International Data Group (IDG, Inc.)[1] is a market intelligence and demand generation company[2] focused on the technology industry. IDG, Inc.'s mission is centered around supporting the technology industry through research, data, marketing technology, and insights that help create and sustain relationships between businesses.[3]
IDG, Inc. is wholly owned by Blackstone[4] and is led by Genevieve Juillard, who was appointed CEO of the company in 2023.[5] Juillard serves on IDG, Inc.'s leadership team along with IDC President Crawford Del Prete and IDG, Inc.'s Chief Financial Officer Tiziana Figliolia.[6]
IDG, Inc. is headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts[7] and is parent company to both International Data Corporation (IDC) and Foundry (formerly IDG Communications).[3][8]
International Data Group was initially founded as International Data Corporation (IDC) in 1964 by Patrick Joseph McGovern, shortly after he had graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Based in Massachusetts, the company produced a computer installation database, and published a newsletter, "EDP Industry and Market Report" (modeled on "ADP Newsletter", which was published by the Diebold Group). Companies such as RCA, Univac, Xerox, and Burroughs paid IDC for use of the data base. During this time, McGovern continued to work as a writer for "Computers and Automation" magazine, the first computer magazine, published by Edmund Berkeley.[citation needed]
By IDG's third year, McGovern was considering liquidating the company when he hit on the idea of launching Computerworld in 1967,[9] which was a continuation of the monthly newsletter, published weekly instead of monthly, in a different format, with advertising, and which would become a cornerstone of IDG's subsequent publishing arm.[10]
En 1969, IDG realizó su primera expansión en el extranjero cuando abrió IDC UK y lanzó su primera publicación europea. En 1974, la empresa lanzó su primera publicación internacional, Computerwoche , en Alemania, su primera publicación totalmente traducida. A lo largo de la década de 1990 le seguirían publicaciones internacionales en Japón, China, la entonces Unión Soviética, Vietnam y otros países. [11]
En 1984, la compañía lanzó MacWorld la misma semana en que debutó la computadora Macintosh y presentó a Steve Jobs en su portada. En 1991, IDG Books lanzó su serie For Dummies con DOS for Dummies , [12] y publicó muchos libros instructivos/de referencia bajo la serie hasta que John Wiley & Sons, Inc adquirió Hungry Minds (el nuevo nombre de IDG Books) . en 2001. [13]
En 2007, IDG dejó de publicar InfoWorld US e hizo que el contenido estuviera disponible únicamente en línea, lo que indica la transición de la empresa a un modelo de publicación centrado en la web. [14]
A lo largo de las décadas de 1970 y 1980, IDG irrumpiría en los eventos y espacios de investigación. A principios de la década de 1970, lanzó su feria comercial Computer Caravan en Estados Unidos, llegando a nueve ciudades de ese país en 11 semanas. [15] En 1972, Computer Caravan también tenía presencia europea. [dieciséis]
En la década de 1980, IDG lanzó IDC Predictions a través de su filial IDC, que pasaría a representar la rama de análisis e investigación tecnológica de la empresa. [15] La compañía todavía mantiene un equipo de analistas de IDC Predictions que publican hallazgos periódicos sobre el estado de la industria tecnológica mundial. [17]
En 1991, se celebró la primera conferencia IDG DEMO en La Quinta, California, como un foro en vivo donde las empresas podían presentar su última tecnología en vivo en un escenario frente a multitudes de consumidores de tecnología, tomadores de decisiones comerciales e inversores. El evento, que se llevaría a cabo como conferencias en los EE. UU., Asia, América del Sur y otros países hasta 2015, sirvió como sitio para lanzamientos notables de productos y software como Adobe Acrobat , PalmPilot , VMware Virtual Hardware, Netscape , y Salesforce . [18]
By the mid-2000s the company had established a rich online and print publication business, a trusted market research and analyst division, and a large global trade show presence – all which contributed to the growth of a database of over six million technology buyers and professionals. In 2006, IDG made this database of readers, website visitors, and event attendees available to technology marketers via its demand generation division IDG Connect.[19] In 2010, IDG introduced the "Nanosite", an advertising tool designed as an alternative to a microsite.[20]
Following McGovern's death in 2014, ownership of the corporate passed to the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation,[21] until 2017 when it was purchased by China Oceanwide Holdings Group.[22] IDG, Inc. changed ownership again in May 2021 when Blackstone Inc. acquired the corporation from China Oceanwide Holdings Group for $1.3 billion.[23]
IDG, Inc. serves as the parent company of two major company divisions, IDC and Foundry.[24]
IDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of IDG, Inc. and is a global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets.[25] IDC employs over 2,500 people globally including more than 1,300 analysts worldwide to offer expertise and insights on technology and industry trends.[26]
In 2019, Crawford Del Prete was named president of IDC after serving as its Chief Operating Officer (COO).[27]
In May 2021, IDC acquired Dutch IT intelligence consultancy Metri,[28] bolstering its presence in the Benelux region and strengthening IDC's reach and insight into Europe's IT industry.
Foundry is a wholly-owned subsidiary of IDG, Inc. and is a global provider of media & event services, marketing technology, and intent data for B2B technology marketers. Formerly known as IDG Communications, the IDG Inc. subsidiary company rebranded from IDG Communications to Foundry in February 2022 as part of its strategic transformation from publisher to data and martech company.[29] Foundry employs over 1,400 people globally[30] and operates in over 140 countries around the world.[31]
Between 2020 and 2022, Foundry acquired leading data and marketing technology (MarTech) companies Triblio, Kickfire, Leadsift, and Selling Simplified as part of its strategy to transform from legacy media network to integrated marketing technology and data provider. Through both homegrown and acquired data and technologies, Foundry continues to leverage their established media brands to gather and provide insights about global technology buyers to marketers in the same space.[32]
Foundry owns and operates various editorial brands that publish relevant content for technology buyers in both the B2B and consumer spaces across over 90 countries.[33] With some like Computerworld and MacWorld dating back to McGovern's early ownership, the editorial brands remain central to Foundry's operations in media and technology marketing, though many of the editorial brands have transitioned from print to digital.[34]
Editorial Brands:
In 2000, Salesforce was launched at IDG's DEMO Event the premier launch venue for new technologies from 1991 to 2015.
In 2001, Fortune Magazine named IDG, Inc. to its list of "The 100 Best Companies to Work For", ranking the company at number 58.
IDG Books launched the popular reference book series For Dummies in 1991, which it owned for 10 years until selling to John Wiley & Sons, Inc. in 2001.[47]
The first ever iPhone was revealed by Steve Jobs at a MacWorld conference in 2007.[48]