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Date: 05 January 2010 Author: Bob Dalton, CEO“Happy New Year”. “Gutes Neues Jahr”. “Sun nien fai lok”. “Feliz Año Nuevo”.
English, German, Mandarin and Spanish, just in case you were wondering.
OK, I hear you say, so it’s New Year, Bob, and you’ve learnt how to use Google to look up translations (clever lad), but your point is?
Well, the point is that despite the fact that 2009 seems to have hurtled past with even more rapidity than normal, the phrases above mark out the fact that we have found time to deliver a very significant shift in the profile of Intact Integrated Services. At the start of the year, as we moved towards being an independent business within the Datatec Group, we could justifiably lay claim to just two of the seasonal greetings above, the English and German versions, by dint of our successful operations in the UK and Germany.
Geographic expansion has always been a key part of Intact’s strategy. That's why over the last year we've focused our attention on two further key markets with a view to establishing a presence. Our plans for expansion were open to both growing and acquiring, the choice between these two being driven by one thing alone; the need to identify individuals and teams that shared Intact's creativity, inspiration and our passion for customer service.
That's why we were so pleased in early December to form Intact Integrated Services Pte in Singapore, having been able to recruit Kevin Slaughter as our business leader in the Far East. In Kevin we're confident that we've found just the person to be the core of our “grow” strategy across the Asia/Pacific region. Having recently spent a week in Singapore, I can confirm that the market opportunities for our Singapore operation are strong, and we're looking forward to the Asia/Pacific region representing a significant part of the broader Intact business going forward.
Spanish? No, not Spain. I chose Spanish as it is the second language of the US, and as we will be using our newly formed US operation as the base from which to provide services right across South America too. In this instance we adopted our “acquire” strategy, having identified a partner who shared our focus, style and approach, and a proven commitment to the highest levels of customer service. Intact acquired MTS in Ohio on the 31st of December 2009, in what was a great finish to the calendar year. Intact Integrated Services Inc. will take the great reputation forged by MTS for excellence in delivery, and grow the Intact brand in one of the world’s most exciting territories. Like Singapore, they do so with all our best wishes and support, and no little expectation for the future!
Some of the more erudite amongst you may feel that I have selected the wrong phrase in Mandarin, perhaps expecting to see “Gung hay fat choy” instead. In fact this is more usually heard at Chinese New Year, and means "May you become prosperous".
On reflection, that doesn’t sound too bad does it? So, to our new colleagues in Singapore and the US, all our UK and German colleagues, and of course to all our customers and partners:
“Gung hay fat choy”
Have a great 2010.
Bob Dalton
CEO
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