OneStep expands to Queensland through C5 Technology acquisition

IT consultancy OneStep has acquired Brisbane-based counterpart C5 Technology, expanding its reach into Queensland and boosting the firm’s overall headcount to more than 200 professionals.

Among those will be C5 founder Mark Osborne, who established the firm in 2013 with a focus on managed IT services, cloud and cybersecurity, and will now join OneStep’s executive team alongside CFO Ashika Lala.

Headquartered in Melbourne, OneStep has meanwhile been in business for more than two decades and has further offices in Sydney and Perth, the latter boosted through last year’s acquisition of local cybersecurity outfit ES2.

“Joining OneStep is a great fit for C5,” said Osborne, who spent five years at Hewlett-Packard prior to establishing C5. “The consolidated company will have a very strong set of capabilities and we’re excited to be the Queensland presence for the group, which in turn enables a positive step change in capability and scalability for C5. I’m looking forward to playing my part in our future success.”

The purchase of C5 coincides with OneStep being named Telstra partner of the year for data & connectivity, with the firm saying the latest addition would further enhance its data security and digital transformation capabilities in areas such as cloud migration and managed services. C5 has a team of around two dozen professionals, pushing OneStep’s headcount beyond 200 nationwide.

Among other areas in an expanding integrated portfolio, the firm specialises in fixed networks, mobility, and unified communications for mid-market and enterprise clients in sectors such as retail, mining, construction, government and healthcare, covering data analytics, advisory, build & design, and managed services. OneStep also has a people line in IT recruitment and team augmentation.

Current CEO Andrew Field took over the top role in the middle of the year, having previously served as CFO at ARQ Group (now rebranded to parent NRI) and COO at Versent, since bought by Telstra for $267 million. His predecessor, Ben Fothergill, has been serving as head of acquisitions & integration, but announced his departure from OneStep upon the completion of the C5 deal.

“It’s the perfect time for me to step away, with the team wonderfully primed for the next phase of structured growth,” Fothergill stated. “It’s been an exhilarating two and a half years from a 35-member, principally Melbourne-based team to a now national, multi-domain, highly engaged and qualified team of over 200, featuring a couple of acquisitions and sprinkling of national awards.”

Meanwhile, Field and OneStep noted the strong cultural fit with C5 and addition of significant technical talent; “This is an exciting opportunity for us to deliver even greater value to our clients through expanded expertise, innovative solutions, and local presence. We look forward to working together to continue empowering businesses with the technology and security they need to thrive.”