Gartner Symposium/ITxpo Mastermind Keynotes to Include Interviews With Cisco's John Chambers, Microsoft's Steve Ballmer an

6,000 IT Strategists and Senior Business Leaders to Come Together October 17-21 in Orlando

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Some of the most influential leaders in technology will take to the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo stage to sit down with Gartner, Inc. analysts to talk in-depth about their strategies, products and thoughts on the future of IT.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Gartner Symposium/ITxpo is the world's most-important gathering of CIOs and senior IT executives. This event delivers independent and objective content with the authority and weight of the world's leading IT research and advisory organization, and provides access to the latest solutions from key technology providers. The event takes place October 17 through 21, at the Walt Disney World Dolphin, Swan and Yacht Club Hotels, in Orlando, Florida.

This year's Mastermind Interview Keynotes include:

• Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO, Salesforce.com, on Tuesday, October 19
• John Chambers, chairman and CEO, Cisco Systems, on Wednesday, October 20
• Steve Ballmer, CEO, Microsoft Corp., on Thursday, October 21

Gartner Symposium/ITxpo kicks off with Super Sunday, on October 17. Super Sunday focuses on the unique needs and IT structure in industries such as manufacturing, banking and investment services, insurance, education, energy and utilities, government, and healthcare...

"As organizations shake off the lingering effects of two years of economic turmoil, business and IT executives are clearly optimistic — however cautiously — about the coming year," said Terence Mulhern, senior director with Gartner Events. "The icy focus on cost-cutting and risk management is melting, giving way to a renewed focus on growth, innovation and the agility enterprises will need to move into the recovery. Our keynotes, programs and experiences are designed to enable CIOs and senior IT executives not simply to help, but, in fact, to lead, their businesses back to prosperity."

Gartner Symposium/ITxpo will immerse more than 150 Gartner analysts, more than 185 solution providers and more than 6,000 delegates in an environment designed to reveal the newest strategies and technologies on key issues such as security and privacy, speed and agility, business strategy at the right cost, growth and overall performance. Delegates can choose from more than 350 sessions that deliver expert IT intelligence from every corner of the IT industry. The sessions, workshops and networking opportunities will provide attendees with the advice and tools they need to get real business results.

The CIO Program at Gartner Symposium/ITxpo will provide information and tools for the choices CIOs face now, expanding their thinking, accelerating their decision making and enabling them to test their ideas. Based on the experiences of working with more than 3,000 CIOs, and presented in a peer-to-peer environment, the program provides CIOs with: CIO-exclusive sessions with Gartner analysts and industry thought leaders; workshops concentrating on making decisions from the CIO's perspective and providing a context for gaining insights from peers; and a CIO-exclusive lounge, a work area that enables CIOs to meet their peers and remain productive at the event.

In the opening Gartner analyst keynote on Monday, October 18, titled "Transitions: New Realities, Rules and Opportunities," analysts will explain the state of the industry in a time of unprecedented transition across every aspect of IT, including the people who use technology, the ways it is used, how it's delivered, and its impact on business and society.

This year's agenda revolves around nine tracks, including the renowned CIO Program at Symposium/ITxpo, that deliver on the needs and expectations of IT leaders as identified by Gartner clients. It's a mix of management and technology insight empowering senior-level IT and business people to make the strategic, organizational and technology investment decisions required to weather the economic challenges and emerge with a competitive edge. The tracks include:

• Applications
• Business Intelligence & Information Management
• Business Process Improvement
• CIO Program at Symposium/ITxpo
• Enterprise Architecture
• Infrastructure & Operations
• Program & Portfolio Management
• Security & Risk Management
• Sourcing & Vendor Relationships

ITxpo, a solution showcase teeming with leading providers of IT solutions, will highlight the next steps in technology through live demonstrations, face-to-face meetings with exhibitors, and fast-paced presentations on key technology directions aligned with 11 ITxpo Marketplaces — Applications; Business Intelligence, Data Management & Integration; Business Process Management; Content, Collaboration & Social Software; Data Center & IT Operations; Enterprise Architecture; Enterprise Networking & Communications; Outsourcing & IT Services; Program & Portfolio Management; Security & Compliance; and Wireless & Mobile.

New this year, the Emerging Technologies Pavilion at ITxpo will house some of the most intriguing up-and-coming providers in enterprise IT, including Gartner Cool Vendors, across key markets. The Pavilion will include demonstrations and theater sessions highlighting what makes these providers so intriguing, and why they're likely to become the major providers of tomorrow.

For complete event details, please visit the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo website at www.gartner.com/symposium/us.

Members of the media can register for the event by contacting Christy Pettey at christy.pettey@gartner.com.

About Gartner

Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) is the world's leading information technology research and advisory company. Gartner delivers the technology-related insight necessary for its clients to make the right decisions, every day. From CIOs and senior IT leaders in corporations and government agencies, to business leaders in high-tech and telecom enterprises and professional services firms, to technology investors, Gartner is the valuable partner to 60,000 clients in 10,800 distinct organizations. Through the resources of Gartner Research, Gartner Executive Programs, Gartner Consulting and Gartner Events, Gartner works with every client to research, analyze and interpret the business of IT within the context of their individual role. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A., and has 4,300 associates, including 1,200 research analysts and consultants, and clients in 80 countries. For more information, visit www.gartner.com.

CONTACT:

Gartner
Christy Pettey, + 1-408-468-8312
christy.pettey@gartner.com

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