The History of GFT Technologies

In 2025, Marco Santos stepped in as Global CEO, leading GFT into a new era of AI-centric innovation. Guided by a visionary five-year strategy, we have embarked on a transformative journey to become the best AI-centric and responsible AI digital transformation company in the world.

GFT acquires Colombia-based core banking expert Sophos Solutions. With Sophos, GFT advances to one of the top 3 banking IT services providers across Latin America and also increases its global delivery capability. Thanks to Sophos’ more than 1,700 employees, GFT’s global headcount grows by almost 20 percent to more than 12,000.

1. July: Marco Santos takes office as CEO. He will lead GFT together with Marika Lulay as Co-CEO until the end of 2024 and as sole CEO from January 2025. Marika Lulay will step down from the Group Executive Board at the end of her contract on 31 December 2024.

GFT acquires targens GmbH. GFT thus strengthens its presence in the German market and gains new expertise in the growth markets of compliance and digital innovation.

With the launch of the GFT AI.DA Marketplace, GFT intensifies its focus on the future technology of artificial intelligence. With use cases, methodologies, reference architectures and preconfigured solutions, the GFT AI.DA Marketplace accelerates the design and implementation of AI applications.

GFT is recognized as an international leader in the digital transformation of finance, wins prizes at the Banking Tech Awards for "Best use of IT in Private Banking/Wealth Management" and "Best Mobile Initiative - New Bank/Brand." GFT maintains growth well above market level and is also successful in the competitive labour market: in August, team GFT passes the mark of 10,000 talented employees.

GFT continues its strategy of diversifying into new markets and following its customers, expanding further in the Asia-Pacific market. The company set up offices in the global financial hubs of Singapore and Hong Kong as well as a new nearshore delivery centre in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Their expertise and focus is on cloud technologies and next-generation core banking systems. Following the strong share price development in 2021 GFT was included in the German SDAX.

GFT acquires software supplier in-integrierte informationssysteme GmbH. in-GmbH are experts in the field of shop floor transparency and process integration for industrial clients. With this acquisition, GFT gains 40 new employees and expands its industry expertise.

GFT announces the acquisition of the expertise of TRUMPF subsidiary AXOOM and a development partnership with TRUMPF themselves. This strategic milestone represents an acceleration of GFT’s industry drive and an expansion of its industrial expertise, as well as the addition of a new location in Karlsruhe.

GFT announces the acquisition of Canadian IT specialist V-NEO Inc., strengthening its market position in North America. V-NEO is an experienced services provider of integrated IT solutions for the insurance market. GFT gains 160 new employees as well as two new office locations in Quebec (Canada) and Brussels (Belgium).

In June, Marika Lulay succeeds Ulrich Dietz as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GFT Group. After leading the company for 30 years, Ulrich Dietz takes over the position of chairman of the Administrative Board.

With the acquisition of the Brazilian IT specialist Habber Tec Brazil, GFT extends its market position in Latin America and welcomes more than 100 new experts in São Paulo and Curitiba.

• GFT sells emagine, its staffing services business, as part of a management buyout and focusses on its business with IT solutions for the financial industry.
• GFT acquires the Spanish IT services company Adesis netlife S.L. The acquisition brings on board 273 new IT professionals and extensive expertise in digital banking.
• Shareholders vote in favour of changing the company’s legal status to that of a European Company (Societas Europaea, SE).

GFT acquires the UK-based business and IT consultancy Rule Financial. With over 660 full-time employees in the UK, the US, Poland, Costa Rica and Spain, Rule Financial is focused on investment banking services.

• GFT enters the Italian market with the acquisition of the IT consultancy Sempla, now called GFT Italia. With almost 500 employees, GFT Italia is currently one of Italy’s leading IT consultancies, specialising in IT solutions for commercial and private banking clients.
• GFT pools its staffing business in the new company and standalone brand emagine.

Detaching from its Software division (GFT inboxx GmbH) in 2010, GFT underlined its strategic group alignment towards IT services and IT staffing.

GFT headquarters move from St. Georgen to Stuttgart.

GFT acquires the Parity group’s French and German operations and becomes an even stronger force in IT personnel solutions.

GFT complements its existing on–site and nearshore operations with the addition of an offshore software development centre in India. After winning a significant contract for a Brazilian financial services company, GFT makes its mark in South America by opening a development centre near São Paulo.

GFT UK is established in London. In the same year, GFT acquires emagine, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bank specialized in IT solutions for the financial industry. This brings with it a new development centre in Barcelona, with more than 500 financial IT consultants. In light of this development, GFT shifts its focus to IT solutions for the financial sector.

GFT goes public – a milestone for the company. To mark the occasion, GFT changes its official name to GFT Technologies AG. On June 28, the company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (New Market) with an offering price of 23 euros. After stock split 1:3 in June 2000 this corresponds to an offering price of 7,67 euros.

GFT Technologies (Schweiz) AG opens its doors, specializing in forward-looking e-government solutions.

GFT launches its first product on the market: GRIT.