NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Consumer electronics insurer Asurion on Thursday announced plans to keep its headquarters in Nashville and add more than 500 jobs over the next five years.
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean called the decision "a vote of confidence in our city as a headquarters location" amid difficult economic conditions.
"Asurion could be based anywhere in the world," Dean said at a news conference. "And they chose to be based here in Nashville."
Asurion President Gerald Risk said members of his management team constantly evaluate the best location for their operations. "And we're glad that Nashville makes it so easy to commit to locate much of our growth here," he said.
Asurian in 2003 moved its headquarters to Nashville from San Mateo, Calif., with a promise of creating 600 new jobs.
"We're pleased to look back on that commitment and say we blew away even our own lofty expectations," said Risk. "We've added three times that number of jobs since then."
Asurion originally provided roadside assistance to motorists, but later expanded into insuring and repairing consumer electronic devices, like mobile phones. It currently has more than 90 million customers around the world.
The company employs about 2,400 people in Nashville and two technology and logistics centers in neighboring Rutherford County.
The new job openings will range from customer care representatives to management positions, Risk said.
The Asurion headquarters move was one of Gov. Phil Bredesen's first recruiting successes after he took office in 2003. The Democrat said in a statement that Asurion's growth "speaks to the business climate of the city and the state."
State Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber said Asurion's reach is almost universal.
"If you've ever had to replace or repair a broken cell phone, the odds are you've crossed paths with Asurion," Kisber said. "And the growth of mobile technology in our society has become phenomenal growth for Asurion as well."
Kisber noted that the Asurion announcement comes a day after cooking appliance maker Electrolux decided to build a $190 million manufacturing plant in Memphis that is projected to employ more than 1,200 people.
"This has been a pretty good week for the people of our state," Kisber said.
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean called the decision "a vote of confidence in our city as a headquarters location" amid difficult economic conditions.
"Asurion could be based anywhere in the world," Dean said at a news conference. "And they chose to be based here in Nashville."
Asurion President Gerald Risk said members of his management team constantly evaluate the best location for their operations. "And we're glad that Nashville makes it so easy to commit to locate much of our growth here," he said.
Asurian in 2003 moved its headquarters to Nashville from San Mateo, Calif., with a promise of creating 600 new jobs.
"We're pleased to look back on that commitment and say we blew away even our own lofty expectations," said Risk. "We've added three times that number of jobs since then."
Asurion originally provided roadside assistance to motorists, but later expanded into insuring and repairing consumer electronic devices, like mobile phones. It currently has more than 90 million customers around the world.
The company employs about 2,400 people in Nashville and two technology and logistics centers in neighboring Rutherford County.
The new job openings will range from customer care representatives to management positions, Risk said.
The Asurion headquarters move was one of Gov. Phil Bredesen's first recruiting successes after he took office in 2003. The Democrat said in a statement that Asurion's growth "speaks to the business climate of the city and the state."
State Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber said Asurion's reach is almost universal.
"If you've ever had to replace or repair a broken cell phone, the odds are you've crossed paths with Asurion," Kisber said. "And the growth of mobile technology in our society has become phenomenal growth for Asurion as well."
Kisber noted that the Asurion announcement comes a day after cooking appliance maker Electrolux decided to build a $190 million manufacturing plant in Memphis that is projected to employ more than 1,200 people.
"This has been a pretty good week for the people of our state," Kisber said.
