Press release
Leading IT association acquires premier research and education provider
CompTIA, the leading trade association for the global information technology (IT) industry, and MSP Partners announced today that they will join forces, bringing together two leaders in education, events and research for the burgeoning global market for managed IT services.
CompTIA said it has entered into an agreement to assume the operations of MSP Partners, subject to closing conditions.
"CompTIA's mission is to further the interests and growth of the IT industry," said Todd Thibodeaux, president and chief executive officer, CompTIA. "We're fulfilling this mission by creating a series of robust vendor-neutral communities for the IT channel. The addition of MSP Partners to our managed services community positions us as the leading voice for managed services."
Since its launch in 2007, MSP Partners has experienced explosive growth - attracting 5,000 members and more than 40 sponsors; and has earned status as one of the best known and most respected providers of managed services education programs for the IT channel.
"MSP Partners will continue to offer the educational programs and events that our members, sponsors and partners have helped us develop over the past three years," said Jim Hamilton, executive director, MSP Partners. "With the additional reach and resources of CompTIA, we'll be able to develop the preeminent community for the managed services market, featuring valuable business solutions, research, networking and discussion forums, and continuing education."
Hamilton will join CompTIA and be responsible for leadership of its managed services community, including the MSP Partners program.
"MSP Partners was founded on the realisation by leaders in the vendor community that the success of their channel partners was increasingly dependent on their successful adoption of managed services," said Dan Wensley, vice president, Level Platforms and one of the founders of MSP Partners.
A new CompTIA survey of end-user customers in the USA found that about half use a managed services provider for at least some of their IT-related activities. Among all end-users surveyed, nearly 30% expect their use of an MSP to increase in the next one to two years. Among MSPs surveyed, 90% of firms forecast an increase in their company's managed services revenues over the next year (Source: Trends in Managed Services, CompTIA, September 2009).
"Clearly more and more businesses see the value of engaging the expertise of a managed services provider," said Bob Godgart, Autotask Corporation CEO and member of the CompTIA Board of Directors. "With the combined resources of CompTIA and MSP Partners, our industry now has a top-notch education source to support managed services growth and continue to develop a profitable business for providers."
The acquisition of MSP Partners is CompTIA's latest step to expand its engagement with other organisations serving the IT channel. Over the past year CompTIA has welcomed new vendor, distributor and reseller members; collaborated with other trade associations at the international, national and regional levels; and partnered with media organisations, all with the intent of promoting the long-term growth and financial success of the IT channel.
Todd Thibodeaux will be in the UK to attend the first CompTIA annual EMEA member conference on 22nd October, which will examine the challenges facing the industry in the toughest economic climate for decades.
