Focus Research CEO Sells, Spins Off New Agency

Technology media firm Ziff Davis has acquired some of the assets of online agency Focus Research, while the agency's CEO Scott Albro and a number of employees have remained with Focus.com to spin it off as a separate business. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 2005, San Francisco-based Focus Research (formerly known as Tippit) provides research to technology buyers and leads to IT vendors. It also maintains a network of thousands of technology thought leaders, who provide expert opinion on a range of technology-related topics.

The original firm, which has been re-named 'Ziff Davis B2B Focus', will now concentrate on three services: qualified lead generation, content syndication, and webinars; while continuing to maintain its IT industry database and library of buying guides and white papers.

Ziff Davis CEO Vivek Shah says the acquisition will strengthen his firm's mission to inform and influence buyers of technology.

Albro (pictured) and a number of his former colleagues who did not join Ziff Davis, will now concentrate on building Focus.com into a separate business.

Focus.com comprises two interconnected groups: a membership base of more than 1 million business professionals, and the Focus Expert Network, which boasts more than 5,000 business and technology experts across every business category. The firm also offers real-time Q&A, industry research, and product and service information.

Web site: www.focus.com .