Fortlock Group has acquired Wellington-based technology services company Comsmart, as part of its strategy to broaden its range of business services and solutions.
Headquartered in Auckland, Fortlock is a provider of operational and IP network based security management solutions, delivering consultancy and support across retail, industrial, government, healthcare and commercial organisations in New Zealand.
Terms of the acquisition will see the business expand market reach and strengthen its professional IT and converged security solutions capabilities.
“We are delighted to bring Comsmart’s skills and capability into the Fortlock Group and to accelerate our plans for continued growth,” Fortlock Group owner and executive chairman Patrick Shields said.
“The acquisition provides effective and immediate access to the skills of the talented team that have been supporting Comsmart’s clients for the past ten years.”
Based in Wellington, Comsmart specialises in project and change delivery, including consulting, project management, business analysis, architecture, and engineering.
Specifically, the managed services provider (MSP) focuses on delivering projects across hardware and software platform replacements, business and solution design, proof of concepts, system builds and implementation.
From a technology perspective, Comsmart partners with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, Apollo (Revera), IBM, Dell EMC, Cisco and McAfee, specialising in the provision of infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and solutions spanning both private and public clouds.
“With a reputation for high-quality service, Comsmart has attracted and retained some of New Zealand’s largest commercial and Government organisations,” Shields added.
“Bringing the two companies together allows us to combine skills and leverage our abilities to provide a wider range of services to all our customers.
“Our management team will ensure the transition is smooth and seamless, working with the Comsmart team to ensure that each client’s business carries on without interruption.”
Founded in 2007, Comsmart also delivers business solutions across a wide range of technologies, working with clients from the conceptual development stage right through to the on-going maintenance of business systems.
Delving deeper, offerings include professional services, business analysis, project management and solution architecture through to Helpdesk support, recruitment and contract staff placement.
“The Comsmart team is excited about the opportunities that joining with Fortlock represents to our staff and customers,” Comsmart CEO Andrew Simkin added.
“We look forward to offering new and improved services across New Zealand, while continuing to focus on people and outcomes with our trademark can-do attitude.”
Logistically speaking, the Comsmart acquisition sees Fortlock Group expand to more than 200 staff in three locations across New Zealand.
Shields said the acquisition represents a “major step forward” for Fortlock in executing its long-term growth strategy to move further up the IT services spectrum, by establishing a converged physical and digital security business, providing end-to-end security solutions that “will protect its customers valuable assets now and in the future".
“Comsmart’s solutions and capabilities fit squarely within Fortlock’s strategic plan in respect of the products and services that we want to be able to provide to our customers,” Shields added.
“This acquisition provides Fortlock with the perfect opportunity to move into IP / network design and integration services, while expanding our cyber security offerings, collaboration technologies and cloud storage offerings.”
As a result of the acquisition, Fortlock Group has also changed its executive management structure.
Fortlock owner and CEO Patrick Shields moves to the role of executive chairman, while Jason Cherrington, previously the managing director of Fortlock, is now the group CEO of Fortlock Group.
Cherrington will have overall operational accountability across the Fortlock and Comsmart executive teams, while Shields will focus on group governance and activities to accelerate growth “both organically and via targeted acquisitions".
Cherrington has twenty-plus years’ experience in the IT and telco industries. Prior to joining Fortlock, he successfully lead large-scale commercial and digital teams at BT, Skype and CEWE, Europe’s largest digital photo business.
