NewsDude
09-11-2008, 10:10 PM
The heads of two major technology associations have been at the table since January discussing a possible merger. The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) and AeA, formerly the American Electronics Association, are now formally meeting in the hope of combining.
Christopher Hansen, AeA's president and CEO, said he and old friend Phil Bond, ITAA's president and CEO, felt for a long time that the associations in the technology space should come together because there were too many of them, and individually their voices were being lost.
"We started realizing these organizations are incredibly complementary and operate in different areas, but have strengths in those areas," said Hansen. "ITAA has a particular strength on the federal level, and specifically federal procurement, and AeA does federal lobbying as well, but the industries we represent were more commercial."
As one, the group would have offices dotting the U.S., as well as in Beijing and Brussels. The combined force would also bring together AeA's regional councils and ITAA's alliances with more than 40 regional associations through its Technology Councils of North America and ITAA's membership in the World Information Technology and Services Alliance -- a group of nearly 79 technology associations.
"[A merger] will help policy-makers who are often dealing with [an] alphabet soup of associations," said Bond.
Although both leaders say the groups are complementary, Hansen admits there are challenges. "There are always challenges, but the main difference is one of emphasis," he said.
ITAA's full board, representing 25 companies, met on Wednesday.
"That was 25 companies right there who felt it was worth exploring and [liked] the strategic nature of it," Bond said. "There is a lot of positive feedback. We do work in the same areas; why not put them together?"
Perks and Sealing the Deal
If the merger takes place, the groups,...
More... (http://www.toptechnews.com/story.xhtml?story_id=61827)
Christopher Hansen, AeA's president and CEO, said he and old friend Phil Bond, ITAA's president and CEO, felt for a long time that the associations in the technology space should come together because there were too many of them, and individually their voices were being lost.
"We started realizing these organizations are incredibly complementary and operate in different areas, but have strengths in those areas," said Hansen. "ITAA has a particular strength on the federal level, and specifically federal procurement, and AeA does federal lobbying as well, but the industries we represent were more commercial."
As one, the group would have offices dotting the U.S., as well as in Beijing and Brussels. The combined force would also bring together AeA's regional councils and ITAA's alliances with more than 40 regional associations through its Technology Councils of North America and ITAA's membership in the World Information Technology and Services Alliance -- a group of nearly 79 technology associations.
"[A merger] will help policy-makers who are often dealing with [an] alphabet soup of associations," said Bond.
Although both leaders say the groups are complementary, Hansen admits there are challenges. "There are always challenges, but the main difference is one of emphasis," he said.
ITAA's full board, representing 25 companies, met on Wednesday.
"That was 25 companies right there who felt it was worth exploring and [liked] the strategic nature of it," Bond said. "There is a lot of positive feedback. We do work in the same areas; why not put them together?"
Perks and Sealing the Deal
If the merger takes place, the groups,...
More... (http://www.toptechnews.com/story.xhtml?story_id=61827)