'We want to capture at least 2 per cent of the market' - New NTT Data UK & Ireland boss lays out growth plans
Fernando Apezteguia says the company has a 'very big focus on UK growth'
NTT Data is seeking to capture at least two per cent of the addressable market in the UK as its newly appointed UK and Ireland CEO lays out his ambitions for growth.
Fernando Apezteguia was appointed to lead NTT Data's UK and Ireland operations this month after spending more than 20 years at the IT services provider.
One of his priorities is to help the company grow in a "stronger way" in the UK and is aiming to put more of an onus on financial services.
Apezteguia is no stranger to this sector, having worked on strategic banking projects for the Santander Group in Spain, Germany, Chile and Brazil.
He highlighted that a third of all of NTT Data's revenues and more than a third of its profitability lies in banking - combine that with the insurance sector, it's about 50 per cent.
But he said this is not the case in the UK and "doesn't reflect the rest of the company situation".
"So we are going to invest heavily in the development of those sectors," Apezteguia told CRN.
"We will also continue in the other sectors where we are strong, but we're going to have a focus on financial services.
"Also part of our growth is going to go into digital transformation services and innovation."
Apezteguia also said that the UK is one of the largest IT markets in the world and has plans to capture two per cent of the market.
He added: "We have a very big focus on growth in the UK, this is one of the largest IT markets in the world and one of the more mature as well. The opportunities that we have and being conscious that we are a global company, a very strong company, in the UK currently the plans are to grow.
"We have this ambition worldwide to have at least two per cent of the market and this is the ambition that we have for the UK as well. So, our goals are to continue growing strongly and more in a stronger way in the UK."
Apezteguia also opened up on what NTT Data's cloud strategy will be now that the Japanese-headquartered company has formed partnerships with Microsoft Azure and AWS.
He said: "We have a strategic alliance with Microsoft and that will prevail. But in some cases, where it comes to specific clients, they do prefer working with other partners and we have to be open to also be working with other partners, but our strategic alliances will remain as they are.
"This is very important for us also because strategic alliances take us a step forward. But we also need to be aware that in some cases, our clients will be looking at options that we do not have a strategic alliance with and we will be open for that."
Speaking about how he wants NTT Data to be recognised in the market, Apezteguia said: "We want to be recognised as innovators and also as advisors to our clients, allowing them to do full end to end digital transformation processes. That is one side.
"We also want to become one of the best companies, if not the best company for the talent in the market and those are very strong things that we want to look at.
"For us, the talent is also key and the approach that we have to the talent in meaning, we're the best company for the talent is the company that provides the best opportunities for the talent for all talent, including diversity, inclusion, and always are looking at responsibility with our environment."