Tag: daisy

Legacy kit is killing the planet

A Daisy Corporate Services report has revealed that outdated IT equipment wastes money and harms the environment.

The study, Faster, greener, cheaper: Dealing with IT Infrastructure Complexity in a Hybrid Cloud World, has exposed a massive obstacle in legacy infrastructure, which is gobbling up power and spewing out carbon.

As well as being a drain on the grid, the old gear  burns a hole in the pocket, with cash spent on keeping the machines running. The IT industry has a chance to sell new and improved products, but this is more than just a sales pitch – it’s about saving the planet and cutting costs.

The report  showed a strong desire by customers to go green and be more eco-friendly. Nearly nine of ten IT bosses said sustainability and energy efficiency were necessary, and many had set their own goals.

Daisy, head of propositions and strategy consulting Andy Bevan, said sustainability was a key part of any modern business, and IT departments had a big role in helping the whole organisation go green.

“But legacy technology is a headache for IT teams, with old equipment still using much power,” he said.

The risks of sticking with legacy kit mean some of the options the IT industry can offer that would ease budgets and make customers more green should have been included.

“Customers can benefit from the green features of their cloud providers but are being held back by the difficulties of moving their legacy hardware,” he said.

“This is where modern hybrid cloud platforms can help bridge the gap between on-site infrastructure and cloud to deliver performance and sustainability benefits.”

A debate around legacy infrastructure is happening against a backdrop of increased awareness about other options. Daisy found that 86 per cent of those customers it spoke to agreed that a pay-as-you-go IT infrastructure model would benefit. A similar level was keen to use artificial intelligence to boost efficiency.

“Over the last few years, it has been a tough market for many businesses,” said Bevan. “Driving efficiencies is a big part of businesses’ survival strategies today, which significantly impacts IT teams.

At a time when IT bosses are under pressure to cut spending, many businesses are still paying a fortune on their legacy hardware, he added.

“By moving to the cloud and a pay-as-you-go pricing model, businesses can cut costs and increase flexibility by paying for what they use. This should be their dream come true for cash-strapped IT departments,” he said.

Daisy helps Royal Holloway University London shrink its data centre

Daisy Corporate Services today announced it has helped Royal Holloway University London (RHUL) reduce its data centre footprint by 75 per cent and achieve energy savings of over 72 per cent with the implementation of a new virtual infrastructure solution based on HPE dHCI technology.

The university’s legacy infrastructure sat at the heart of its IT environment, delivering critical data services to nearly 12,000 students and 2,000 staff split across two main campuses in central London and Egham, Surrey.

Daisy partners with Girlguiding on ewaste project

Daisy Corporate Services is partnering with Girlguiding, as part of a cunning plan to ensure old tech is diverted from landfill.

The channel player is sponsoring the Rainbows recycling badge, which incentivises girls aged between four and seven to help reduce waste.

Daisy Corporate Services chief operating officer Lyndsey Charlton said the move was part of a larger effort to tackle climate change.

“Our partnership with Girlguiding aligns with our commitment to making a positive environmental and social impact. We know that women in STEM [science, technology, engineering and maths] are always doing amazing things, and this partnership is another way we can help inspire the learning of STEM skills in the real world,” she said.

Daisy calls in Knight

Daisy Corporate Services has appointed a new managing director of operational resiliency and cyber security.

Iulia Knight, who has more than 10 years of experience in the enterprise operational resilience and critical event management software solutions space, will be responsible for further developing Daisy’s combined proposition and go-to-market strategy.

She comes from Cutover where she had a similar role. Before that she spend nine years at OneSolve, which included five years managing the company’s international division.

Daisy communicates its Communicate Better plan

Daisy Communications has acquired Communicate Better in a move which will drive it closer to Microsoft and give it new telephony and telematic offerings.

Communicate Better offers IT support, telephony and telematics solutions. The company employed 36 staff in 2021.

Daisy says the acquisition expands its existing telephony business and secures it a telematic offering which will “strengthen and diversity” its portfolio. It’s the third acquisition for Daisy Communications in the last 12 months.

Daisy CEO Dave McGinn said: “This is a promising partnership to add to our flourishing portfolio, increasing our footprint in telephony products, enhancing our Microsoft relationship, and accruing telematic products. I am excited to welcome our new colleagues and customers to the Daisy family and to continue our journeys together”.

Daisy appoints Thompson new CEO

Daisy has appointed its CFO Neil Thompson as its new CEO.

Thompson joined Daisy as CFO in 2021 after being CFO of Manchester Airport Group. He has worked with Daisy’s founder and chairman Matthew Riley in leading a “strategic review” of the business and charts its next phase of growth.

According to a Daisy press release Thompson has a wealth of experience in delivering growth across executive teams and industry sectors in both public and privately-owned businesses.

Riley said: “We’re delighted to appoint Neil as CEO as Daisy embarks on the next stage of its growth journey. Daisy is really well-positioned to continue to grow and enable smarter IT, comms and cloud solutions for businesses across the UK.”

Daisy buys XLN as phone expansion

Daisy has snapped up broadband provider XLN to expand its broadband and phone division.

London-based, XLN claims it has 100,000 small businesses with business broadband, phones and card payments for clients.

Becoming part of Daisy will create a division with upwards of 200,000 customers. It will extend Daisy’s own portfolio and enable it to offer the “widest choice of solutions” to the business market.

An upcoming analogue switch-off will mean UK businesses will need to shift to digital services, Daisy claims, putting it in an advantageous position to help customers make the transition.

Daisy chairman Matthew Riley said: “With so much investment across the UK to improve the fibre infrastructure, Daisy is now well-positioned to help unlock the enhanced speed, reliability and security that customers want in their offices and shops up and down the country. There is also a vast opportunity in the creation of jobs as we need more staff to help deliver that service.”

Former Daisy channel man takes a Glide role

Business broadband outfit Glide Business has hired  Daniel Alvarez as Head of Channel as part of its glorious plans to double its turnover in the next year.

Alvarez, who brings with him over 20 years’ industry experience, made the move from channel sales at Daisy Wholesale.

Glide Business specialises in broadband for businesses in previously neglected areas such as industrial estates and business parks. The company has seen huge growth in the past year.

Daisy boss flogs Damovo to investment firm

DaisyDaisy founder Matt Riley has sold his Damovo stake to investment firm Eli Global, in a move which could see him buy Daisy outright.

Damovo is a provider of enterprise information communication technology services and solutions, with regional businesses in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland and Luxembourg.

In January 2015, Daisy Group completed the acquisition of Damovo Europe in what was the first acquisition since Daisy’s privatisation. Damovo is a market leader in public and enterprise-focused ICT services and solutions. It delivers essential services to more than 250 organisations, including a number of high profile customers in aviation, transportation and government.

Reports earlier this year claimed that Daisy was up for sale, but more recently it has been claimed that Riley will instead buyout the firm’s other investors.

The move means that CEO Glen Williams and CFO Stuart Hall have all cleaned out their desks and exited the company. Current MD for DACH and Poland Carl Mühlner will now take the reins as Damovo’s new CEO. Burkhart Böttcher has been announced as the integrator’s new CFO.

Commenting on his promotion, Mühlner said: “In this technology-driven world of change, it is becoming increasingly important to recognise that the collaboration between people is still one of the most critical factors for success.

“I am very happy that Damovo, as a fast-growing company with a strong culture, has found an investor where culture and trusted relationships are also considered to be at the heart of long-term business success: with our customers, our partners, and our people.”

With a headcount of 500 staff in 13 countries, Damovo holds top-level badges with four of the channel’s leading UCC vendors: Avaya, Cisco, Microsoft and Mitel.

 

TalkTalk’s direct B2B sale to Daisy failed

system-failure-computer-greenTalkTalk and Daisy have decided not to go ahead with their proposed marriage but the telecoms firms have decided to stay friends.

According to the London Stock Exchange, the pair announced that the deal had fallen through.

Following the announcement, TalkTalk revealed its plans to “simplify” its B2B arm and Daisy Group will remain as a strategic partner in the running of the division. Daisy will continue to provide services to TalkTalk’s direct customers, which TalkTalk will continue to manage.

TalkTalk can focus on the indirect market, which it believes is where the growth and innovation is.

“The deal allows TalkTalk Business to further prioritise the indirect market, where it has real strength and where we see an opportunity to grow at pace”, TalkTalk explained in its annual report, released in mid-June. “It also allows us to remove significant cost and complexity from the business.”

TalkTalk warned it will need to make cutbacks in order to keep its business division afloat, but it thinks this is enough to continue operating.

“As we continue to simplify the business to focus on fewer priorities, we are making significant Opex and Capex reductions, which we expect to drive material cost improvements in 2019. We go into the year as a leaner, more efficient business and that cost discipline will continue to underpin our value propositions”, the report concluded.

Daisy Group’s CEO Neil Muller has stepped down and rumours claim the company’s founder and owner, Matthew Riley wants to wholly own the company, buying back shares from independent shareholders.

 

Daisy CEO Neil Muller quits

margarite-daisies-for-sale-at-fete-norfolk-england-b0xgj3Daisy CEO Neil Muller has left the firm after three and a half years in charge.

In an email sent to all staff Muller said that following “deliberation” with Daisy founder and chairman Matt Riley he had decided “to pursue a new direction”.

Under his watch Daisy has made a string of acquisitions as it pushed beyond its roots in comms and into cloud and IT services.

Daisy was formally put up for sale with a price tag of more than £1 billion earlier this year with private equity buyers circling the company. Muller said he hoped to double the size of the company with the backing of the right buyer, through organic growth and more acquisitions to create a clear alternative to BT in the market for enterprise telephony.

According to the FT  the sale process did not yield the expected outcome, with Riley — a significant shareholder who founded the business — moving instead to buy out the company. Muller appears to have departed as a result.

In the email, Muller said it had been an “honour to lead the significant transformation of Daisy over the last 3.5 years” adding that he is “extremely proud of what we have collectively achieved during this time”.

“More recently, our founder and chairman Matthew Riley and I have been discussing the next phase of the group’s evolution and, following much deliberation and conversations together, I have decided to take this opportunity to pursue a new direction”, he added.

“The support from you all, as well as our customers, partners and shareholders, has been incredible. So a heartfelt thank you for all your hard work and dedication. I would like to wish Matt and the entire Daisy family the very best of luck and every continued success, and I hope that our paths will cross in the future.”

Daisy snaps up VAR Voice Mobile

DaisyIn a move to get closer to its EE network provider Daisy has written a £10 million cheque for VAR Voice Mobile.

Voice Mobile is an EE partner and will be used to create an EE centre of excellence.  The Birmingham-based VAR filed abbreviated accounts with Companies House for the full year ending 31 December 2016, but in the previous two years reported revenues of £11.3 million and £10.7 million.

This happens a month after TalkTalk revealed plans to offload its B2B business to Daisy, and comes during a time when Daisy is reportedly up for sale.

Daisy said that Voice Mobile will retain its sales and operations teams in order to continue selling EE products and services.

Daisy’s managing director of SMB services and distribution Dave McGinn said Voice Mobile was its distribution partner for more than 14 years.

“This is a brilliant example of how an indirect partner business can develop and thrive, all the time having a shared interest with us, culminating in us ultimately acquiring them.

“Our strategy remains an acquisitive one and through announcements such as this shows a blueprint for other partners who may be seeking to pursue their own exit strategy. I now look forward to serving and growing our new EE customer base.”

Voice Mobile’s managing director Ian Watson said: “Voice Mobile has been a massive part of my life and now with Daisy at the helm there is an even brighter future ahead for it under new ownership, while I take the opportunity to explore new avenues and ventures.

 

Daisy buys TalkTalk’s direct B2B business

DaisyDaisy is to write a £175 million cheque for  TalkTalk’s direct B2B business.

TalkTalk announced the proposed sale as it published its financial results.

TalkTalk spent the last year  restructuring plans in an attempt to reverse its fortunes and getting rid of its B2B business to Daisy seems a way to downsize.

The firm will hang on to its wholesale and indirect B2B businesses, with Daisy taking over the direct business of 80,000 corporate customers running on TalkTalk’s network.

TalkTalk said this segment of the business equates to less than 20 percent of its overall B2B revenue. The firm’s corporate revenue was £373 million in the reported financial year.

CEO Tristia Harrison said: “When we reset TalkTalk a year ago, we said we would focus on delivering sustained customer growth while radically simplifying the business. One year into the strategy, we are making good progress on both.

“Our customer base grew by 192,000 in FY18, underpinned by our unique propositions and our lowest ever churn. We have also made real progress in simplifying the business to focus on core, fixed connectivity. This will continue into FY19 with the sale of our direct B2B business, as we focus on cementing our position as the market leader in our core B2B markets, partner and wholesale, which represent over 80 percent of our B2B business and continue to grow strongly.”

Equity firms queue for Daisy bouquet

margarite-daisies-for-sale-at-fete-norfolk-england-b0xgj3Private equity firms are gearing up to buy out Daisy as its current owners are giving up and want to flog it.

CVC and Providence Equity Partners are likely to express their interest next month. This is not the first time that Daisy’s sale has been talked about. The Financial Times last month claimed that Daisy had appointed UBS and Oakley Advisory to lead the sale.

A deal with a private equity house is more likely than a sale to another comms firm, with the price likely to be lower than the £1.5 billion reported last year.

A figure between £1.1 – £1.2billion is likely  even if Daisy founder Matthew Riley has ruled out such a low figure.

Riley founded Daisy in 2001 and floated the business on the London Stock Exchange in 2009. He took the business private again along with a group of investors in January 2015. Daisy has since made a number of acquisitions.

Daisy Group sale rumours stepped up

DaisyThe dark satanic rumour mill has manufactured a hell on earth yarn that Daisy Group could put itself up for sale as soon as March

A Sunday Times article in February claimed the comms giant was considering returning to the stock exchange, and Sky News said in October that the firm was making plans for a £1.5 billion sale.

Now a Financial Times article has claimed that Daisy appointed UBS and Oakley Advisory late last year to lead the sale.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Daisy CEO Neil Muller refused to say anything about the rumours, but said that Daisy has plans to as much as double the size of the business over the next five years.

Daisy Group was taken private for £494 million in January 2015 and has gone on to acquire Damovo, Calyx, Phoenix IT and Alternative Networks.

The deal saw founder Matthew Riley and a group of investors take control of the business.

In the latest Top VARs Daisy was ranked as the third largest channel firm in the UK, with revenue of £700 million.