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Robert Half International, a global company specializing in professional staffing and consulting services, announced Tuesday that it will move its Pleasanton headquarters and operations to Bishop Ranch in San Ramon in May 2010.
The company employs about 1,000 in accounting, technology and related fields. All are expected to move with the business to San Ramon.
“This is a consolidation of our operations, not a downsizing,” explained Reesa Staten, vice president of Corporate Communications for RHI. “We’re operating out of five buildings in Pleasanton and wanted to have everyone in one building. We couldn’t find real estate in Pleasanton that would allow us to do that.”
RHI leases office buildings totaling about 220,000 square feet on Stoneridge Drive, Hopyard Road and Gibraltar Way from Britannia Business Center. It will also lease the 260,000-square-foot office building in Bishop Ranch. Leasing agents worked out the details of the 2010 lease Tuesday with all of the leasing papers now signed.
“We liked being in Pleasanton and had really hoped to stay here,” Staten said. “But it was important to have everyone under one roof in a consolidated business operation. Many of our people live in Pleasanton and I’m sure they will continue to participate in school and community affairs.”
James Paxson, general manager of the Hacienda Owners Association, said it won’t be easy absorbing 220,000 square feet of office space given current market conditions. On the other hand, he pointed out that all five of the RHI buildings have open design concepts, meaning that they can easily be reconfigured to meet almost any prospective tenant’s needs.
“We did everything we could to keep Robert Half International in Pleasanton,” he said. “Now we have to look for new opportunities.”
Pleasanton city leaders also worked with Robert Half to find suitable space in Pleasanton. One prospect might have been the large office expansion and new hotel planned for the CarrAmerica Center, but initial hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council; have yet to be scheduled.
“While we don’t want Robert Half to leave our community, we understand that this is a business decision and what’s best for the company,” said Nelson Fialho, city manager. “The fact that they require more space is a testament to the success that comes with doing business in Pleasanton. As the city continues to work with Robert Half during its transition over the next 18 months, we’ll also begin coordinating with the Hacienda Business Park to identify suitable tenants.”
Pamela Ott, Pleasanton’s Economic Development Director, agreed.
“We are certainly disappointed to hear that Robert Half International will be leaving Pleasanton and the Hacienda Business Park,” she said. “They’ve been an outstanding corporate partner and are representative of the high caliber of businesses in our community.”
“We understand that moving all the employees into one building with space for expansion was a key driver for the relocation decision,” she added. “Looking forward, there’s now opportunity for some of our existing businesses to expand and new companies to relocate to Pleasanton.”
Founded in 1948, Robert Half International has 14,000 employees worldwide, with 350 locations in 19 countries.
