Teksys bosses leave Didata to hit M&A trail

Alan Watkins is leaving Didata after agreeing early termination to earn-out clause

VAR Teksys is one step closer to being fully integrated into Dimension Data (Didata) after its existing management team stood down last week to scope out further investment opportunities.

Managing director Alan Watkins, and finance director Kevin Lewis, who run private equity venture Blackhawk Investments, left the company after they agreed an early termination of their earn-out clause with DiData.

Teksys was snapped up by Didata last year for an undisclosed sum as both firms looked to expand their footprint, particularly in the Microsoft space.

CRN understands that the Teksys brand could be absorbed into Didata as early as September this year.

Speaking to CRN, Watkins said: “The journey from selling Teksys to Didata, to concluding the earn-out has been a very enjoyable experience. The company is still very vibrant and has a great culture to work in.

“Sometimes the honeymoon period ends very quickly and it ends in tears, but there has been a high level of mutual respect from both sides in this process,” he said.

He added that the combined company might of Teksys and Didata had ensured a strong customer pipeline since the acquisition.

“We had such great benefits from being part of the Didata balance sheet,” Watkins added. “We have won some very large contracts as well. Microsoft’s recent results forecasted very strong growth for Office 2010 and Windows 7 and we are absolutely riding that wave with them. Add that to our activities in virtualisation and datacentre migration and there is a recipe for success.”

Watkins hinted he will be on the lookout for further acquisitions in the channel.

Andrew Coulsen, chief executive of Didata Europe said in a statement: “The Group’s global strategy is to expand our business through numerous lines of business, and we are very pleased with the contribution that Alan and Kevin, and particularly the Teksys employees have made over the past 17 months. They have contributed to the seamless integration into the company.”