An American software company will today open its European research and development centre in Dundee.
Cherwell will initially employ 16 staff based at the Dundee One offices on the city’s waterfront.
Headquartered in Colorado, Cherwell providing specialist software to companies in the healthcare, finance, education, retail and Government sectors.
The new office will operate under the leadership of Dundonian Fraser Patullo and will be the first international satellite to the company’s technology team in America.
It will be a focal point for Cherwell’s future product innovation and enhancements to their enterprise software products, which are sold in 40 countries worldwide.
Mr Patullo, Cherwell’s director of engineering, said: “Dundee offers a rich supply of computer science graduates coming out of Abertay and Dundee universities and the vibrant and dynamic environment and world class infrastructure, making it a great place to work and live.
“As an alumni of Abertay University, I have witnessed first-hand the rise of the digital media industry and the regeneration of the region into a thriving business hub, making it a great place for Cherwell to grow its R&D operations.”
The Dundee team will work closely with the company’s sales and marketing offices in Reading, to support their growing European customer base.
Staffing numbers in Dundee could increase in line with the company’s expansion which is seeing significant growth in Europe and Asia.
The firm plans to invest 23% of its revenues in research and development.
Josh Turpen, Cherwell’s vice president of engineering added: “As we tackle the growing demands on our engineering staff, the opening of this R&D centre in Scotland enables us to recruit talented computing graduates to join our team of world-class engineers.”
Since 2004, Cherwell Software has helped thousands of organisations globally to modernise their business operation by automating services digitally.
In the last two years the company has received investments of $220 million from leading investment firm KKR.
Dundee East MSP Shona Robison said: “I’m delighted that Cherwell has chosen the Dundee waterfront to be the home of their European research and development operations.
“As well as creating 16 new skilled jobs, this is another step in the transformation of the waterfront as a European hub of industry and tourism.
“Dundee continues to grow its £200m tech sector and I wish Cherwell every success in their local operations.”
