Electronic commerce company First Data Corporation will relocate its global headquarters to Sandy Springs, Georgia, in the Atlanta area, according to the Georgia governor's office. The company plans to create up to 1,000 new jobs at the facility over the next three years. First Data is currently headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, and a company statements says it will continue to maintain operations there and at a facility in Nebraska. "Atlanta is well-known for being a major hub for the payments industry, and First Data already had a significant presence here," says Michael Capellas, First Data's chair and CEO. "Atlanta allowed us to consolidate operations, be closer to our customers, and continue to recruit from a great talent pool." The governor's office says the company plans to expand its 180,000-square-foot facility in Sandy Springs to accommodate the new operations and employees. The Denver Business Journal reports that the company is making the move to bring company executives closer to its primary financier in North Carolina and to facilitate easier travel to the company's expanding client base in Europe.
