INTERVIEW
Insight into Sogeti ambitions
by Alex Brownsell
alex.brownsell@iteuropa.com
With its recent acquisition of Insight Test Services,
Capgemini-owned IT services player Sogeti confirmed its
lead in the Irish testing and Quality Assurance (QA) market.
Some may not be aware that 20,000-strong Sogeti has a vast
presence across western Europe and is currently looking at
the Polish and Russian markets. IT Europa quizzed Sogeti’s
Europe CEO, Hans van Waayenburg (right), to find out what
else is in store for 2008...
D
espite the higher profile of its parent perfectly into that. It is one of our most strategic Yes, that’s the model we’ve used in
company, outsouring and consultancy service areas. We believe Ireland is an attractive
HW
each of our markets [Sweden, Norway,
specialist Capgemini, 20,000-strong Sogeti market. Before the acquisition we were 65-strong Denmark, UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, Belux,
considers itself a major player in the European and with Insight we have gained 85 people. This is France, Switzerland and Spain]. We serve Austria
IT services market. And rightly so - globally it a better critical mass to push organic growth. We out of Germany and Switzerland, but to be honest
racked up revenues of €1.5bn. Last year, it had are now the leader in testing and Quality Assurance we are not so interested in Italy.
operations in 11 countries across western Europe, (QA) in Ireland and this gives a good bridge for the
plus a growing business in the US and a 500-strong other service areas.
ITE
What about eastern Europe?
offshore centre in Mumbai, India.
The majority of its revenues (around 50%) Do you have any further plans for We are doing a trip to Russia and
come from the applications and testing side, while
ITE HW
Ireland this year? Poland in May to see whether we are
roughly 30% comes from infrastructure services and seriously interested in these markets, but we are
20% from high tech consultancy work. We started only a year ago in Ireland, taking eastern Europe into account.
HW
Unlike Capgemini, Sogeti is more based around taking the old Capgemini office,
its country offices and aims to get significant rebranding as Sogeti and changing the focus.
ITE
Which are Sogeti’s strongest markets?
presence in its geography both organically and Within three to four years we aim to have
by acquisitions, hence the swoop for Irish testing 300 people in Ireland, and we want to use the Our strongest markets are the
player Insight Test Services. momentum of the acquisition of Insight to recruit
HW
Netherlands, France, Belux, Sweden,
But its ambitions in Ireland, as well as the rest of in the market to get up to 200-strong by the end Spain and the US. We are confident in the UK, but
Europe, do not end with this acquisition, explains of the year. We are confident we can recruit skilled the big issue is recruitment.
Sogeti Europe CEO Hans van Waayenburg... local IT people.
ITE
Any more acquisitions to come?
So why the acquisition of Insight Test Has Sogeti used a buy-and-build
ITE ITE
Services? model in other markets? Are you We want to grow faster in the US, UK
HW
looking to expand into any new markets (eg and Germany, so we are looking for
Testing is a very important service area Austria or Italy) by this method? acquisitions in those countries to speed growth.
HW
for Sogeti and Insight Test Services fits www.sogeti-transiciel.com
18 APR 2008 15
It0807 - 15_sogeti.indd 12 2008-04-16 10:57
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32