Eight months ago USKO acquired Mike Bergen and Associates to spearhead its entry into the IT industry. The USKO Software Division, previously known as Mike Bergen and Associates (MBA), has experienced incredible growth, both organic and through acquisitions, to increase to over twice its size since August 1997. This growth, coupled with the brand recognition of USKO, has led to the evolutionary step of leveraging all the software interests in an entity to be known as USKO Software Group from 1 April 1998. Managing Director of the USKO Software Group will be Howard Hamilton, previously sales director of Compuware and a well-known figure in the industry. Other directors will include Brian Schultz, Jenny Hoggarth and Ryan Lawlor, who move up from Divisional Managers of their respective product groups. The new company will include all brands previously handled by MBA, such as Viasoft, AutoTester, Serena, Sterling Software, Sterling Commerce, MJ Retailer, Business Objects and a new division with effect from 1 April - Project Dynamix. This division will provide a complete range of professional management services ranging from facilitation, training, and consulting to the placement of certified project managers for large systems integration projects. Rob Allcock will head up this division as General Manager. New appointments in other USKO companies within the IT field include that of Rob Abraham, a high profile and well known personality within the South African IT industry, as the new Divisional Managing Director of Blue Sky Networks. Rob takes over from Tom Pegrume, who has been promoted to the position of Group Executive Strategic Development at the USKO Limited head office. Paul Wootten, previously CEO of MBA, has been promoted to the USKO Limited Board. Paul will remain responsible for the USKO Software Group, Blue Sky Networks and Mediswitch. USKO's strategic shift into targeted market niches within the information technology and communications-related industries is further consolidated by the recent disposal of its Steel Wire Division to Cape-based Allens Meshco. These new developments are a step on the road to achieving this dynamic group's objective - one aspect of which, in the opinion of John Beck, CEO of USKO Limited, is integrated, solid, proven managerial ability and strength.
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