The Burda subsidiary forms strategic partnership with Fincons Group to accelerate growth in the tech sector
Bari/Munich, 03.09.2019 - The German publishing house BurdaForward (with brands FOCUS Online and Chip) established its first foreign location in the Italian port city of Bari with the help of its strategic partner Fincons Group, a leading IT business consultancy with 36 years of experience in the international market. Initially, around 20 employees will be working in the areas of product and software development. With this move, BurdaForward is pushing ahead at full speed in its transformation towards becoming a tech and media company.
Bari: new location for technology development
Bari was chosen as a development site for BurdaForward, particularly because of the two computer science faculties located in the city and the strongly growing tech community in the region. At the new Italian product and development location, a large number of software engineers will now be working for the company's leading high-reach portals (including CHIP and FOCUS Online). Thanks to the partnership with Fincons Group, which has strong credentials in digital publishing and opened its Delivery Center in Bari more than 10 years ago, the Burda subsidiary can gain a foothold even more quickly on site.
"We are investing massively in new technologies because this is the only way we can offer our users real added value on our portals. Finding software experts who can drive these innovations forward is more important than ever for us as a Tech & Media company. We are delighted to have found a strong partner in Fincons who can provide us with competent local support in Bari, for example in the recruitment of top developers," says Thomas Koelzer, CTO of BurdaForward.
Rapid growth with strong partners along new technologies
The significant contribution of the Italian Fincons Group to the decision in favor of Bari was partly due to the fact that Fincons Group also advises its clients on IT strategy evolution and process definition and works with them to scout, experiment and adopt innovative technological and organizational tools which they need to concentrate on their core business.
Francesco Moretti, Deputy CEO Fincons Group and CEO Fincons.US, adds: “We are delighted to have been selected by BurdaForward as this vote of confidence confirms our skills and experience in the media and publishing sector, but also cements our presence in the German market where we have recently opened an office as part of our international expansion. Facilitating BurdaForward’s strategic development by helping them set up part of their operations in Bari represents a key part of our offering: that of enabling clients to realize their strategic objectives and drive digitalization.”
About BurdaForward
BurdaForward is the digital media house of the future. Our strong network is based on the journalistic brands FOCUS Online, CHIP, Finanzen100, NetMoms, The Weather Channel, EFAHRER.com and cardscout. The company already inspires more than every second internet user in Germany (agof daily digital facts July 2019) and is a driving force in the public debate - also by tradition: BurdaForward is part of Hubert Burda Media, a family company with values. As a publishing house that has been writing media history for more than a hundred years, Hubert Burda Media assumes social responsibility by supporting cultural and social organisations to this day.
About Fincons Group
Fincons is an award-winning IT business consultancy, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, digital, technology and operations to a diverse range of industries. In the Media sector, Fincons has long term and successful relationships with Tier-1 clients, providing solutions and ICT services covering the entire Digital Supply Chain, from Rights Management, Programming and Scheduling, to Advertising Sales and Omnichannel Video Delivery. With over 1500 employees worldwide and more than 36 years of experience in consulting and system integration, Fincons Group has offices in the US (New York, Los Angeles), UK (London), Italy (Milan, Verona, Rome, Bari, Catania), Switzerland (Küssnacht Am Rigi, Bern, Zurich, Lugano) and Germany (Munich).
For more information, visit www.finconsgroup.com
Press contact BurdaForward
Johanna Schallehn
Head of Communications
johanna.schallehn@burda-forward.de
Press contact Fincons Group
Tiffany Huret
Account Executive
Tiffanyhuret@thoughtsparkagency.com