Cognizant inks agreement to acquire cloud specialist New Signature

Cognizant has inked an agreement to acquire the independent Microsoft public cloud transformation specialists, New Signature. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2020 which is subject to regulatory clearance and other closing conditions. Also, the financial details were not disclosed.    

With this acquisition, Cognizant expands its hyperscale cloud advisory services and will provide the foundation for a new, dedicated group within Cognizant based on Microsoft cloud solutions. New Signature is exclusively focused on Microsoft technologies, with an integrated offering across all three of Microsoft’s business clouds: Azure, Microsoft 365, and Dynamics 365.

New Signature’s has more than 500 cloud experts based primarily in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, will join Cognizant’s newly-formed Microsoft Business Group.

“The pace of cloud adoption continues to accelerate across industries, with Microsoft’s cloud solutions among the preferred technologies to help transform and strengthen businesses,” said Greg Hyttenrauch, President, Cognizant Digital Systems and Technology. “Acquiring New Signature will enrich our cloud-first capabilities and complement our increasing strengths as a Microsoft partner. We look forward to welcoming New Signature into the Cognizant family.”

The global client portfolio of New Signature includes businesses across a broad range of industries, as well as government and non-profit institutions. Engagements have included a cloud migration for Virgin Atlantic Airways, an IoT solution for The Hershey Company, and a solution to map all public defibrillators in the U.K. for the National Health Service (NHS) and the British Heart Foundation.

“New Signature’s success is built upon helping clients create and accelerate their business transformation through the adoption of Microsoft cloud technologies,” said Jeff Tench, Chief Executive Officer, New Signature. “In joining Cognizant, we will have access to Cognizant’s deep industry expertise and global scale, and together, provide best-in-class cloud solutions for the intelligent workplace, applied innovation, and managed services. We share a passion for innovation and look forward to our future at the heart of Cognizant’s new Microsoft Business Group.”

New Signature will be Cognizant’s fifth cloud-related acquisition in 2020. Cloud is an area of strategic focus and continued investment for Cognizant as it expands capabilities to help clients become fully digital, data-enabled, customer-centric businesses.