Patrick: Fidelity's Jobs Decision Stands

Officials with Fidelity Investments told Gov. Deval Patrick Thursday that their decision to move more than 1,100 jobs out of Massachusetts as it shutters operations in Marlborough had nothing to do with the state's business climate, according to the governor.

Speaking to State House reporters after a meeting with Abigail Johnson, a company president, Patrick said Fidelity told him the move had to do with the quality of the facilities in the various locations, and the decision stands.

Last week, the company said it plans to close Marlborough operations by the end of next year and relocate most employees to locations in Smithfield, R.I., and Merrimack, N.H.

"I am definitely left with the impression that that decision is made, had been made some while ago, and is not reversible," Patrick said.

Patrick said Johnson apologized to him for the way the Marlborough closure announcement was handled. The announcement came while the governor was on a 10-day trade mission overseas.

Upon his return, Patrick said Massachusetts didn't have a chance to "compete" for the jobs and wanted a meeting with Fidelity officials. He said he was "not hopeful" of reversing Fidelity’s decision, but wanted a face-to-face meeting nonetheless.

Johnson told reporters she had a "very nice meeting" but declined to comment further after leaving Patrick's office.

With reporting from WBUR's Curt Nickisch and The Associated Press.

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