U.S.-based CEO identified as ServiCom's would-be saviour

A well-known figure in the call centre industry is poised to take over the shuttered ServiCom call centre in Sydney, N.S., the province's business minister said Friday.

Geoff MacLellan confirmed the potential buyer is Anthony Marlowe of Iowa City, Iowa.

Marlowe is the CEO of Marlowe Companies Inc., or MCI. Its holdings include several telecommunications and call centre support companies.

The minister said Marlowe was impressed with the commitment of the workforce in Sydney and the call centre's long-standing connections with its major clients.

"Because there's so much interest and so much connection to this community with these large organizations, Anthony saw it as a very important one that he wants to be a part of," said MacLellan.

"Obviously for business reasons, this is a profitable centre, but he wants to support what's happening here in Sydney with these 600 people."

Marlowe's purchase of the call centre is contingent on the outcome of bankruptcy proceedings underway in U.S. bankruptcy court in Connecticut.

Hearing next week in U.S. Court

A hearing scheduled for Dec. 18 will decide whether ServiCom can sell its contracts with various clients to a new buyer.

"If things work in [Marlowe's] favour on Tuesday in the U.S. courts, he'll be up and running in the new year," said MacLellan.

Meanwhile, MacLellan, who represents Glace Bay in the legislature, said he expects provincial money will start flowing to the laid-off workers by next week in the form of living allowances and heating assistance.

"These folks need money before Christmas, so I'm hoping we get it in their hands before then."