Cloud Computing Company Expanding, Adding Jobs

Veeva Systems, a four-year-old company that creates cloud-computing applications for pharmaceutical companies, has increased the size of its Hacienda Business Park headquarters, making room for 50 jobs in Pleasanton.

The company has grown, according to a press release, because of the need for cloud-based solutions in the pharmaceutical industry. Based in Pleasanton, the company has offices in Japan, China and Europe.

"Anytime I hear about a Pleasanton company expanding and adding jobs, I’m pleased, especially so as we make our way out of a challenging economic time," said Pamela Ott, the city's economic development director.

"The addition of jobs is a sign of a successful company, potential employment for local residents and a positive reflection of Pleasanton as an excellent place to do business."

Founder and CEO Peter Gassner, a former PeopleSoft executive and 15-year Pleasanton resident, said in a statement that he and co-founders Mitch Wallace and Doug Ostler worked out of a downtown Pleasanton office when they first started in 2007.

They thought it would take several years for the business to grow, but by 2009 it was bursting at the seams with more than a dozen employees — one of whom was using a printer stand as a desk.

The company moved to a 3,600 square-foot suite at  with the thought that spot would last a few years, according to the release. But in July 2010, it grew by 8,700 square feet.

And on June 1, it doubled one more time. The company is at 150 people now, and will be adding 50 more this year.

Veeva, according to the release, offers cloud-based computing services that provide fast computing times and applications that are flexible and inexpensive to operate. Cloud computing is the idea of computing from a network rather than a local hard drive.

The company's customer base includes 80 companies in more than 15 countries, the release said. In 2010, the trade publication PharmaVOICE called Gassner one of the 100 most inspirational and influential people in the life-sciences industry.