DiData appoints new SA head out of Telstra

Dimension Data Australia has appointed Michael Luchich as its new head of South Australia.

Luchich becomes Dimension Data state director after serving 15 years in Telstra's Global Enterprise Services as the South Australian and Northern Territory state director.

"Michael’s experience in South Australia’s IT sector speaks for itself. He is highly respected and has been a key figure in the industry for more than 20 years," said DiData director Pete Murray.

Luchich replaced Grant Hawksworth, who led the state for 18 years. A Dimension Data spokesperson told CRN that Hawksworth shifted late last year to the new role of national sales manager strategic business.

The change at the top comes after CRN reported in September that Dimension Data lost a South Australian government account worth tens of millions of dollars to NEC. DiData had held the whole-of-government contract for eight years, with an estimated value of $113 million at the time of the 2006 signing.

Luchich was the Australian Information Industry Association chairman for South Australia until last year, and last week was appointed by the state transport minister Stephen Mullighan to a group reviewing the taxi and chauffeured vehicle industries.

"His commitment to ensuring his clients’ business performs beyond expectations has seen him lead a number of peak industry bodies. This focus on client experience made him the ideal candidate to lead Dimension Data in South Australia," said Murray.

Luchich was also a notable athlete, according to LinkedIn, representing South Australia and Australia in 400m and 800m track, playing for West Torrens in the SANFL Australian Rules football league, and competing in the state league for squash.