xAmplify buys Canberra’s CTO Group after scrapping CSO Group merger
Digital consultancy xAmplify has acquired fellow Canberra-based advisory CTO Group, a move which follows an investment from Macquarie Capital and the scrapping of its recent merger.
Established in 2010 and led by a number of ex-HPE employees, CTO Group primarily serves federal government clients across five key capabilities; technology, digital enterprise, service integration, cybersecurity, and governance & assurance.
In a potentially confusing twist, xAmplify’s acquisition of CTO Group follows its recently abandoned merger with CSO Group, tilting instead towards a “significant equity investment” from Macquarie Capital’s Principal Finance division in order to go it alone.
xAmplify described the purchase as a strategic move to expand its capabilities in cloud infrastructure, enterprise platforms, and intelligent automation to help accelerate its pipeline of national transformation projects, while the consultancy will also relocate its Canberra headquarters from Fyshwick to a larger space in Barton to accommodate its growth and support closer collaboration.
“Organisations are looking for more than just one-off solutions,” commented xAmplify co-founder and chief Wayne Gowland. “They want trusted partners who can help them connect the dots, from big-picture strategy right through to delivery, and especially now as they start to navigate the complex and fast-moving space of AI. This expansion gives us even more capability to do just that.”
CTO Group has served numerous federal government entities since its founding, including the Australian Tax Office, Electoral Commission, and departments of defence, human services, border protection, and innovation & science among others. In addition, the firm has worked with the likes of Accenture, DXC Technology, and Unisys, along with clients such as NAB and Commonwealth Bank.
“Our expertise in digital transformation, assurance, service integration and security architecture complements xAmplify’s strengths, and we look forward to working together to support Australian public sector organisations with secure and scalable digital infrastructure,” said CTO co-founder and CEO Kane Fillingham, with former managing partner Greg Sly having departed in the early days to establish Projects Assured in 2015.
Meanwhile, xAmplify has itself been in business since 2018, with its integrated offerings across AI & automation, managed services, technology, and strategy, performance & change management attracting ever-increasing demand. In addition to its new Canberra headquarters and existing Sydney office, the firm said it will be launching new outlets in Melbourne and Brisbane before the end of the year.
“Australia has reached a real turning point when it comes to digital transformation,” Gowland ventured. “Whether it’s government or essential services, organisations are feeling the pressure to update ageing systems, speed up delivery, and keep up with rising expectations. However, a lot of them are still doing this without the right kind of support.”
He continued; “By combining our expertise and solutions with CTO, we want to offer more practical, tailored transformation strategies that fit the needs of each organisation and help them feel confident about embracing technology in ways that make a difference. At the end of the day, what really matters is ensuring their investments help organisations do better work every day.”
