Kinetic IT and TSA Group top latest best managed companies list

A pair of Perth-based digital consultancies – Kinetic IT and TSA Group – have confirmed their status as among Australia’s ‘Best Managed Companies’, both once again featuring on the annual list.

Professional services firm Deloitte has put forward nine privately-owned companies as Australia’s ‘best managed’ for 2023, including fellow consultancies TSA Group and Kinetic IT.

Now into its fourth year, the ‘Best Managed Companies’ program, run with Google Cloud and the Commonwealth Bank, identifies the country’s top-performing companies against an international benchmark of 1,300 peers.

To be in consideration, program participants have to be Australian-owned or based and generate revenues of above $100 million, with their strength and performance evaluated by a panel of independent judges according to four key pillars; strategy, culture and commitment, capabilities and innovation; and governance and financials. Launched locally in 2019, the program runs in more than 45 countries with a history dating back thirty years.

“Previous Best Managed Companies winners have successfully navigated their way through many changes and challenges, and with five of our 2023 winners recognised for a second, and even third, time, it’s fair to say that openness to change, driving operational transformation, great governance, and maintaining a strong customer focus have become the hallmarks of success,” stated Deloitte Private lead partner Natalie Faull.

Among those coming out on top again this year, for the third consecutive year, was Perth-headquartered tech consultancy and managed services provider Kinetic IT. Established three decades ago by director David McCleery alongside brothers Terry and Philip North (a third brother, Michael is now CEO), the Australian-owned company today boasts a national headcount of more than 1,400 professionals and revenues in excess of $350 million.

While privately-owned with strong family connections, Kinetic has nevertheless demonstrated it isn’t stuck in a bubble. The firm recently handed chair duties to former IBM Consulting and Wipro managing director Sarah Adam-Gedge, who also sits on the board of Cricket Australia, while her former Avanade executive colleague Matt Hallewell has since been brought in as Chief Digital Officer after the four years as head of professional services at Vmware.

Fellow Perth-based consultancy and CX specialist TSA Group has also backed up on its debut entry last year to return to the top of the list. Having been established around the same time as Kinetic in 1997 and with a current 4,000-strong talent pool across Australia and the Philippines, the majority of TSA’s senior leaders have been with the consultancy pushing 20 years and up, including current CEO Luke Kenny and chairman Tim Ungar.

“Agility, adaptability, resilience and a confidence in the future have been key to driving sustained success for our new and previous winners,” concluded Deloitte Consulting partner Claire Szatsznajder, who co-leads the program alongside Faull. “As with last year, we continue to see an increased focus on ESG as a strategic driver and differentiator across participants, as well as a proactive approache to workforce diversity, inclusion and wellbeing.”