Optus gives Alphawest a boost

Optus has reported that it has merged its Integrated Business Systems (IBS) division with its November 2005 acquistion, Alphawest.

The move will see Alphawest pick up 170 staff from IBS; 150 will join its technology solutions and managed services division with the rest being deployed absorbed by other business units.

Ian Smith, previously Optus IBS general manager (GM), now GM-technical solutions, said the additional staff from Optus would support Alphawest's services offering.

“The combined Optus and Alphawest employees will work on the delivery of managing services,” he said. “It will also broaden our range of services to include managing end-to-end networks, security and IP telephony.

Smith said Optus IBS’ NSW based Enterprise Management Centre - a network management centre - had also been integrated and would complement Alphawest’s existing Network Operating Centre and National Service Centre.

The combined entity would share 600 employees across new office locations in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane, Smith said.

With the merger Alphawest has renamed its business units. Its services will now be offered under Managed Services, Technology Solutions and Business Solutions divisions, Smith said.

A number of senior managers have also been reshuffled, including Smith, who will now report to Garry Henley, Alphawest’s CEO.

Stephen Wood, previously the general manager of Alphawest’s NSW operation, takes on the role of general manager business solutions.

John Sanger, previously national general manager of operations at Alphawest, has been appointed general manager managed services.