Electrolux, the Swedish appliance company, is moving its North American headquarters to Charlotte, bringing with it some 738 jobs.

The company announced the news today at the Charlotte Chamber, which called it the city's largest headquarters announcement in 25 years.

“This is a big day,” Gov. Beverly Perdue, who announced the news, was quoted as saying in the Charlotte Observer. “This is a big company.”

For a city struggling to diversify its economic base, the news could not have come at a better time. Once flush with banking jobs, the city has seen its unemployment rate soar past 12 percent as the financial-services industry has fallen on harder times.

Kevin Scott, chief executive of Electrolux North America, said the first wave of workers would arrive next summer. The jobs, he said, would be in general management, including finance, marketing, sales and logistics.

The company’s North America headquarters currently is based in Martinez, Ga., near Augusta.

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