Anglo American Selects BT HP Alliance

HP and BT today announced that they have signed seven-year contracts with Anglo American plc for approximately $450 million to outsource the management of the company's global voice services, data center operations and end-user workplace environment to the BT HP Alliance.

A core part of these agreements is a two-year global transformation program to support Anglo American's strategy for growth and ongoing efficiency initiatives that will create a global integrated and consolidated IT infrastructure aligned with Anglo American's information management strategy and architecture. Under the terms of the contracts, approximately 90 employees will transfer from Anglo American to HP and BT worldwide.

Anglo American chose the BT HP Alliance to gain access to industry-leading IT capabilities that can enable flexibility for its businesses and help improve shareholder value through cost efficiencies. Although HP and BT are equal partners in these contractual agreements, it is standard practice for one partner to lead and HP will be the client lead for Anglo American. Tapping into HP and BT's global scale, Anglo American will accelerate its transformation program and drive innovation across the core managed operations of the Anglo Group while leveraging its resources most effectively.

Anglo American also will benefit from the BT HP Alliance's integrated services delivery platform, the result of a joint development program initiated at the alliance's inception in 2004. This will provide Anglo American with standardized but flexible IT and networking services, consistent reporting and improved service levels.

To deliver all services and ensure that service levels are met to Anglo American's satisfaction, HP additionally will use its governance methodology using IT infrastructure library (ITIL) and IT service management (ITSM) - a key building block for any successful global shared services model.

"Through BT's and HP's highly experienced services professionals, global capabilities and flexible approach to partnering, we plan to deliver Anglo American an extraordinary customer experience and the best return on its IT investment," said Francesco Serafini, senior vice president and managing director in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and the Technology Solutions Group - EMEA, HP. "Through standardization, optimization and virtualization of Anglo American's server environment, the BT HP Alliance will provide it with an Adaptive Infrastructure that will quickly adapt and support the changing needs of the business."

"I am delighted Anglo American has chosen to work with us. This decision is further evidence of the BT HP Alliance's ability to satisfy the evolving needs of our international customers," said Andy Green, chief executive officer, BT Global Services. "The alliance's integrated service delivery capabilities enable leading companies such as Anglo American to innovate and simplify their corporate IT. We're excited about working with Anglo American to help them achieve their business ambitions in both the short and the longer term" - HP.