Startek Acquires CCI Global, Expands Beyond 50k Seats

American CX provider Startek has acquired CCI Global, a Dubai-headquartered firm with a strong operational footprint across Africa.

Following the deal, Startek’s workforce has expanded to over 50,000 employees—a scale widely pursued by CX firms aiming to deliver human-centric services backed by AI-driven infrastructure.

“By merging Startek’s digital heritage with CCI’s operational excellence, we aren’t just scaling. We are redefining the CX category,” said Bharat Rao, who will continue to lead the combined entity.

A longstanding player in the US CX industry, Startek is owned by Capital Square Partners, which took the company private after acquiring it in 2024.

The acquisition marks Startek’s most significant deal since its delisting from the New York Stock Exchange.

The merged entity now operates 55 delivery centers across 22 countries, strengthening Startek’s ability to secure large-scale contracts from well-funded clients in North America.

Operationally, the company is pivoting from traditional BPO services to a “Human-Augmented AI” model. Startek’s proprietary data analytics platform is being integrated with CCI’s operational systems to enable real-time AI coaching for agents, predictive insights for clients, and smoother digital customer journeys.

According to the company, this approach is designed to enhance—not replace—human interaction, allowing agents to focus on empathy and complex problem-solving while AI manages repetitive tasks.