BrazilCluj office of Delete now 20-strong with 1 year of launching
British digital agency Delete is growing strongly in the Eastern European country of Romania, where it recently opened a new office, the firm’s third overall and first on mainland Europe.
The office, based in Cluj, a city of 300,000 inhabitants in northwestern Romania, was opened in October 2018 to cater growing demand for its digital services. Founded in 2000, Delete is a digital creative agency that works for bespoke clients such as Expedia, IKEA, Red Bull, Southampton Football Club, Royal Canin, KBC Advanced Technologies, Carter Jonas and Roquette.
“We deliver digital transformation for ambitious brands and businesses looking to embrace digital at the heart of their marketing, communication and operation,” explained James Carrington, a partner at the consultancy and chief technology officer.
Commenting on why the UK-based firm made a 1,400 mile foray into Romania, Carrington said, “The city has a huge pool of technical talent. The city hosts the Babeș-Bolyai University (UBB), which has approximately 50,000 students, and nine other universities, among them the Technical University, the Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca (USAMV), the University of Arts and Design, the Gheorghe Dima Music Academy, as well as other private universities and educational institutes.”
Romania was introduced to Delete’s leadership through a trusted adviser to the firm, and after exploring and visiting the country, “we loved the opportunity.” Two experienced Romanian nationals were brought on board to set up the hub – Catalin Stancel and Traian Rus. The prior previously spent twelve years at Endava, an IT firm with 5,500 employees globally, latterly in the role of Head of Application Management. Rus also served Endava, for six years, and currently leads a Cluj-based software company he co-founded. At Delete he has been appointed Delivery Unit Manager in the Cluj office.
Stancel: “I look forward to contribute to Delete’s continued growth and evolution.” Rus added, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with a leading digital agency such as Delete.”
The firm’s Romanian team focuses on technology services, and supports UK engagements teams mainly with application management and IT support. Since launching, the office has grown to 20+ professionals, and the ambition is to further expand the headcount with both junior and more experienced talent.
Romania is increasingly becoming an in-demand country for tech-savvy professionals. Amid growing talent shortages in Western markets, IT companies and consulting firms are venturing into the Eastern European country to find skilled but also more economical labour. European-origin player BearingPoint for instance has four offices in Romania – in Bucharest, Timisoara, Iasi (launched in August 2018) and Sibiu – while Accenture and all four of the Big Four accounting and consulting firms have a BPO / technology delivery centre in the country.
