SINGAPORE, 20 JANUARY 2009– At a time when many companies are laying off workers or rationalising their businesses, social networking company Friendster has been expanding its team, offices and partnerships in the Asia Pacific.
Since 2008, the majority of Friendster’s employees have been located in the region, and at least 80 per cent of Friendster’s new staff in 2009 will be based in Asia, the company said.
“The expansion of our team, offices and sales partnerships in Asia not only sets 2009 up to be an exciting year, but helps us pursue the necessary monetisation opportunities available to Friendster in our core Asian markets,” said Richard Kimber, CEO of Friendster. “As we move deeper into 2009, we will continue to build upon our direct sales, product, engineering, operations, marketing and finance teams to execute on our strategy and unwavering focus on the Asia Pacific.”
New offices
As part of its growth strategy, the social network has opened up new offices in Singapore and Sydney, Australia.
In the IT firm’s Sydney office is where Kimber is based, along with new members of Friendster’s marketing, sales and business development teams. The new Singapore office will also host sales, marketing and business development teams, the company said.
Friendster will continue to maintain and expand its office in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines, it added. In operation since 2006, the Philippine office primarily houses engineering and operations, but it will expand to accommodate more direct sales and marketing staff in 2009.
New partnerships
Friendster said it has also expanded its reseller partnerships to a total of four agencies in the region that will help with local advertising sales efforts. All four resellers will complement Friendster’s growing direct sales team, it said.
Pixel Media, a leading advertising sales network in Asia, has been appointed the exclusive sales partner for Friendster in Singapore, where Friendster has one million monthly unique visitors, said the social network.
Recruitment
According to the social network, the Xpand Group, a leading digital media recruitment services company in Asia, will lead the recruiting efforts for all Friendster offices worldwide. Interested candidates can view all open positions that Friendster and Xpand are recruiting for at www.friendster.com/jobs/index.php.
