PTFS Europe announces company name change to Open Fifth
Last updated on: 10th April 2025| 26th March 2025 | Open Fifth
Press Release
A new name, a continued commitment
The move to Open Fifth represents a significant change to the company, however, equally important are the things that will be remaining the same. This includes our commitment to delivering technology services and solutions, excellent service and support to our valued customers, meeting enhanced security requirements, driving innovation, our role in open source development communities, and the company’s values.
Jonathan Field, Founder and Managing Director, shares this on the Open Fifth announcement:
“We are proud of the name and reputation we have built within the library market over the past 18 years. With this name change we feel it represents who we are today and where we are going. The name is changing but we are retaining the now familiar branding we did 2 years ago. Importantly, nothing else changes, our staff, our values and our commitment to serving our libraries remains the same!”
Andrew Auld, Commercial Director, shares his perspective on the Open Fifth announcement:
“I have been keen on a name change since I joined the company in 2019 and am so excited that it is now happening. To have a name that represents aspects of Jonathan and my history and friendship is an important marker in our work together in the company since I joined. We hope it also resonates with our open values and our work in the open source communities we serve.”
Open Fifth retains the company vision of ‘making technology easy’, as well as the mission of ‘freeing libraries to do the things they do best’.
All customers, partners and suppliers can be assured that:
-
- All existing contracts and service agreements remain fully valid
-
- The team, leadership, ownership structure, operational processes and policies remain unchanged
-
- The company’s commitment to high-quality service continues uninterrupted
-
- Contact information, including the company website and team email addresses, have been updated to the ‘openfifth.co.uk’ domain, although existing PTFS Europe email addresses and the website will remain active to redirect during this transitional period. Please update your saved contact information to ensure that you’re receiving our communications.
Take a look at our FAQs to learn more about the name change.
The origin of ‘Open Fifth’
PTFS Europe was founded in 2007. Over the last 18 years, the team behind the company has grown and the products and services offered have evolved too. We have expanded our presence geographically beyond Europe, with the global nature of open source development, and the Koha and Aspen communities. Furthermore, we pride ourselves on our reputation as a friendly and personable team, a key consideration reflected in the 2022 rebrand. The name ‘PTFS Europe’ no longer seemed to capture everything the company represents now, and it increasingly felt like we had outgrown it.
In 2025, we welcome Open Fifth. Here’s why we think it is the perfect name and what it means to us:
It has a meaningful connection to the company’s primary directors.
‘Open fifth’ is a musical term, a chord that consists of a first note and fifth note, with no third. This relates to primary company directors and owners Jonathan Field and Andrew Auld, who met nearly 30 years ago in a choir where they often sang a fifth apart in their respective vocal parts.
It better reflects our values.
We implement and support open source software because we believe in its cost effectiveness, collaborative approach and transparency; principles that are shared with libraries. Openness in our operations is also a key foundation in how we do business. With ‘open’ in our name, we are putting these commitments front and centre.
It is memorable and easy to use.
Many people in the UK and Europe do not know what ‘PTFS’ stands for, the letters alone do not communicate any meaning, and often ‘Europe’ would be excluded when people referred to us, potentially leading to misunderstandings. Open Fifth resolves each of these considerations.
It works with the existing look and feel from the 2022 refresh.
The logo, website and brand redesign in 2022 received fantastic feedback, with support from the team, customers and community. The redesign was developed with the knowledge that we wanted to change the company’s name in the future, and for these elements to complement one another.
More information
Read our name change FAQs.
Lauren Purton
Marketing Executive
M: +44 7444 865324 | T: +44 1483 378728 ext. 1016
Andrew Auld
Commercial Director
M: +44 7811 370104 | T: +44 1483 378728 ext. 1010
