August 14, 2014

Mayor Emanuel Announces Fieldglass Will Expand Workforce in Chicago

Company to Hire an Additional 120 Jobs This Year, One of 15 Chicago Companies to be Acquired or IPO in the First Half of 2014; Growing Chicago’s Technology Workforce is A Key Initiative of the Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Fieldglass CEO Jai Shekhawat announced today that Fieldglass, which was acquired by German software company SAP in May 2014, plans to hire an additional 120 jobs in Chicago this year including positions across all functional areas and skill levels. As part of its sale – the first $1 billion exit of a privately-held, Chicago-based technology company – the company committed to remain in Chicago and grow its workforce here. Fieldglass expects to add up to 100 additional jobs in Chicago each year for the foreseeable future.

“Fieldglass is a great example of where the digital economy is heading in Chicago and is proof that innovative technology companies can start-up, grow and thrive here,” Mayor Emanuel said. “Today, more than ever, Chicago is a place where ideas, innovation and entrepreneurship converge and Fieldglass is one of the companies leading the way.”

Founded in Chicago in 1999, Fieldglass makes the world's most widely used cloud platform for the procurement and management of contract labor and services. It is used by more than 300 customers in over 100 countries.

“We are hiring at a record-breaking pace this year and are pleased to have the support and backing of SAP for the next leg of our company journey,” said Jai Shekhawat, CEO, Fieldglass. “Our focus is to continue our rapid rate of technology innovation and provide exceptional services and support for nearly eight million users worldwide from our headquarters in Chicago.”

As part of its growth plan, Fieldglass will be moving from its current headquarters at 125 S. Wacker Drive to 111 N. Canal later this year. It will join a flourishing technology community in the building that also includes the relocated headquarters of in-flight wireless provider Gogo, Twitter and Vivid Seats.

According to Built In Chicago, in the first half of 2014, Chicago-area company exits and Initial Public Offerings reached over $5 billion. In that time, Chicago’s technology startups brought in nearly a half-billion dollars in funding, a 128 percent increase over the first half of 2013, with nearly 20 companies securing $1 million or more. In total, 15 Chicago tech companies were acquired or went public in the first half of this year.

About Fieldglass, Inc.
Fieldglass, now part of SAP, provides an innovative, cloud-based Vendor Management System (VMS) allows organizations to better procure, manage and optimize their global flexible workforces, including contingent labor, services managed through Statements of Work and independent contractors.

Fieldglass consistently leads the VMS industry in total spend and global footprint, according to Staffing Industry Analysts. GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Monsanto and Rio Tinto are among the 250+ organizations that leverage Fieldglass to achieve total workforce visibility. Customers have access to best practices, unmatched expertise and the largest VMS user community to optimize all areas of services procurement including complex spend, worker quality, corporate and external compliance and contingent workforce program efficiencies. For more information, visit www.fieldglass.com.

# # #