Top 25 High Tech Leaders in Dallas: Dick Brown, The

Dick Brown Chairman and CEO, EDS

A word of advice to those seeking services from EDS: get in line. The seemingly bulletproof tech consultant and systems integration firm whose new business grew more than 40 percent in what was a tumultuous first quarter 2001 for many tech companies-has a business backlog of approximately $80 billion. Economic slowdown? What economic slowdown? "We just completed our ninth straight quarter of record contract signings," says Dick Brown, a former H&R Block CEO.

Officials for EDS, a 39-year-old, Plano-based powerhouse with revenue last year of $19.2 billion, estimate the global IT services market at nearly a half-trillion dollars and growing steadily-as much as 16 percent annually. "And EDS is gaining market share," says Brown, who previously guided London's Cable & Wireless to annual sales of $12 billion. "Our opportunities have never been greater."

The company's secret to perennial success? "We've got our spot'light aimed squarely on the client," says Brown. "Currently, four out of five clients will serve as a reference for EDS; our objective is to improve that to five out of five."

Copyright D Magazine Jul 01, 2001
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