CMG (company)

:"This article is about the company; for other usages, see CMG."

CMG was a consulting company focused on telecommunications and computing, based in London, United Kingdom. The company was founded in 1964 and went public in 1995. In 2002, CMG merged with Logica; the merged company was known as LogicaCMG until 2008, when it was renamed back to Logica.

Founding

CMG was founded in 1964 by Bob Collins, Bryan Mills and chairman Doug Gorman – the first letters of their surnames forming the company name. In fact, Bob Collins never actually commenced with the company, his place being taken by Bob Fawcett. CMG traded as CMG - Computer Management Group, leading to the deliberateFact|date=July 2008 misconception that this was what the letters "CMG" stood for.

CMG started trading in August 1965, when Bryan Mills and Bob Fawcett gave up their jobs (with Burroughs and Honeywell respectively) and started working out of the homes. By late 1965 they had moved into the basement of Doug Gorman's house in Blackheath, South East London. Doug had also left his job and was working full time for the company having worked out his 3 months notice at Cooper Bros. By now the founders had developed, and were selling, the ACT (Accountants' Time Ledger) package. They bought only as much computer time as was needed for the work available, and produced a fully comprehensive package service.

In 1966 they opened offices in Davis House in Croydon. A rapid expansion ensued followed by a move to Sunley House in Croydon and offices subsequently being opened in Glasgow, Amsterdam, Brussels and Middlesex and the installation of Burroughs computers.

Although Bryan Mills and Bob Fawcett left CMG in the 1980s, Doug Gorman continued to lead CMG until his death in 1995.

CMG floated on the London and Amsterdam stock exchanges in December 1995. Until that time, only employees and their immediate families could purchase shares in CMG, and at its peak about 80% of employees owned shares in the company.

Merger with Logica

In 2002 CMG merged with Logica. The merger of Logica (60%) with CMG / Admiral (40%), on December 30, 2002, represented the union of an established technology firm (Logica) with an established consulting firm (CMG). The move was generally considered by commentators at the time to be of good strategic value for both companies. Profit rises since the merger further validate the decisionFact|date=July 2008.

In 2007, LogicaCMG Telecom Products, formed of elements of both Logica and CMG, was purchased for £265m (US $525m), by private investors Atlantic Bridge Ventures and Access Industries and is now known as Acision. The company, based in Reading, UK, employs approximately 1,700 people in 22 countries across six continents. Acision continues as the world leader in independent mobile messaging software systems, including its IP SMSC for mobile operators and service providers across the globe.

On September 24, 2007, Cor Stutterheim announced that LogicaCMG would change its name into Logica, starting on March 2008. The reasoning being that 'Logica' would be a more international recognisable name than 'LogicaCMG'.

CMG was a unique company, not only for the high level of employee share ownership but for the "open culture" and flat structure.Fact|date=July 2008 The "open culture" meant that every employee's file was open for all employees to see. The flat structure, in that for many years there were only four layers, Consultants, Associate Directors (ADs), Managing Directors (MDs)and the Board of Directors. The passing of CMG is greatly regrettedFact|date=July 2008 and a large "wake" was held in London on the 29th Feb 2008.