AHEAD, a Chicago tech company that helps companies modernize their digital business infrastructure, is joining forces with two Atlanta-based businesses to help more companies transition to the cloud.
AHEAD announced Friday that it is merging with Data Blue, an Atlanta company that, like AHEAD, helps companies with digital transformations. The combined businesses are also acquiring Sovereign Systems, a smaller tech company also out of Atlanta.
The combined company will generate $1.3 billion in gross revenues and have around 600 employees, AHEAD CEO and founder Daniel Adamany said in an interview. AHEAD is the largest of the three individual businesses in both revenue and headcount. It has around 400 employees.
Both AHEAD and Data Blue focus on companies in the Fortune 1000, helping them with cloud infrastructure and other technology upgrades. Founded in 2007, AHEAD's customers include United Airlines, Ecolab and CUNA Mutual.
"We’re trying to help [companies] modernize their technology so they can roll out applications faster," Adamany said.
Combining with Data Blue and Sovereign Systems allows the company to reach more of the U.S., especially the country's Southeast and Northeast regions.
All three companies will maintain their branding for the rest of the year, but Adamany said the combined business will come under one unified brand in 2020 and will be headquartered in Chicago.
AHEAD, which hired 100 new employees in 2018 and expects to hire a total of 150 new workers this year, said the new entity will continue hiring at a fast clip.
"I would expect the hiring to increase dramatically," Adamany said.
