Former Siltek Group MD Rob Matthews is to join top South African IT group First Technology as MD, charged with continuing the group`s growth as a major value-added reseller in the high end corporate market.
This ends weeks of speculation in the IT industry as to the future of Matthews, at 49 one of South Africa`s top technology MDs.
The First Technology Group is a pioneer in South Africa`s information technology sector, having been formed in 1983. Today it has turnover in the order of more than R500-million annually, employs some 500 people around the country and counts many of the country`s leading blue chip corporates and institutions among its clients, to whom it offers IT solutions, commodities, software and e-commerce strategies.
Ethos Private Equity, which has been an equity partner in First Technology Holdings for three years, says Matthews` appointment reflects First Technology`s future growth. Ethos partner Shaun Zagnoev says the strong growth of the group and its standing in the market made it appropriate for the skills of executive chairman and CEO Arnold Sharp to be complemented by those of Matthews.
Sharp agrees that Matthews` willingness to joint First Technology is a major coup for the business: "Rob will combine his extensive computer industry knowledge with his strategic business skills to make a powerful addition to our team."
Says Matthews: "The group has a solid, cohesive management team, most of whom have been together for more than 10 years. They`ve made some outstanding acquisitions in the last two years, including PQ Client Computing and EDS LAN Solutions, a division of EDS, which gives them critical mass and positions them well for further growth."
Furthermore, he adds, at a time when a number of companies are casting their nets offshore, the South African focus and commitment of First Technology makes it a group to watch. The group has in fact declared its intention to become one of South Africa`s top five IT companies, in terms of size and profitability, by the year 2002.
First Technology prides itself on its depth of expertise and experience, providing world-class hardware and quality support and technology services, offering a wide range of branded hardware, software and related products, including Compaq, IBM and HP, and is one of the largest value added resellers for Microsoft.
Share