Bupa Global, an international private medical insurance provider, formally opened its new offices at Palmetto Bay Village Center on Wednesday, May 15, with a grand opening ceremony featuring VIPs and festivities lasting several hours.
This new office, staffed by more than 400 employees initially — making it one of he largest employer in the village — and with more to follow, will serve as the regional hub for Latin America. Bupa CEO Stuart Fletcher from the home office in London, England, and Bupa general manager Moses Dodo were welcomed to the area by Palmetto Bay Mayor Shelley Stanczyk and other council members, as well as by Cutler Bay Councilmembers Peggy Bell and Sue Ellen Loyzelle, Mick Jones of the Economic Development Council, and others.
“This is a signal of intent from Bupa Global and a show of our continued commitment to the Latin America market,” Dodo said. “We have been developing our Latin American business significantly over the past few years and these are the logical next steps in our expansion throughout the region.”
The company serves more than 1.9 million customers around the world, providing products and services in 190 countries. Besides the new USA office in Palmetto Bay, Bupa Global has offices in London and Brighton, England; Copenhagen, Denmark, and in France, Spain, Egypt, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Ecuador.
Mayor Stanczyk was pleased by the company’s presence and its significance for the area.
“This exciting event today celebrates the long planned move of BUPA Global to Palmetto Bay which consolidates employees previously housed among three area offices into one central location at the Palmetto Bay Village Center Offices,” Mayor Stanczyk said. “The location of 500 jobs by Bupa Global to Palmetto Bay, I believe, signals the recognition of Palmetto Bay as a quality community in which to work, live and play. Today’s surprise announcement by BUPA Global’s CEO Stuart Fletcher of plans to further expand the company and bring at least an additional 100 jobs to Palmetto Bay confirms their confidence in our municipality as a great place to do business.
“The enthusiasm of Bupa Global executives and their employees about the location to Palmetto Bay was apparent during the event,” Mayor Stanczyk continued. “Executives and employees talked about moving to the village as well as their positive experience with our local schools and other area attractions. Bupa Global’s move to Palmetto Bay exemplifies our economic development efforts in our village.”
Peggy Bell, councilmember of the Town of Cutler Bay, thought the move was also good news for her own city, which borders the Palmetto Bay Village Center location.
“We in Cutler Bay are thrilled to welcome Bupa and the hundreds of employees to our area and hope they will enjoy Cutler Bay with us,” Bell said. “The employees couldn’t be nicer, even passing out a memento of the event to each participant. Though the village is a wonderful place to locate their company, and of course, to live, I work for Cutler Bay. My job is to promote our town. While speaking to Sterling Fletcher, the company’s president, I pointed out to him how affordable our housing is, our beautiful new Old Cutler Road and our new high school.”
Bupa’s stated purpose is “Longer, Healthier, Happier Lives.” They will be opening offices in Panama and Guatemala later this year.
For information visit www.bupa.com.
