Following completion of the acquisition, IBM plans to integrate Cognos as a group within IBM’s Information Management Software division, focused on Business Intelligence and Performance Management. Cognos President and CEO, Rob Ashe, will take the lead of the group and will be reporting directly to General Manager, Ambuj Goyal.
“This is an exciting combination for our customers, partners, and employees. It provides us with the ability to expand our vision as the leading BI and Performance Management provider,” said Rob Ashe, president and chief executive officer, Cognos. “IBM is a perfect complement to our strategy, with minimal overlap in products, a broad range of technology synergies, and the resources, reach, and world-class services to accelerate this vision. Furthermore, this combination allows Cognos customers to leverage a broader set of solutions from IBM to advance their information management driven initiatives.”
Cognos is now the 23rd company purchased by the Big Blue with the clear aim of straightening its Information on Demand strategy, a cross-company initiative announced on February 16, 2006. The Ottawa-based company has approximately 4,000 employees worldwide and a portfolio of more than 25,000 customers.
The news is hardly unexpected, especially since IBM and Cognos have been business partners for over 15 years.