Reach plc appoints Version 1 as its Strategic Managed Service Partner to lead a Digital Transformation agenda

Version 1, a leading digital transformation partner today announced it has been appointed by Reach plc., the UK and Ireland’s largest commercial publisher, as a strategic managed services partner. The agreement will see Version 1 deliver digital and service transformation under its ASPIRE framework, including innovation, intelligent automation, and streamlining of services. 

The strategic collaboration has already delivered success in managing a demanding transition timeline and successful go-live, providing a solid start to this important partnership that will evolve the Reach IT support model into a more efficient, cost-effective and value driven service.  

From L-R: Version 1 Practice Director Olivia Carrol, CTO Brad Mallard, and CEO Tom O’Connor, pictured alongside Geoff Churn, Chief Information Officer, Reach plc and Sarah-Jane Peden, Head of Technology Procurement, Reach plc; pictured at the Version 1 Office.

“We wanted to find a partner who could grow with us and help us to adapt to future change, particularly in the context of our Customer Value Strategy and building a sustainable future for our news brands,” said Geoff Churn, Chief Information Officer, Reach. “Version 1 demonstrated not just expert, credible experience as a public cloud and digital transformation partner, but also showed how it operates against a strong backdrop of core values aligned to our own and focused on the customer. We are looking forward very much to working with all the Version 1 teams over the coming years.” 

“Being selected as the strategic managed service partner for Reach is a real testament to our core capabilities under the ASPIRE programme,” said Tom O’Connor, Chief Executive Officer at Version 1. “With the very latest technology and leveraging our highly skilled people across our Global Capability Centres, we’re looking forward to seeing the results we can achieve, enabling Reach to continue to deliver on its strategy of becoming a more data-led, digital business. Our service will deliver a more efficient and streamlined backbone in support of this agenda and we are excited to continue building on the great start our two teams have had working with each other.”