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Key people at marchFIRST.
marchFIRST was a global digital consulting and professional services firm, specializing in internet strategy, web design, and technology solutions. It integrated traditional IT consulting with internet development, providing comprehensive digital transformation services. The firm leveraged its capabilities to build online platforms and digital infrastructures for businesses across various sectors.
The company formed on March 1, 2000, through the merger of Whittman-Hart, a computer software and consulting firm established in 1984 by Robert F. Bernard, and USWeb/CKS, a prominent web design and strategy agency. This consolidation aimed to combine enterprise technology expertise with creative digital branding, creating a formidable force in the internet services market.
marchFIRST targeted large enterprises seeking to establish or enhance their digital presence and operations. Its vision was to become the preeminent global leader in internet professional services, guiding clients through the new digital economy. The firm focused on delivering integrated solutions that addressed both strategic business objectives and technical implementation challenges for its client base.
marchFIRST was a global professional web services company formed in 2000 through the merger of Whittman-Hart and USWeb/CKS. It specialized in digital communications and Internet consulting services, serving a broad range of corporate clients worldwide. At its peak, it was the largest Internet services company globally, with around 9,000 employees and annual revenues near $500 million. The company aimed to provide comprehensive digital strategy, design, and technology solutions to help businesses leverage the Internet for growth and transformation. However, it struggled financially as the dot-com bubble burst, leading to bankruptcy and liquidation in 2001[1][2][3].
marchFIRST originated from the merger on March 1, 2000, of Whittman-Hart, founded in 1984 by Robert Bernard and partners in Chicago, and USWeb/CKS, a San Francisco-based web design and strategy firm founded in 1995 by former Novell executives. Whittman-Hart had grown steadily from an IBM AS/400 consulting firm into a public company before acquiring USWeb/CKS in 1999 for nearly $6 billion. The merger created a massive Internet services firm with a combined workforce of 9,000 employees worldwide. Robert Bernard continued as CEO, with USWeb’s Robert Shaw as chairman. Despite early promise and rapid growth, the company’s fortunes declined sharply with the end of the dot-com boom, culminating in bankruptcy by mid-2001[1][3][4][5].
marchFIRST was emblematic of the dot-com era’s rapid consolidation and expansion in Internet services. It rode the wave of the late 1990s and early 2000s Internet boom, capitalizing on the surge in demand for digital transformation and web presence among enterprises. The timing was critical, as companies rushed to establish online capabilities, but the subsequent market correction exposed vulnerabilities in marchFIRST’s aggressive growth model. Its rise and fall illustrate the volatility of the early digital economy and the challenges of integrating large, diverse firms in a fast-evolving sector[1][3][4].
marchFIRST’s story is a cautionary tale of rapid expansion amid market exuberance. After its bankruptcy and liquidation in 2001, parts of the business were acquired by other firms, and Whittman-Hart was later revived in a smaller form. Looking forward, the lessons from marchFIRST highlight the importance of sustainable growth, integration strategy, and market timing in the tech services sector. While marchFIRST itself no longer exists, its legacy informs how digital consulting firms approach mergers, scaling, and adapting to market cycles in the evolving tech landscape[1][3][4].
Key people at marchFIRST.
