CSO Group and xAmplify merged business to relaunch as MARQ1
Following their recent strategic merger, Australian technology consultancies CSO Group and xAmplify will now relaunch under the name MARQ1 from the beginning of next month.
Perth-based CSO Group and xAmplify of Canberra joined forces in late June, in what the partners described as the creation of Australia’s largest home-grown integrated cybersecurity and AI consulting and services provider.
Now, the combined entity will forge ahead under the MARQ1 banner, boasting a workforce of 160-plus cyber, automation and AI specialists led by CSO chief Michael Simkovic as CEO, while xAmplify’s Wayne Gowland takes on the COO role.
“MARQ1 represents the synergy and shared vision of CSO Group and xAmplify and demonstrates our commitment to delivering unparalleled value to our customers,” Gowland stated. “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 contribution to the Australian digital consulting and technology ecosystems.”
In addition to Gowland and Simkovic, who will respectively focus on operations & sales and overall strategic direction, MARQ1’s executive team will include recently-appointed IT veteran Howard Fyffe and xAmplify COO Tom Scicluna as dual chief revenue officers, splitting their duties between state government & private sector clients and federal public sector & ACT ones.
MARQ1’s top strategy leadership role has also been divided down the middle, with CSO chief strategy & technology officer Hank Clark to become head of strategy for cyber & intelligence, and former Department of Health chief information officer Daniel Keys – who joined xAmplify in 2022 as Head of Futures & Innovation – to be given strategy oversight for AI & automation.
“We are delighted to unveil MARQ1,” Simkovic stated. “Our new identity signifies our shared commitment to delivering exceptional services to our customers, while our new management structure is a testament to our great leadership talent and will help seamlessly integrate and streamline both sides of our business as we come together to create something truly unique.”
While the merger partners have revealed their new name, MARQ1’s fresh branding won’t be unveiled and rolled out across the firm’s website, social media and other marketing platforms until the 1st of October following the expected finalisation of the deal at the end of this month – which once complete will create a business with revenues likely above the $100 million mark.
“We see an enormous market and growth opportunity to disrupt and challenge the large global service providers,” Simkovic said upon the merger announcement. “The integration of the two firms will create an amplifier effect, enabling us to deliver a new generation of innovative and integrated solutions with the convergence of cybersecurity, automation and AI technologies.”
