13 April 2010 – UK education sector specialist BLi Education, has announced it is to expand its global export offering and launch into the American education market with the opening of a North American office. The Oregon-based office is BLi’s first in America.

The office will be led by newly appointed Erin Antonius. After beginning her career in marketing, Erin has spent over ten years in the education software sector, focusing on both international market development and product management. Erin now joins BLi as Director to help lead the group in its strategy for growth in the American education market.

Erin comments, “I am delighted to be joining BLi Education at this exciting time. Despite the current pressures facing UK businesses, the group has continued to find the best companies in their class and build the strength of their portfolio.  The move into the American market will help us continue our international expansion and I look forward to being part of that growth.”

Andrew Foyle, founder and CEO of BLi Education, says, “We are pleased to welcome Erin on board. Her experience of the education technology sector, coupled with her knowledge of the American marketplace, makes Erin perfectly positioned to drive forward our expansion into this whole new market.

“BLi’s move into America represents a great opportunity for the group and because we have already developed our technology to such a high standard for the UK education market, localizing software for the US will be relatively low cost. We will however make the necessary adaptations for the North American market, for example, where there are differences in learning standards and vocabulary,  and we are also looking at including Spanish language options for the Hispanic market.

“Our plan is to work with resellers who truly understand the market within their local state. This presents us with some tremendous opportunities, especially when you consider that just one or two of the largest states alone are as big as the English education market.”

BLi Education, which is the umbrella group for well-known TAG Learning, Economatics and Semerc, will operate in the US under its established Sherston brand.