IT consultancy Seisma buys Microsoft specialist Data Addiction

Sydney-based data and AI specialist Data Addiction has been picked up by IT services and consulting firm Seisma, continuing a run of acquisitions since its purchase by Liverpool Partners.

Growing IT services and consulting firm Seisma Group has acquired Sydney-based Microsoft specialist Data Addiction, adding to its end-to-end capabilities. The purchase marks Seisma’s fourth in the Australian and New Zealand market since it was bought by Liverpool Partners in 2020, and follows the latter’s recent acquisition of automation and artificial intelligence consultancy Simplyai.

“We are excited to welcome Data Addiction to the Seisma family,” said Robert Hogeland, the CEO of Seisma.

“This acquisition aligns perfectly with our strategy of offering comprehensive IT solutions to our clients, and we look forward to leveraging Data Addiction’s expertise to help our clients unlock the full potential of their data and accelerate their digital transformation journey,” Hogeland continued.

Established in Sydney in 2018 by a team of former leaders at Empired (which was later acquired by Capgemini for $233 million), Data Addiction is a Microsoft gold partner for data analytics, platform and cloud, serving clients on Microsoft Data & AI and Dynamics 365 solutions together with Azure migrations and managed services – offerings which Seisma intends to integrate with its existing suite.

“Data and AI have a synergistic relationship as AI requires incredible amounts of data to effectively learn and improve decision making,” said Andrew Fawcett, managing director of sell-side advisor Equion Capital. “Data Addiction are leading the way in the sector and I’m looking forward to the continued growth of the organisation and seeing the ways they help clients unlock value from data.”

Among the Data Addiction leaders with a background at Empired are managing director Ben Johnson and chief technology officer Sunny Rehill – who now take on the roles of Data & AI practice director and CTO at Seisma – along with partners Russell Witcher and Matt Clarkin and principal consultant Parisa Hosseinnia. The company has a team of around three dozen employees currently listed on LinkedIn.

Johnson stated that its partnership with Seisma would help Data Addiction accelerate growth in Microsoft, particularly in areas outside of Sydney where Seisma has an already established presence.

Founded in 2004, a quartet of acquisitions since its backing by Liverpool Partners – including Perth-based Braestone and New Zealand’s Fronde – has seen the firm expand out from its Melbourne home.