App-DNA makes Schaumburg its new headquarters

A software development firm that provides products and services to help workers do their jobs has spun off from its British parent and has settled in Schaumburg.

App-DNA separated from London-based Camwood Ltd., a consulting services company, and now has plans to make Schaumburg its North American headquarters, hire more workers here and increase their services worldwide, said App-DNA Chief Executive Officer Mike Welling.

“It's like the child who outgrew the parent. We just wanted to be out on our own,” said Welling, a Londoner who moved to Bartlett a few months ago for the transition.

App-DNA develops software that helps Fortune 500 companies overcome compatibility issues when they switch to new systems, like Microsoft Windows 7. While most companies have their IT teams select and work with the technology, it's often the individual workers who use the new systems on their PCs or laptops and experience how all the apps work, or don't work, together. It's App-DNA's job to ensure everything is compatible. So App-DNA works with global leaders, including Microsoft, Citrix, HP, Dell and others to ensure Corporate America keeps running.

The company recently moved its executive, sales, development customer support and marketing teams to Schaumburg. The office has about 30 workers now and is expected to grow to about 50 by late March.

By 2012, App-DNA plans to have about 300 workers worldwide, including 150 in North America, Welling said.

He's also hoping to achieve about $50 million in annual revenue within the next two years.

“We're taking a gamble, but it's been really paying off,” Welling said.

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