Convergys president is promoted to CEO

Convergys Corp., an operator of customer-service call centers, named David F. Dougherty as chief executive officer to replace James F. Orr, who retired Tuesday.

Orr will remain chairman until Dec. 31, Cincinnati-based Convergys said in a statement. Dougherty, 50, joined the company in 1990. He was appointed president and chief operating officer in 2005 and became a director last year.

Convergys is "seeing renewed growth of spending" by customers interested in outsourcing more, Doughtery said in a February interview. The company in February reported fourth-quarter profit nearly doubled to $44.5 million because of growth in financial services and technology clients. Sales rose 7.5 percent to $720 million.

Convergys, whose clients have included Cingular Wireless and Fifth Third Bancorp, has call and billing centers in India, Brazil and the United States — including about 6,550 workers at five call centers in Utah,

Its shares rose 17 cents to $26.38 at 4:20 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. They have gained 11 percent this year.