London tech firm wooing U.S. military, government work from new office

Article content

A London tech business has opened an office near the Pentagon as it tries to increase its profile in the massive U.S. military and government complex.

Article content

Info-Tech Research Group, the downtown technology information business, opened an office on Clark Street in Arlington, Va., to grow its presence in Washington and the Pentagon, said Sufyan Alhassan, the company’s public relations manager.

“This is a huge market for us. It’s an opportunity that will help us continue to grow,” he said. “We’ve been trying to grow our government side of our research and in the last few years we have seen success.”

Info-Tech has done work for the U.S. military and government and saw an opportunity for significant growth by opening an office there, Alhassan said. “With an office there, we can meet directly with people, we can speak to analysts directly.”

In addition, Info-Tech is holding regular workshops and meeting with information technology leaders in the sector, Alhassan said.

Article content

Article content

He declined to discuss in what specific areas Info-Tech is working with government, but it includes digital technology and data security.

“The biggest reason we went there is not just military, it’s the U.S. federal government. Our office is just a few miles from the Pentagon, near Capitol Hill. It’s an established area.”

For other London technology businesses, it’s an example of homegrown technology having a presence on a global stage, said Brian Foster, co-founder of the Roundhouse Accelerator, a business incubator.

“Building this network and relationships is sound business strategy. It makes business sense. It will allow for growth,” he said. “It’s a good thing, too, for our eco-system in London, to see global work done from here.”

Article content

Info-Tech’s move to grow its U.S. presence also comes at a time the technology firm is reshaping its leadership team. Neil Shankman has been appointed chief marketing officer, after David Godfrey took over as chief executive from founder Joel McLean, who stepped aside in the fall last year to serve as chairperson and focus less on the day-to-day business of Info-Tech and more on visioning the future.

“Joining Info-Tech as it continues its hyper-growth and market expansion is a natural fit, as it aligns with my experience building brands and companies and developing exceptional teams,” Shankman said in a statement.

“I’m thrilled to join the organization at this exciting and important time.”

Shankman has worked in sales and marketing for BDO, Google, Clio and Wave and was a business professor at York University’s Schulich school of business.

Article content

Info-Tech employs more than 1,400 globally selling “core advisory memberships.” A technology firm will buy a subscription from Info-Tech and get information, advice and business support on a wide range of technology-related issues.

Info-Tech also has a Toronto office and others in the U.S., United Kingdom and Australia.

Info-Tech also has landed a deal to provide technology support to the provincial government in British Columbia and has signed with an agency working with other provincial governments to offer tech services, Alhassan said.

“We’re networking now with IT leaders across provincial governments,” he said.

[email protected]

Twitter.com/NormatLFPress

Article content