CHG-MERIDIAN in the ANZ region

The international CHG-MERIDIAN Group is one of the world’s leading independent providers of technology management services to the IT, industrial, and healthcare sectors. With some 1,000 employees, the Company offers its customers comprehensive support for their technology infrastructure – from consulting, financial, and operational services to used-equipment remarketing services.

CHG-MERIDIAN serves more than 10,000 customers in 25 countries across the globe and the online-based TESMA® Technology and Service Management System provides more than 15,000 users with maximum transparency in technology management. The business has been providing efficient and customised planning, implementation, and financing for technology investments since 1979. 

In 2018, the company made the largest acquisition in the history of CHG-MERIDIAN, by purchasing Sydney-based technology financing business equigroup. Next to the running business of equigroup the Company has now launched a second and newly created CHG-MERIDIAN entity in the ANZ region.

Christian Brakensiek, Executive Vice President of Sales and Mike Mobilia, Executive Vice President of Finance, have a plan to bring the best added value to new customers in the region. To achieve success with the CHG-MERIDIAN brand they focus on two key elements: the international capabilities of CHG-MERIDIAN and equigroup’s greatest asset, it’s people.  

Christian: Through equigroup and the new CHG-MERIDIAN entity, we are gaining access to a growing and very attractive economic region. Being a truly international company means we can work with and support our customers locally (by applying international best practices) and across the globe. That is a unique and exciting opportunity.

Mike: CHG-MERIDIAN have over many years been at the forefront of providing its customers in Europe and the America’s region with a broad range of technology and asset management solutions that are fit for purpose. This approach to tailoring solutions by listening to and working with our customers to identify their needs and pain points is just as applicable in the Australia and New Zealand region as it is across Europe and the America’s. So it’s great to start this story now.

Mike: Our strategy is simple. “One Company. Two Platforms.” equigroup has developed a strong local presence and continues to value its highly respected relationship with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Our mission is to continue the growth and expansion of the brand, supporting Commonwealth Bank of Australia customers in ensuring they have access to the latest technology and healthcare equipment and being able to transparently manage these critical business assets via our online platform, TheAssetAdvantage. 

Christian: By combining activities and strengthening the positioning as an independent provider, CHG-MERIDIAN and equigroup - as part of the group - will be able to provide an even better service for customers and improve the addressing of their technology and solution management needs.

In the future we see especially two major benefits for our customers: Our international CHG-MERIDIAN customers will benefit from the fact that we are also able to integrate individual technology usage concepts into an existing contract structure. And existing equigroup customers will continue to consume financial services with the already well-established processes and tools. In ANZ, this makes us even more flexible and enables us to react specifically to our customers' expectations and market trends.

Christian: Initially, the focus will be on our existing international customers who have expected us to be present in ANZ. Here we follow our customers’ expectations. In addition, we want to act as a trusted advisor for innovative usage concepts in the SMB and large enterprise environment. The focus here is particularly on digitalisation. Comprehensive solutions around the “modern” or “digital” workplace are already established in our core markets and can be adapted quickly and efficiently.

Christian: We believe in “think global and act local”. Our customers will enjoy holistic support throughout all phases of the technology lifecycle, from a partner with demonstrated international capability, delivered by a talented local team.

Mike: Firstly, we expect it to be an exciting journey.  We know from customer feedback that there is a fantastic opportunity to listen and learn more about what customers want and what challenges they are looking to address when it comes to making technology drive their businesses. Secondly, we expect to learn more about what works in other markets around the world and bring that knowledge and expertise to the local market, ensuring we stay at the forefront of delivering real solutions. And finally, we expect to be challenged by other market players and our customers. That is very exciting as it means we must challenge ourselves internally to be even better and to continue to look for and identify ways to add more value to what we deliver.

Christian: So, to sum that up, we expect to create a substantial contribution to CHG-MERIDIAN's global growth across both platforms, CHG-MERIDIAN and equigroup. In addition, we have the unique opportunity to develop CHG-MERIDIAN as the ANZ region’s vendor and bank-independent market leader for technology usage concepts. That’s what drives us every day.