Sykes Enterprises, Incorporated Announces Induction Into The SSPA Star Award Hall Of Fame

TAMPA, FL — (December 15, 1999) – Sykes Enterprises, Incorporated (“Sykes”) (NASDAQ: SYKE), a global leader in providing vertically integrated, technology-based solutions worldwide, today announced it was inducted into the Software Support Professionals Association’s (SSPA) Hall of Fame. Sykes received the award at SSPA’s Horizon 2000 Conference. The 10th annual conference matches support services professionals and industry experts of the Information Technology community to discuss the future of customer support services.
The STAR Award is the Software Technical Assistance Recognition for outstanding accomplishments and superior performance in the delivery of technical support to external customers. After winning the SSPA’s STAR award for outstanding outsourcer of the year for the last five years, induction into the Hall of Fame is the next coveted prize for the industry.

David L. Grimes, Sykes President & COO stated, “Sykes is honored to accept this coveted award. We answer 250,000 calls a day for our customers, helping solve every kind of technical support issue. The benefits of membership in associations like SSPA raised the bar in the quality of service expected and received by our customers. In addition to our 37 operational customer support centers, we translate our products into 30 languages. Our 13,000 employees deserve this award for their dedication and delivery of high quality service levels for our customers.”

“This year we are proud to present Sykes Enterprises, Incorporated with the SSPA STAR Hall of Fame, Lifetime Achievement Award,” says Bill Rose, SSPA Founder/Executive Director. Rose adds, “To attain the Hall of Fame, a company must win a STAR Award for five consecutive years and Sykes Enterprises has done this in several different STAR Award Categories. They have demonstrated and maintained a high level of quality support to their customers that has been recognized year after year by their peers in the support industry, and we are pleased to present them with the SSPA STAR Hall of Fame Award.”

Sykes, headquartered in Tampa, Florida, currently operates 39 technical call centers (with five additional centers under construction), nine e-commerce centers and 25 offices throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Philippines. SHPS, Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary based in Louisville, Kentucky, provides on-line clinical managed care services, medical protocol products and employee benefit administration and support services. Visit the Sykes web site at http://www.sykes.com. Founded in 1989, SSPA represents over 6,000 service executives in over 500 member companies worldwide. The SSPA provides software services and support professionals the opportunities to share ideas, discuss developing trends and network with peers. SSPA offers members specialized training, executive forums and a variety of publications. For more information, log on to SSPA’s Web site at www.supportgate.com.

The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical, including statements regarding Sykes’ objectives, expectations, hopes, intentions, beliefs or strategies regarding the future, are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. It is important to note that Sykes’ actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Among the important factors that could cause such actual results to differ materially are: construction delays of new call centers; failure to successfully implement its acquisition strategy; difficulties in managing growth; rapid technological change; loss of a significant customer; risks inherent in conducting business abroad; changes in legislation; fluctuations in business conditions and the economy; Sykes’ ability to attract and retain key management personnel; and the risk factors listed from time to time in Sykes’ registration statements and reports as filed with the Securities Exchange Commission.