the sector is going to India at all.”