Ubisoft 2008 Annual Report Download - page 66

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UBISOFTANNUAL REPORT 2009
Breakdown of headcount by region
COUNTRY Headcount As of 31 March 2009 Headcount As of 31 March 2008 Headcount As of 31 March 2007
North America 2,609 2,082 1,923
Europe + North Africa 2,297 1,754 1,600
Asia-Pacific 859 487 411
Total 5,765 4,323 3,934
1.1.4.1.1 Supporting growth in Ubisoft
1.1.4.1.1.1 Sustaining growth to overcome the challenges of tomorrow
A growing internal creative force
Ubisoft is actively pursuing its growth strategy: 1,400 employees joined the Group in 2008-09. In the span of two years,
the headcount has risen by approximately 45%. Ubisoft has the second largest internal creative force in the industry.
The Group continues to develop its existing studios but is also expanding through new openings and acquisitions. In 2008-09,
for example, Ubisoft acquired Massive Entertainment in Malmö (Sweden), Action Pants in Vancouver (Canada) and two other
studios in Pune (India), and Porto Alegre (Brazil). Meanwhile the Group created two of its own studios respectively in Kiev (Ukraine)
and Sao Paulo (Brazil).
Ubisoft also continues to develop partnerships with universities to attract and train the best talents to work in video games.
The Group now operates two campuses, in Montreal and Casablanca. Since its creation in May 2005, the Montreal campus has
registered a sharp increase in applications with 450 students following courses to date. 60 candidates attended the rst series of
animation, design and graphics classes at the Casablanca campus this year.
Ubisoft’s success has become one of its main selling points. This year, a survey conducted by the French business magazine,
Figaro Enterprise, revealed graduates’ strong interest in the group. Future engineers voted Ubisoft one of their top 50 favorite
companies (34th place) and it was also a top pick for future managers (47th place), coming out of France’s most prestigious
universities. Another sign of the Group’s appeal is the number of visits to the job opening section of the corporate website, which
has risen consistently over the years. Since July 2005, the new international recruitment portal has registered close to 395,000
unique visitors. Recognized for its capacity to innovate as well as create jobs, Ubisoft’s reputation extends far beyond specialists
of the video game industry.
Teams who know what to do when opportunity knocks
Ubisoft’s internal production force is one of the group’s main strengths. Having its own development studios allows Ubisoft to
guarantee the quality of games produced while remaining responsive and exible. Teams know how to seize opportunities, whether
they be related to the market, consoles or new technologies. This year, for example, Ubisoft was among the rst publishers to
exploit the potential of Nintendo’s new console accessory, the Wii Balance Board. This was used successfully in Shaun White
Snowboarding: Road Trip and Rayman Raving Rabbids® TV Party.
1.1.4.1.1.2 Continuing to innovate within a rapidly expanding structure
Against this backdrop of rapid growth, Ubisoft makes it a point to maintain a work environment that reects corporate values and
culture and promotes expertise, creativity and innovation.