Burton Group acquired by Gartner

I am delighted to announce that Gartner has acquired Burton Group, the leading provider of practical, technically in-depth how-to advice for frontline IT professionals.

Our current CIO and senior IT leader clients frequently ask us to provide a complementary portfolio of products and services specifically designed to meet the unique needs of frontline technologists within their teams. The acquisition of Burton Group’s world-class research, consulting and events enables us to meet this demand and offer a complete solution to every level and functional expert within the IT organization.

We will continue to offer Burton Group’s highly valued products and services as a distinctly packaged and priced portfolio delivered and supported by the same talented team of employees. We also will invest in Burton Group’s research, consulting and events to expand the functional IT areas they cover and increase the value they provide to existing and new clients.

If you'd like to find out more about how Burton Group can help you and your organization, please contact your Gartner representative. In the meantime, I’ve answered some questions I anticipate you will have below.

Sincerely,

Gene Hall
Chief Executive Officer, Gartner
Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How will this acquisition benefit Gartner clients?
A. The acquisition of Burton Group, the leading provider of practical, technically in-depth expertise and how-to advice to frontline enterprise IT professionals, complements the current Gartner portfolio of strategic advice for CIOs and senior IT leaders. Now Gartner can offer a complete solution to every level and functional expert within the IT end-user organization.

Q. How will this acquisition impact Burton Group clients?
A. In the short term, current Burton Group clients should experience no change to the high quality of products and services they receive. Over time, we will invest in Burton Group to significantly increase the depth and breadth of their research coverage, which will enhance the value clients receive.

Q. How will current Burton Group contracts and contract renewals be affected?
A. Gartner will honor all existing client contracts.

Q. Will Burton Group products and services be delivered by the same team?
A. Burton Group products and services will continue to be delivered and supported by the same talented team of employees.

Q. Will Gartner retain Burton Group employees?
A. Gartner extended offers of employment to the vast majority of Burton Group employees, including every analyst. We expect to retain nearly all of these employees.

Q. What will happen to Burton Group products and services?
A. Burton Group is the industry leader at what they do. As such, we will continue to sell these highly valued products. Over time, we will invest in the development of Burton Group’s products and services to expand the functional IT areas they cover in order to increase the value they provide to existing and new clients. All our clients worldwide will have the opportunity to purchase these valuable services. Please contact your Gartner account representative to discuss how we can help you today.

Q. Will the Burton Group research agenda change?
A. Burton Group analysts are industry experts, and they will remain focused on meeting their clients’ needs. As such, we anticipate little change to their research agenda initially; but our investment in Burton Group will significantly increase the depth and breadth of their research agenda in 2010 and beyond.