Skype's Estonian unit hired 94 more staff last year of whom approximately 20 percent were foreigners, board member of Skype Technologies OÜ Tiit Paananen told BNS.
Fifth of staff hired by Skype's Estonian unit last year were foreigners
"Which means we engaged quite a few people from Estonia. The company will certainly continue growing, perhaps so many new people won't be taken on this year, but we definitely hope to hire dozens of people," Paananen said in an interview with BNS.
Several medium level managers from other units of Microsoft Corporation have moved to Tallinn. "There has been considerable interest, quite a few people have joined the Skype team," Paananen said.
"Others have moved from here to Microsoft. Such movement is perfectly normal within Microsoft, the unwritten rule is that staff should change teams every few years," he added.
According to Paananen, the number of computer engineers is growing in all units of Skype, besides Tallinn also in Stockholm, Prague, London, New York, Palo Alto and Redmond.
"There was a time when one third of Skype was based in Estonia but now 20 percent remains. Growth has been fast everywhere, but so have we expanded fast," he explained.
According to the annual report, in 2011 the number of employees at Skype Technologies OU grew to 382 from the year-earlier 377.