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Derek Britton on Muck Rack

Derek Britton

(He/Him)
As seen in: LinkedIn, slideshare.net, Computing, DevOps.com, TechChannel, Planet Mainframe, Elnion
Covers:  Legacy Modernization, IBM Mainframe, COBOL, AI, Digital Transformation, Marketing, Leadership, Infrastructure, CIO, Application Analysis, DevOps, SDLC, Branding, Messaging
Doesn't Cover: Security, Information Management

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Derek Britton’s Biography

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Experienced modernization technology SME and marketing leader with over 30 years in B2B tech. Topic author on marketing, modernization, AI, mainframe, COBOL, digital transformation, IT skills. Extensive coverage in the IT press and as a conference presenter (Open Mainframe Project, SHARE, GSE Nordic, GS-UK, Tech Field Day, Gartner, Planet Mainframe).

Derek Britton’s Journalist Portfolio

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Still counting on COBOL

Still counting on COBOL

This article summarizes the recent media activity celebrating the 65th anniversary of the COBOL language.

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COBOL's Timeless Value

COBOL's Timeless Value

In the USA, the full retirement age (FRA) for Social Security benefits in the United States varies depending …

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PART 4: COBOL-The Road Ahead

PART 4: COBOL-The Road Ahead

As it turns 65, the future of COBOL and its challenges-talent shortage, tech relevance, reputation, and busin…

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COBOL PART 3: The Experts' View

COBOL PART 3: The Experts' View

Derek Britton captures the voices of COBOL experts in this article about COBOL's readability, portability, an…

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COBOL: WHEN 65 CONTINUE

COBOL: WHEN 65 CONTINUE

Proponents of the longstanding programming language, including Reg Harbeck, Misty Decker, Derek Britton and m…

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65 years of COBOL. Timeless, or time's up?

65 years of COBOL. Timeless, or time's up?

The enterprise computer language, COBOL, was first named in September 1959, by members of the CODASYL committ…

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Articles

A Clarion Call for the Mainframe Community

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By Derek Britton
| Planet Mainframe
Artificial Intelligence, CICS, Mainframe Skills, Modernization Derek Britton is a COBOL and Modernization commentator, a founding member of the Open Mainframe Project COBOL Working Group and runs the Application Modernization Group on LinkedIn. Connect with him here. With over 30 years in the enterprise software industry, Derek is an accomplished technology marketing leader, writer, and presenter.
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Missing Mainframe and IT Skills: How Enterprises Can Respond

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By Derek Britton
| Planet Mainframe
Attendees at GS UK 2025 noticed a new track, WAVEZ 101, dedicated to early-career and undergraduate mainframers. I was delighted to be invited to speak on mainframe skills and what I see for the industry’s future employees. A Gloomy Skills Outlook The IT skills topic – or lack thereof – is widely discussed, and press headlines paint a bleak picture. Reports from IDC, CIO, and InformationWeek warn of a USD 5.5 trillion global impact due to IT skills shortages.
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Enterprise IT Trends: Reflections on a Year of Adjustment (and a Look Ahead)

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By Derek Britton
| Planet Mainframe
Digital Transformation, Enterprise IT, Hybrid IT, IT Strategy Derek Britton is a COBOL and Modernization commentator, a founding member of the Open Mainframe Project COBOL Working Group and runs the Application Modernization Group on LinkedIn. Connect with him here. With over 30 years in the enterprise software industry, Derek is an accomplished technology marketing leader, writer, and presenter.
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Interview

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Have you ever used a typewriter?

I trained on typewriters.

How is social media changing news?

Greater immediacy of consumption need is driving us ever more to faster provision of stories. Headlines became as important as narratives.

What story are you most proud of writing or working on?

I enjoyed the ambition of the COBOL 60th anniversary investigation in 2019 and hope to offer a reminder of the topic this year for its 65th.