The IQ Business Group has appointed a new head for it Australian operations, to replace Patrick Crooks who will focus on the group`s global strategy.
Australian Byram Johnston has more than 15 years` experience as either managing partner for Asia Pacific or MD of several consulting firms in Australasia, including Arthur Andersen (now Accenture), AT Kearney, PA Consulting Group and Andersen.
Crooks, a founder of the group, will focus on the handover before concentrating on the group`s strategic direction, has also been tasked with taking the intellectual property in employee benefits built during his tenure to IQ`s other markets.
Johnston says his decision to join The IQ Business Group, where he will take up a position on its international executive in February, was based largely on a mutual vision of how business process and consulting should be taken forward into the 21st Century.
"Basically there was a fusion of thinking," he says. "I felt that there were limitations to the business models currently practised by most leading multinational IT consultancies.
"The IQ Business Group`s strong focus on business process, partnering ethos and commitment to sharing risk, within a fluid entrepreneurial culture, represents new-age consulting values. These elements are critical to take any consulting and business process company forward into this millennium."
IQ CEO Johan Roets says Byram has the right credentials and also stands fully behind the culture and values of the group.
"IQ`s efforts in the superannuation sector (employee benefits) particularly are groundbreaking, both in terms of the cost-efficiencies and product innovation that we bring to this area of business," he said. "Patrick is well positioned to lead our global industry footprint in this area."
Crooks says the group has already received strong interest from major financial services institutions in the UK and US based on results achieved with clients in Australia. The expertise will be brought to SA as well.
IQ Australia was launched two years ago, off a joint venture of its financial services business and Australian superannuating consultancy NSP Buck.
Projected turnover for the coming year is about A$13 million (R52 million).
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