BAE Systems Detica expands Australian operations

New Sydney-based MD Richard Watson responsible for Asia Pacific, Middle East

BAE Systems Detica APAC and Middle East managing director Richard Watson.

BAE Systems Detica APAC and Middle East managing director Richard Watson.

Cyber-security vendor BAE Systems Detica has expanded its operations in Australia with the hiring of Sydney-based managing director Richard Watson and recent growth through acquisition.

Watson will be tasked with business development in Australia, South East Asia, India and the Middle East.

Prior to taking up the Sydney posting, he ran Detica’s commercial client group in the UK. Watson joined the company in 2006 after prior roles at Accenture and Arthur Andersen.

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In addition, the vendor has recently grown staff numbers in Australia through the acquisition of security companies Stratsec and Norkom in 2011.

“These two companies are now fully integrated within BAE Systems Detica so the business will now operate as one organisation across Australia and Asia Pacific,” Watson said.

At the time of the acquisitions last year, Stratsec had approximately 60 staff in Australia while Norkom had approximately 30 staff.

“The company has grown from 90 to 150 staff in approximately 18 months,” he said. “All acquired staff were retained in the offices they were working in prior to the acquisitions.”

In addition, he said that the company plans to hire approximately 50 more Australian staff in 2013. The new roles include security consultants, testers, analysts and software engineers across technical and governance domains of security.

The vendor operates offices in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

“We are currently servicing the New Zealand market from Australia; however we are regularly considering new opportunities for expansion and may consider NZ in 2013,” Watson added.

Follow Hamish Barwick on Twitter: @HamishBarwick

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Tags recruitmentstratsecacquistionBAE Systems DeticaNorkom

More about Accenture AustraliaAndersenAndersenArthur AndersenBAE Systems AustraliaGartnerStratsec

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