AKJ Associates

History and Founding

AKJ Associates was founded in 1998, according to Glassdoor, and held its first summit in 2002 at the request of the British Government. The company’s registered entity, A K J ASSOCIATES LIMITED (company number 03866759), is incorporated in the UK. Over more than two decades, AKJ has established itself as a specialist in high-level cybersecurity events, adapting to market changes while maintaining the trust of its community.

Business Model

AKJ’s model is distinct from large trade shows: it curates invitation-only events with a balanced ratio of practitioners to vendors. All solution providers are pre-screened to match the interests of attending CISOs. The company generates revenue through sponsorship fees, delegate tickets (where applicable), and bespoke meeting services that arrange one-to-one introductions between solution providers and decision-makers. Its value lies in curation, network, and discretion—it does not develop its own security technology.

Core Products and Platforms

e‑Crime & Cybersecurity Congress – AKJ’s flagship closed-door event series, held in multiple cities across Europe and the Middle East. Designed for senior information security professionals, each congress features keynote presentations, breakout seminars, and dedicated networking breaks covering topics such as ransomware, cloud security, supply chain risk, and regulatory compliance. PCI London Summit – A vertical-focused event dedicated to Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance and related topics. Bespoke Roundtables & Closed-Door Meetings – Custom-designed, invitation-only gatherings where a small group of CISOs and sponsors discuss a specific challenge or trend in depth. Online Event Platform – A virtual conference format developed during the pandemic, offering live presentations, Q&A, downloadable resources, and virtual vendor booths. Feedback highlights easy use, quality speakers, and structured engagement.

Market Position and Clients

AKJ operates in the niche of high-trust, executive-level cybersecurity events, competing with other invitation-only conference organizers. Testimonials on its website come from senior risk and security officers at institutions such as UBS, the Co‑operative Group, Currys, Phoenix Group, and RAKBank. The company’s longevity—over two decades in a fast-evolving market—attests to its ability to adapt while maintaining community trust.

Key Leadership

Explicit C-level officers (CEO, CTO, COO, Founder) could not be confirmed from publicly available sources. Identified senior roles include James Wilson as Conference Group Director (LinkedIn) and Simon Brady as Managing Editor (as of 2020, per a post-event report PDF).