The more you know

Detica is a business and technology consulting firm specializing in intelligence and security.  It collects and exploits information that can be used to identify and counter imminent or growing threats, whether to the well-being of the public, the security of the state or the daily operation of an enterprise.  Those same data gathering capabilities can also be repurposed for use with other information-intensive problems, including regulatory compliance and customer management.  Detica generated 61 percent of its 2007/2008 revenue from government clients, and the remainder from commercial clients in the financial services, telecommunications, and media and technology markets.  Its practice areas include business consulting, delivery management, systems integration and support, electronic solutions and technical consulting.  

The firm was founded in 1971 as Smith Associates, a research services provider that engaged primarily in data analysis for the U.K. defense sector.  Through the 1980s, the firm began to diversify into the public sector, first in the U.K. and later internationally.  In the 1990s, the firm engineered a business shift away from research toward IT consulting, with an initial focus on customer relationship management, and rebranded as Detica in 2001.  In the wake of 9/11, as security became a key issue for public- and private-sector organizations, growth continued and, in 2002, the firm was listed on the London Stock Exchange.

A new master

In September 2008, Detica was acquired by U.K.-based BAE Systems, a provider of advanced aerospace and defense systems.  The transaction was valued at £538 million, and resulted in Detica becoming a standalone business unit within BAE.  Detica will build on its expertise in intelligence, security and resilience to lead and support the development of a new global security business.

Strong showing

Fiscal year 2007/2008 was very kind to Detica.  Revenue rose 30 percent to £203.2 million, following up on 54 percent growth year over year in 2006/2007, when revenue hit £156.1 million.  Government-derived revenue rose 43 percent in 2007/2008, and commercial services rose 15.5 percent.  Revenue from the firm’s U.S. business was markedly up in 2008, as well, growing to £29.8 million from a mere £6 million the year prior.  Historically, consulting and advisory services to both government and commercial clients make up the majority of Detica's revenue, with additional earnings coming from products developed for the national security market, system integration projects and post-implementation support. 

Growth, American style