Australian cyber security business CSO Group and xAmplify will relaunch as MARQ1 and become the country’s largest home-grown integrated cyber security and AI services group after their merger finalises.
With a total headcount of more than 160 cyber, automation and AI specialists, CSO Group CEO Michael Simkovic will lead MARQ1 as its CEO. He will be responsible for the group’s overall strategic direction, working closely with xAmplify CEO Wayne Gowland, who will lead operations and sales as MARQ1’s Chief operating officer.
Reporting to Gowland will be recently appointed chief revenue officer (national) Howard Fyffe, who will oversee engagement with state government and private sector clients, and xAmplify’s Tom Scicluna, who becomes chief revenue officer (federal) with overall responsibility for Federal public sector and ACT clients.
Daniel Keys, former Department of Health CIO and xAmplify head of innovation of futures will take on a new leadership role at MARQ1 as head of strategy – AI and automation. Hank Clark, CSO Group chief strategy officer, will step into the new role of head of strategy – cyber and intelligence.
“We are delighted to unveil MARQ1,” said Simkovic. “As Australia’s largest home-grown AI and cyber services group, our new identity signifies our shared commitment to delivering exceptional services to our customers. Our new management structure is a testament to the great leadership talent within MARQ1 and will help integrate and streamline both sides of our business as we come together to create something truly unique in the Australian market.”
MARQ1 will enable government and enterprise clients to access the capabilities of both CSO Group and xAmplify, spanning strategy, governance, risk and compliance, managed security, AI, technology and business automation services. It will also bring a renewed cybersecurity lens to provision high-performance IT services and sovereign-secure AI technologies.
“We have ambitious goals both in terms of the levels of excellence we deliver to our clients as well as for our own growth and our contribution to the Australian digital consulting and technology ecosystems,” said Gowland. “MARQ1 represents the synergy and shared vision of CSO Group and xAmplify. It demonstrates our commitment to delivering unparalleled value to our customers, applying our combined intelligence and capabilities to solve real-world challenges for our clients.”
The parties expect the merger of CSO Group and xAmplify into MARQ1 to be finalised by September 30, 2024. The unified MARQ1 brand will be launched across all platforms, including a new website, social media, packaging and marketing materials, starting October 1.
