Danske Bank to establish IT service centre in Vilnius

Giedrius Dzekunskas has been appointed manager of the group’s new IT centre. Earlier he was the manager of the Barclays technology centre in Lithuania. The DGITL centre in Vilnius will contribute to the centres that are already operating in Denmark and India.

“The fact that the group decided to further expand its activities in Lithuania is really gratifying. It means that we are trusted and this is beneficial to the economy of the entire country,” Gintautas Galvanauskas, manager of Danske Bank in Lithuania, said. According to Mr Galvanauskas, the Danske Bank group finds it important to be in an area where there are many talented in the field of IT. This helps develop and implement IT solutions leading to successful competition in the world of electronic banking.

The head of the new division, Mr Dzekunskas, notes that the group’s decision to expand its activities in Lithuania is also a high evaluation of Lithuanian IT specialists. The decision to establish a new division was made following the assessment of the IT industry in Lithuania and of the fact that the market has especially highly qualified IT specialists.

“We will create not separate jobs, but functions, responsible for IT services. When there is a critical mass of IT staff, we will look for managers, fully responsible for the implementation and development of specific IT services in all Danske Bank Group” – says manager of DGITL G. Dzekunskas. – “Considering our growth plans, this is a big responsibility and challenge for maturity of Lithuanian IT community: both professionals and leaders. Therefore, from the first year we will also invest in education and training of IT talents. This year we will start with the program for 10 graduates and will actively cooperate with universities”.

According to Justinas Pagirys, director of the Investment Development Department of the foreign investment development agency Invest Lithuania, after the establishment or DGILT, Danske Bank becomes one of the biggest SSC investors in Lithuania, along with Barclays and Western Union. “The long term strategy of these companies is particularly important for Lithuania and its business culture. Danske Bank already puts great effort in employee training and partnerships with institutions of higher education. This will have a long term positive effect on the talent pool in Lithuania.”

As many as 29 global companies have decided to establish their business in Lithuania with the help of Invest Lithuania. Together they will create nearly 2,000 new jobs. One fourth of these projects are investment in SSC sector and will create more than 900 new jobs. Danske Bank’s IT service centre is the first project of 2015.