Six months is a long time in the technology business, particularly for organisations that have just completed a significant merger.
It was confirmed that IT solutions provider Wavenet was merging with Daisy Corporate Services (DCS) in May, becoming the UK's largest independent IT managed services provider (MSP) in the process. Overnight, the combined business, which will formally be called Wavenet as of February 1, started to support over 22,000 organisations with cloud comms, cybersecurity, and connectivity solutions.
In July, Wavenet's previous CEO, Philip Grannum, was given the responsibility of leading this newly formed MSP behemoth. It's been an understandably whirlwind half-year since then. How does he reflect on how the merger came to be, the half-year since, and the road ahead?
"Uniting two large organisations like Wavenet and Daisy Corporate Services is a big task, so meticulous planning was extremely important," Grannum told UC Today. We have structured integration teams in place, and we’re ensuring everyone stays informed, engaged, and empowered throughout the process."
"We are moving at pace across the whole business, and from February 1, DCS will be rebranded to Wavenet. It’s truly inspiring to witness the potential of this merger coming to life as we blend our strengths into a shared, unified vision for the future."
Grannum began his career at Xerox as a graduate accountant before transitioning to the telecoms industry in the 1990s. After leadership roles at Energis, Easynet, and Interoute, he joined Wavenet in 2018 and became CEO in 2023. As he outlined, Wavenet has grown "twenty-fold" over the past seven years.
That merger-accelerated growth is spectacular, with Wavenet acquiring five other businesses since 2021, but they're only (major) milestones on a longer journey. Grannum emphasised that the combined company astutely positions Wavenet to fulfil its long-term strategic goals.
"It aligns perfectly with our long-term goals of scaling our operations, expanding our solutions portfolio, and delivering greater value to our customers," Grannum said. "By joining forces with DCS, we’ve gained the ability to operate on a larger scale while maintaining the agility and customer-first approach that Wavenet is known for. It reinforces our commitment to innovation and ensures that we remain at the forefront of addressing the evolving needs of businesses in an increasingly digital world."
Underpinning the fusion of two prominent IT solutions and service providers is the latent potential to leverage the strengths of both businesses to gain a competitive edge and be a market leader and innovator. As Grannum testified: "The combined expertise and resources of Wavenet and DCS create an unparalleled opportunity to deliver enhanced solutions to our customers.
"For example, DCS’s enterprise-grade experience complements Wavenet’s robust suite of unified communications, cybersecurity, and cloud services," he continued. "Together, we’re able to support businesses of all sizes, offering tailored solutions that integrate seamlessly across diverse platforms."
Grannum added that the teams of both companies are working to blend the best practices from both organisations, ensuring that the new Wavenet can provide innovative, scalable solutions while keeping customer satisfaction at the core of everything it does. "This combination gives us a unique edge in a highly competitive market," he stressed.
New opportunities extend to new potential market segments, with Grannum asserting the combined company can expand its "capability, reference-ability and reach".
"Whilst we provide solutions and services to all industries, our key sectors include health, education, retail, financial services and manufacturing," Grannum said. "Additionally, we see great potential in supporting medium-sized businesses looking to embrace hybrid working and advanced cloud technologies."
