Tech vs Brexit: Bosses at Microsoft, IBM, SAP, BT, and Accenture back remain
Exit from the European Union could hurt UK tech companies, executives have warned.
Senior executives at some of the biggest tech companies have signed a letter in support of Britain remaining in the European Union.
The letter, published in The Times newspaper today, said that while tech companies are "not starry eyed" about the European Union, surveys of startups, investors, and larger tech companies have "make it clear that the overwhelming majority would vote to stay in".
The letter was signed by bosses including: Kazuo Abe, managing director of Hitachi Europe; Michel van der Bel, UK CEO of Microsoft; Olly Benzecry, managing director UK and Ireland at Accenture; Andy Isherwood, managing director, UK and Ireland at Hewlett Packard Enterprise; Cormac Watters, UK managing director UK at SAP; and David Stokes, CEO of IBM UK, along with execs from companies including Fujitsu, Virgin Media, and CA Technologies.
The letter said that being in the EU makes it easier for tech companies to trade and do business across Europe.
"It makes the UK more attractive to international investment and makes Britain more globally competitive. A decision to exit the EU would leave tech firms and their customers facing significant and prolonged uncertainty and leave the UK side-lined on key decisions that will shape a digital market of 500 million consumers."
It continued: "The UK's tech sector is a global success. It is growing faster than the rest of the UK economy and creating new businesses and jobs across the country. EU membership has underpinned that success. A vote to leave would undermine it."
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