Merger to broaden appeal

FREMANTLE-based IT and management consultancy Tele-sis Communications has merged its operations with national group Whitehorse Strategic Group.

Telesis principal Peter Morris, who is also a columnist for Business News, will become Whitehorse’s WA general manager as well taking as on the role of national director of the policy and strategy division.

Before the merger, Whitehorse operated mainly in Victoria, NSW, ACT and Tasmania, where it provides a range of specialist services in information technology, com-munications technology and economic development.

One of Whitehorse’s most recent contract wins was a $5.8 million project for the Municipal Association of Victoria. The project, collabor-ating with 78 councils in Victoria, will assist local government to boost service provision over the Internet. The group also has expanded its services under the banner of Human Futures, which will be a stand-alone division.

Whitehorse managing director Ian Dennis said the new division was an acknowledge-ment of the need to integrate infrastructure solutions with change management.

“The company has been enjoying a period of strong growth, particularly over the past year,” Mr Dennis said.

“This (merger) has provided us with the foundation to expand, both geographically and in terms of services we offer, while maintaining quality and our strong focus on implemen-tation.”

Mr Morris, who is a specialist in regional knowledge econo-mies, described Telesis as a smaller version of Whitehorse.

He said that, in recent years, Telesis had expanded interstate and internationally, taking on work for institutions such as the Geneva-based International Labour Office and Federal Government authorities like the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.

“The merger with Whitehorse is the next logical step in consolidating this while also being able to provide clients in WA with the benefit of broader expertise an national organi-sation can provide,” Mr Morris said.