Microsoft president 'thrilled' with idea of moving Canadian headquarters to Vancouver
Brad Smith hints at relocation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other top officials in attendance
Following festivities related to officially opening a 150,000-square-foot, US$78 million office above Pacific Centre, Microsoft Corp. president Brad Smith said he likes the idea of moving the headquarters of the company’s Canadian division to Vancouver.
“I would be thrilled, on behalf of all the employees in Redmond, [Washington, where the company’s global head office is located] if the headquarters for Microsoft Canada were in Vancouver,” Smith said.
“There’s 32 million people in Canada so we also have to pay attention to where they live and not just to where we want to vacation.”
Microsoft Canada’s head office is in Mississauga, Ontario although the company has about as many workers in Vancouver, at 568, as it does in metro Toronto.
The new office has capacity for about 750 workers and the company is amid a hiring spree.
Smith's comments came after a ceremony that included speeches from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier Christy Clark and Mayor Gregor Robertson.