CINCINNATI - Convergys Corporation, a leader in applied job movement, this week announced a new CEO outsourcing program. To find out more, we interviewed Jim Orr, CEO of Convergys, and Prakash Venkatram, a recent hire in Bangalore, India.

Dealer: Jim, would you explain CEO outsourcing?

Jim Orr: CEO outsourcing, or CEOO, allows companies to reduce overhead at the top by utilizing comparable offshore resources.

Dealer: By at the top, you mean CEOs, like yourself?

Jim Orr: Yessirree. C-E-Os. The head honchos. The big cahunas. I call 'em Costly Executive Officers.

Dealer: Should CEOs be worried about CEOO?

Jim Orr: Heck, no. These people are not being replaced. It's just that someone else in another country, like India, Bangladesh, or the Philippines, is going to do their job for a while. It's a win-win.

Dealer: Prakash, what's your role in the new program?

Prakash: I am very excited to be American CEO.

Dealer: Are you prepared for this opportunity?

Prakash: I have a Ph.D. in Economics from Delhi University and just finished an MBA from Harvard Online. Also, my English is increasing.

Jim Orr: See how talented these kids are. How old are you, Prakash?

Prakash: Twenty four, Jim. But I see my age as an asset because I will save money for customers.

Jim Orr: Listen to him. Already talking like a CEO. Prakash and I have become really close as I've taught him about the CEO business. Show 'em how you say 'Slurpee', Prakash.

Dealer: Any idea about your first assignment, Prakash?

Prakash: I believe it will be an internal project.

Jim Orr: What Prakash means is that we expect to see heavy demand for CEO outsourcing in the upcoming fiscal year once we find a way to demonstrate the ROI.

Prakash: Jim, if I am not mistaken, we can demonstrate ROI internally and show the potential benefit to customers. I estimate we can save Convergys approximately 1.8 million dollars a year.

Jim Orr: How'd you find out my ... err, let's not be hasty, Prakash. We may need a period of evaluation. Hehehe ... a CEO is an irreplaceable cog.

Prakash: My economic forecasts show that with improved leadership we can take this company from reduced earnings to more than $1 billion in new revenue within two years.

Jim Orr: That's very funny, Prakash. You can stop now. Great sense of humor, these Indians. That's Indians with a dot, not a feather.

Dealer: Thank you, Prakash Venkatram and former-CEO Jim Orr.