UK Consulting Firm Hires Former GlobalPittsburgh President Roger Cranville to Lead U.S. Expansion

Alliantus, a leading Cambridge, England-based business consultancy focused on innovative technologies, has announced its expansion into the United States with the appointment of former GlobalPittsburgh President Roger O. Cranville, OBE, as its new Head of Operations.

Roger Cranville

Formed in 2002, Alliantus helps clients at all stages, from research and technology development to finished product, providing opportunity evaluation and assistance into mainstream and niche markets. It plans to leverage its strong relationships with businesses, research centers and universities that focus on technology or business and build its expertise in the Cleantech, Biotech and Health markets. This latest move into Pittsburgh marks the start of its plan for on-the-ground representation in key global markets.

“With a strong track record of helping UK companies expand into new markets, largely in Asia-Pacific countries, the time is right to move our own business forward," said Alliantus CEO Kevin Coleman. "With his complementary experience, a vast range of contacts and shared vision to help and encourage businesses plan ahead and grow quickly, Roger’s appointment is a major milestone in the expansion of Alliantus.”

Said Cranville: “The location in Cambridge, at the heart of Silicon Fen in the UK, puts us in pole position for U.S. businesses that want to expand into the UK and wider Europe. Alliantus has established a strong reputation with tech companies in the semi-conductor IP, wireless and software spaces, and has run the widely acclaimed Discovering Start-ups program – all of which will have resonance in the US. And as well as leveraging experience of working with leading players in the technology industry, we are developing stronger links into new fields.”

Alliantus provides inspirational, board-level advice and access to high-level contacts and practical delivery of strategic business solutions. It offers expertise in marketing and business growth, built on over 25 years of developing skills across the technology industry. It understands the challenges facing early-stage organisations. Alliantus knows how to monetise innovation, assist with business and communications strategies, link entrepreneurs to investors and schemes, or just provide practical things that expanding companies need. It delivers training and workshops and runs programs for companies and government clients that need to identify emerging opportunities to ensure economic growth. 

Passionate about the importance of global business, Cranville was an early identifier of BRIC opportunities, facilitating the opening of the first Pennsylvania office in Beijing in 1995. He also managed a global business development team, creating business, academic and government links to and from Britain, Canada, China, Germany, India, Sweden and Vietnam.

As the Deputy Secretary for International Business Development for Pennsylvania from 1997 to 2000, he was responsible for building the Commonwealth’s first global business development infrastructure. Later he developed and implemented global business strategies for the Pittsburgh region as Senior Vice President for the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance from 2000 to 2009. This has played a pivotal role in helping the region to buck the US economic downturn.

In 2009, he transformed the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors into GlobalPittsburgh and refocused it to promote the Pittsburgh Region on a global scale, establishing Pittsburgh as an internationally connected place to live, work and do business. In 2003, Roger was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II, for "services to transatlantic business development."

Before moving to the U.S., Roger worked at Acorn Computers in Cambridge.