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A French technology outsourcing company plans to open an office in Uptown Charlotte this year and ultimately hire 550 new employees. Even as Charlotte's banks struggle to rebound from the financial crisis, they remain a powerful draw for other companies. Paris-based Capgemini has chosen Charlotte for a major new office that will serve the finance and insurance industries. Capgemini helps large companies choose and implement new technology and often takes on IT operations clients want to outsource. Capgemini Financial Services North America managing director Roy Stansbury says the company needs people with technology experience who also understand how banks work. That's what led Capgemini to Charlotte. "It's the work force,' says Stansbury. "In a business like ours it's professional services, it's access to talent. There's gotta be a large enough talent pool to draw upon. Quality of life is probably a very close second in terms of deciding the city." Charlotte will be one of Capgemini's largest outposts in the U.S. "Charlotte is in close proximity to many of our key clients, it will allow us to serve them better," says Stansbury. "We truly appreciate the warm welcome that we received." The company could qualify for about $5 million in state economic incentives if it meets its hiring targets. Capgemini did not apply for city or county economic incentives. The jobs will pay an average salary of $62,396. This is the first major jobs announcement of the year for the Charlotte region - and the largest in ten months. Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx says it's a hopeful sign of economic recovery "There's no way to make my new year happier than to have the announcement of 550 jobs by a company just like this," said Foxx at the Chamber-sponsored press conference. Capgemini expects to fill about 150 of those jobs in Charlotte by the end of the year - mostly from the local workforce.