As Principal Analyst William created and drives 451’s user research program with IT early adopters and innovators across a range of vertical markets, including the Grid Adoption Research Service (GARS). In addition to published research and survey reports, the program convenes strategic technology summits and chairs discussion groups for IT decision makers, especially in the financial services sector. William’s team leads 451’s research activities within European Commission Framework Program projects and works directly with industrial and community partners. William also covers innovation in enterprise IT - wherever it is occurring - for 451’s vendor research programs and provides strategic counsel.

William is a regular speaker and moderator at industry and 451 conferences and sits on numerous advisory boards and planning committees for industry bodies including OGF and the UK DTI’s GCN. William’s opinions are regularly sought and cited in newspapers such as the New York Times, Financial Times, magazines and trade publications.

As a co-founder of The 451 Group William assumed management of business development, recruitment and editorial activities at company formation in 1999, lead development of technical infrastructures – specifically mobile operations – and worked with investors, partners and suppliers to launch the company on time and on budget in April 2000.

Before starting 451 William worked for 11 years in technology and business journalism, building an extensive knowledge of European and U.S. technology markets, financial models and its business leaders. William joined ComputerWire in London 1988, developing its coverage of the open systems sector and founded company subsidiaries in the former Soviet Union (1990) and the US (1992). Based in New York he built and managed an editorial team across several US locations and edited the influential Unix industry newsletter Unigram.X.

William has an MSc in Information Systems & Theory from Portsmouth Polytechnic and a BA Hons Government & Sociology from the University of Essex.