Apple Computers CEO Tim Cook arrived in Israel yesterday, and today inaugurated the company's new R&D center in Herzliya Pituah. Cook spoke to the employees for an hour, telling them, "Trust me - there will be an Apple store in Israel." He answered questions and posed for selfies with several employees.
Yesterday, Cook met with former president and prime minister Shimon Peres in a private hotel suite in Herzliya. Cook and Peres met for a two-hour private meal.
At the beginning of their meeting, Peres told Cook, "I'm glad that you decided to open an Apple Center in Israel - welcome. There's no doubt that your company's leading technology and creativity is appropriate for the Israeli spirit." Cook told Peres that Israel and the creative Israeli mind were of great value to global company Apple, and that he was very proud to open the new center in Herzliya.
The company will have 800 employees in its new center, some of whom are currently in Herzliya Pituah (in the offices of the former Anobit) and some in Ramat Hahayal (in the offices of the former PrimeSense). These offices will also house Apple's representatives in Israel, including its sales and marketing departments. Apple is renting the 12,500-sq.m. offices from Bayside Land Corp. Ltd.(Gav Yam) (TASE: BYSD1).
Apple will put the employees from the companies it acquired in Israel in the new building. Apple acquired flash memory company Anobit in early 2012 for $390 million and movement sensor development company PrimeSense in late 2013 for $300 million, as well as hiring 150 laid off Israeli employees of Texas Instruments.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 26, 2015
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