Most MEF on-stage events are well-scripted affairs. But sometimes, just sometimes, you get a hot-off-the-presses announcement. xConnect CEO Eli Katz got on stage with Sekura.id’s Mark Harvey to announce xConnect’s acquisition of Sekura.
On the deal, Somos CEO Gina Perini said, “Somos is always looking for creative ways to build a more trusted global communications ecosystem. It’s also important to move fast when the opportunity arises. Sekura is a natural fit into our xConnect brand—it felt like a no-brainer.”
While I serve on Somos’s advisory board, I had no prior knowledge of the deal. I found out like everyone else—live on stage. I will, however, take credit for the photo of Eli and Mark enjoying a post-deal ice cream like gleeful eight-year-olds.
In all seriousness, the acquisition makes sense. Network information services are becoming a critical weapon in the fight against fraud. The focus now is whether you can trust the traffic without bothering the consumer—texting, calling, etc. Sekura’s been building some smart tools in that space. Can’t wait to see what they do next.