What GBCs will be gone after Polaris? Any information helps. Even though we’re cheap, can’t compete with MC’s india strategy.
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@k9 Look, the Curitiba site is definitely closing over the next two to three years (the timeline is wonky due to the Polaris go lives), and some of the managers there already know it's a done deal.
The first phase is dropping the GBC name entirely. Word is they're planning to rebrand the whole thing as ExxonMobil Brazil. That way, when the site finally shuts down, they can frame it as just a percentage of their overall operations in the country wrapping up, rather than having to admit that the GBC itself is closing (Strange strategy. When I heard about that, I didn't see the point at all)
What blows my mind is that this hasn't fully leaked to everyone on the ground yet, because a lot of folks down there still don't realize how deep these strategies are already in motion. It's a real shame too, since I've been to Curitiba a few times and they've got some seriously talented people working over there.
They're basically slow cooking Curitiba at this point just because they've got so many people locked deep into the Polaris project. Shame…
@ae i think it will be curitiba, if it comes to SA. Although i can see keeping both due to favorable timezone with US. prague toast perhaps budapest too. There is no reason to have 3 GBCs in AP. Thailand is toast.
@fe budapest building is a lease. I dont think this would be a meaningful consideration anyway.
With the european business shrinking. I’m not sure either of then will stay around long.
The feeling is Prague will lose out to Budapest at least to begin with. EM owns the building there
there's lots of rumours in Thailand about layoff package in 2 years.
Bangkok and Curitiba colleagues are already bracing themselves.
Prague is toast
No decisions have been made on specific sites. But almost certainly one of the South American GBCs (more likely Brazil than Argentina), and one of either Thailand or Budapest. Malaysia and India feel reasonably safe due to TC components.
I think Argentina is the next one to close
Been to a few site strategy meetings, Brazil will be one of the first along with Budapest.