Prime Minister opens Orion Health's Grafton HQ
LATEST NEWS
SUBSCRIBE
Computerworld is New Zealand's only specialised information systems fortnightly. Subscribe now for $100 (23 issues) and save more than 37% off the cover price!
SIGN UP
Orion Health opens its headquarters in Grafton, company aims to become a billion dollar company by 2020 [PICS]
By Sim Ahmed | Auckland | Thursday, 4 October, 2012 | 8 Comments
Prime Minister John Key officiated at the opening of Orion Health's new headquarters in Auckland yesterday.
The facility is located on Grafton Road, at the former Southern Cross building, and features a 4400 square metre open plan environment.
(Orion Health HQ on Grafton Road)
Around 330 of Orion's 680 global workforce work in the new headquarters, which can potentially accommodate up to 1000 staff.
Ian McCrae, Orion Health CEO, says the new facility is required to support Orion's "phenomenal" staff growth in the last few years.
(Prime Minister John Key and Orion Health CEO Ian McCrae)
Last year Orion hired 41 IT graduates from New Zealand universities and created a further 100 jobs in New Zealand.
McCrae says the company will hire a further 60 graduates over this summer and needs to fill 106 vacancies across its 18 offices worldwide.
(Orion's UI and design hub)
Orion Health is the country's largest software exporter. The 2012 financial year saw Orion post its largest revenue in the company's 19 year history, with almost $100 million according to its annual report. Orion says at its current rate of growth it should become earn $1 billion by 2020.
Prime Minister John Key unveiled a commemoration plaque at yesterday's event, and was shown around the new offices.
("Hello World" - Prime Minister John Key gets a lesson in JavaScript from Michael Trengrove, testing team leader at Orion)
He says in New Zealand health care costs the government $14.5 billion annually, and predicts that cost will continue to rise as the average life spans of New Zealanders increase. Companies like Orion will help reduce these costs in New Zealand, and the software it produces is attractive for overseas markets, says Key.
"How the hell does the government take spending on health care the other way? It's with you guys," says Key.
Key says he is amazed at Orion's success, and urged the company on towards becoming a billion dollar business.
(Prime Minister John Key unveiling the commemoration plaque)
Photo credits: Sim Ahmed
Comments
Awesome Growth Ian
Well done Ian and the team at Orion. Well deserved success. Maybe now all NZ Healthcare organisations could use Orion's software?
Posted by Damien Toman at 14:45:41 on October 8, 2012
Posted by Damien Toman at 14:45:41 on October 8, 2012
Congratulations to Ian
A great success story. Develop a good product, understand your market, hire good people and lead from the front.
Orion are a leader in the health software field and their results prove it
Posted by Warwick at 10:49:14 on October 4, 2012
Orion are a leader in the health software field and their results prove it
Posted by Warwick at 10:49:14 on October 4, 2012
Congratulations to Ian
Orion is most certainly a NZ success story.
[comment has been moderated]
Posted by yeah... at 13:10:16 on October 4, 2012
[comment has been moderated]
Posted by yeah... at 13:10:16 on October 4, 2012
Congratulations to Ian
Haha, why do I suspect there might have been a barb in there as well? :D
Posted by Anonymous at 13:35:41 on October 4, 2012
Posted by Anonymous at 13:35:41 on October 4, 2012
Congratulations to Ian
There was. But insulting the PM is a high crime punishable by moderation. lol.
Posted by yeahh at 17:17:59 on October 4, 2012
Posted by yeahh at 17:17:59 on October 4, 2012
Hazzah!
Great to see this success from a kiwi software development firm. I hope Ian had a chance to talk to John Key about software patents to remind Key that he (and almost all of the kiwi software development community) want competent Patents legislation that *actually* excludes software patents, not SOP 120.
Posted by Dave Lane at 10:38:47 on October 4, 2012
Posted by Dave Lane at 10:38:47 on October 4, 2012
Hazzah!
Why should Mr Key be interested in what NZ wants? You may not have noticed but he's been working for the Yanks for years.
Posted by Anonymous at 19:02:59 on October 4, 2012
Posted by Anonymous at 19:02:59 on October 4, 2012
Hazzah!
Yes, it is certainly transpiring that way. One does wonder if Mr Key has any interest in making NZ a better place (I'm sure his minions at GCSB will track this IP address down and send in the Blackhawks)
Posted by Agreeing at 16:12:46 on October 5, 2012
Posted by Agreeing at 16:12:46 on October 5, 2012
MOST POPULAR
Social Media @Computerworld NZ
Computerworld NZ has now reached LinkedIn! Join to expand your networks and meet others interested in information systems.
