The creation of a new regional headquarters, PADI EMEA (PADI Europe, Middle East and Africa) has been announced by the US-based scuba trainer.
PADI EMEA will be based at the current PADI International Ltd office in Bristol, England, whose remit already includes the Middle Eastern and African operations.
However, improved internal management structures are to link Bristol with other European PADI offices in Goteborg, Sweden and Hettlingen, Switzerland to provide a more effective, centralised service.
This, says PADI, will combine "the talent and resources of the three offices to provide PADI members with an unparalleled level of support, services and products".
On hand will be specialists ranging from those who have "run thousands of Discover Scuba sessions in the Maldives” to those who have "conducted tec diving courses in the frozen Baltic Sea”.
PADI EMEA will also "extend its service hours, centralize its phone system, expand online services and provide customer support in more than twenty languages”.
“The centralization of services will allow for faster member and diver certification processing, consistent marketing campaigns, enhanced PADI eLearning support, simplified pricing, broader job search and placement options, easier instructor mobility and more," says PADI.
“In addition, the regional headquarter’s size will significantly increase its ability to interact with and influence media, government and industry relations.”
The new integration of services is being set up through 2011, with the intention of having a fully fledged system in operation within a year.
The primary PADI EMEA HQ will be in Bristol, but Hettlingen will remain as another major office through which Nordic staff will continue to operate.
Divers and other PADI members will, therefore, continue to deal with individuals with whom they are already familiar.
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