ARLINGTON, VA -- Just months after splitting from its former parent, the Government Electronics and Information Technology Association will merge with the Information Technology Association of America, the associations announced.

The merger will bring together nearly 400 technology companies to focus on public
policy, business development, technology standards and market intelligence under the
ITAA banner. The merger is set to close on or about April 1.

Until last year, the GEIA was part of the EIA.

“We are creating a single place for companies to come together and move the technology
industry forward, whether those firms are focused on the government or commercial
markets; IT or electronics,” said ITAA chairman Henry Steininger, in a statement.

GEIA’s membership and programs will become a new group within ITAA. GEIA’s current board of directors will continue to oversee the activities of the GEIA group.

The ITAA board will be adjusted to provide equal representation of ITAA and GEIA
members.

Former U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce Phil Bond will continue to serve as president and chief executive of the combined organization. GEIA president Dan Heinemeier becomes executive vice president and chief operating officer of ITAA.