Datacom Group
Corporate brand
UnclaimedDatacom Group is a privately owned New Zealand technology-services company providing IT consulting, cloud, outsourcing, data-centre, software-development and payroll services.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Datacom Group Limited is a New Zealand-founded information-technology services company whose activities span management consulting, systems integration, cloud computing, information-technology outsourcing, data-centre operations, custom software development, payroll technology and customer-support services. It is headquartered in Wellington and has developed from a small Christchurch computer bureau into one of New Zealand’s largest technology companies, with operations extending across Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines, the United States and the United Kingdom. The business began in 1965 as Computer Bureau Limited, or CBL, founded in Christchurch by accountants Dr Bernard Battersby and Paul Hargreaves. Its initial capital came from a group of clients, and the company ordered an ICL 1902 computer before such equipment was readily available in New Zealand. It recruited its first systems analysts and programmers in 1965 and installed its first client computer the following year. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, offices were added in Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton, while the acquisition of Fletcher Computer Bureau strengthened its Auckland presence. Datacom Group Limited was formed as a holding company in 1971. The operating business expanded from computer-bureau work into remote online services, timesharing, data communications, software development, facilities management and payroll processing. In 1981, CBL introduced User-11, described in the company’s historical account as New Zealand’s first fourth-generation programming language. In 1983, it brought Oracle database technology to New Zealand for the New Zealand Dairy Company, now Fonterra. The company adopted the Datacom name in 1984, and its 1989 merger with Computer Services Limited broadened its facilities-management and payroll capabilities. The company’s international growth began with Australian activity in the early 1990s. It established a Sydney contact centre in 1992 and opened its first Australian office in 1994, initially supporting Microsoft Australia and subsequently exporting facilities-management and IT services to the market. Datacom opened its first Asian office in Kuala Lumpur in 1996, later developing operations in the Philippines and China. Through acquisitions, partnerships and new offices, it expanded across Australian states and built a regional portfolio of data centres, contact-centre operations, managed services and government technology contracts. During the 2000s and 2010s, Datacom added capabilities through acquisitions including GlobalCenter, NetOptions, Agire, Origen Technology and an Australian SAP payroll business. It also developed its cloud, security, enterprise-resource-planning, augmented-reality and managed-services practices. Datacom’s facilities included data centres in Australia and New Zealand, including Orbit in Auckland, Gloucester in Christchurch and Kapua in Hamilton. The company became an important partner to Microsoft and Amazon Web Services and undertook large cloud migrations, including work for Zespri and Oz Minerals. Government and enterprise outsourcing have been central to Datacom’s business. Its customers and contracts have included public-sector organisations in New Zealand and Australia, the Australian Department of Health, Australian Customs, the Australian Taxation Office, Airservices Australia, Toyota Australia and Transport for New South Wales. In 2015, Datacom won a five-year Australian Department of Health support-services contract reported at NZ$242 million. In 2016, it was selected for Western Australia’s GovNext-ICT programme, and in 2022 it secured a four-year Transport for New South Wales network-operations contract. Ownership remains private. The two largest shareholders identified in the company’s public history are Evander Management Ltd, associated with the Holdsworth family, and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund. In 2012, the fund acquired New Zealand Post’s 35 percent holding. Datacom has continued to operate as an independent technology-services group rather than a publicly traded company. In 2023, it moved its Wellington corporate headquarters from the building formerly known as Datacom House to the Asteron Life Building. For the 2023/24 New Zealand financial year, the company reported revenue of NZ$1.47 billion, compared with NZ$1.49 billion in the prior year, and profit before tax of NZ$41 million, subject to the cited source and reporting period.
History
Datacom Group originated in Christchurch in 1965 as Computer Bureau Limited, founded by accountants Dr Bernard Battersby and Paul Hargreaves. The founders secured initial capital from clients and ordered an ICL 1902 computer. After recruiting systems analysts and programmers, the company installed its first client system in 1966. It broadened its New Zealand footprint with offices in Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton between 1968 and 1970, including expansion through the acquisition of Fletcher Computer Bureau. In 1971, Datacom Group Limited was established as the holding company. Computer Bureau developed remote online services during the 1970s and expanded into timesharing, data communications and facilities management during the following decade. Its software capabilities included User-11, introduced in 1981 and described as New Zealand’s first fourth-generation programming language. In 1983, the company introduced Oracle database technology to New Zealand for the New Zealand Dairy Company. The operating company changed its name to Datacom in 1984. A 1989 merger with Computer Services Limited added facilities-management and payroll technology. Datacom began international expansion in Australia in the early 1990s. It opened a Sydney contact centre in 1992 and its first Australian office in 1994, initially providing technical support associated with Microsoft Australia. In 1996, it opened an office in Kuala Lumpur, marking the start of its Asian office network. During the late 1990s, it exported New Zealand-developed facilities-management and IT services to Australia and established Australian data-centre capability. The 2000s were marked by acquisitions and geographic diversification. Datacom purchased GlobalCenter in 2004, NetOptions in 2005 and Agire in 2007, while also expanding through local partnerships in South Australia and Western Australia. A 2003 merger with Connect Interactive Business Services created Datacom Connect and enlarged the group’s contact-centre business. By 2007, the company had acquired a third Sydney data centre. Datacom also expanded in Asia, establishing Philippine operations in 2008 and a presence in China. Its Auckland data centre, Orbit, opened in 2009. During the 2010s, Datacom continued to invest in infrastructure, security, cloud and enterprise applications. It opened Gloucester in Christchurch in 2010 and Kapua in Hamilton in 2013. It founded Datacom Technical Security Services with former Australian signals-intelligence expertise, sold its Asian contact-centre arm in 2013 while retaining IT-services operations, and acquired an Australian SAP payroll firm. Other transactions included the acquisition of Western Australian provider XciteLogic, the purchase of Tauranga software company Origen Technology, and a minority investment in health-informatics company Smartward. The company’s cloud practice expanded through large migrations and partnerships. Datacom completed major SAP migration work for Zespri on Microsoft Azure and later migrated Oz Minerals’ SAP HANA environment to Amazon Web Services. It was recognised by Microsoft for its Zespri cloud work, joined AWS’s Managed Service Program in 2015 and entered Microsoft Australia’s one-tier Cloud Solution Provider programme later that year. It also won major public-sector and enterprise contracts, including the Australian Department of Health support-services agreement, Western Australia’s GovNext-ICT programme and Toyota Australia infrastructure and support services. Leadership changed in the late 2010s. Craig Boyce announced in 2017 that Greg Davidson, then CEO of Datacom Systems ANZ, would succeed Jonathan Ladd as Group CEO. Davidson formally assumed the group role on 31 March 2018. The Datacom Foundation was established in 2019 to support children of families affected by the Christchurch mosque shootings through education. In the 2020s, Datacom continued its managed-services work, including a four-year Transport for New South Wales agreement announced in 2022. In 2023, it moved its corporate headquarters within Wellington. The group remains privately owned and active across several international markets.
- 2023
Wellington headquarters relocated
[1]Datacom moved its corporate headquarters to the Asteron Life Building in Wellington.
- 2022
Transport for New South Wales contract
[1]Datacom secured a four-year network-operations and digital-ecosystem contract with Transport for New South Wales.
- 2018
Greg Davidson becomes Group CEO
[1]Greg Davidson formally succeeded Jonathan Ladd as Group CEO on 31 March.
- 2013
Kapua data centre opens
[1]The company opened Kapua in Hamilton as a sister facility to its Auckland and Christchurch data centres.
- 2009
Orbit data centre opens
[1]Datacom opened its Auckland data centre, Orbit.
- 1996
First Asian office opens
[1]Datacom opened its first Asian office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- 1992
First Sydney contact centre
[1]Datacom established a contact centre in Sydney as part of its move into the Australian market.
- 1989
Merger with Computer Services Limited
[1]The merger expanded Datacom’s facilities-management and payroll capabilities.
- 1984
Company adopts Datacom name
[1]Computer Bureau Limited changed its name to Datacom.
- 1983
Oracle technology brought to New Zealand
[1]Datacom introduced Oracle database technology to New Zealand for the New Zealand Dairy Company.
Products and positioning
A privately owned, end-to-end technology-services partner focused on managed infrastructure, cloud transformation, enterprise systems, software, payroll and public-sector outsourcing, with a strong New Zealand heritage and a broader Asia-Pacific presence.
Information technology services
Managed IT and infrastructure services
Datacom designs, operates and supports technology infrastructure for government and enterprise customers. The offering includes outsourced IT operations, service desks, server and storage management, workplace technology, network services and end-to-end support arrangements. Its model combines consulting and implementation with ongoing managed services, allowing customers to transfer part or all of their technology operations to Datacom.
Cloud computing
Cloud services
The company provides cloud assessment, migration, integration, optimisation and managed-operation services across major enterprise cloud environments, including Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services. Datacom has used this capability for large SAP and infrastructure migrations and has operated as a recognised partner in both Microsoft and AWS ecosystems.
Data-centre and hosting services
Data-centre services
Datacom operates and manages data-centre infrastructure for customers requiring hosting, facilities management, connectivity, resilience and operational support. Its New Zealand facilities have included Orbit in Auckland, Gloucester in Christchurch and Kapua in Hamilton, while Australian expansion added further data-centre capacity.
Enterprise software and payroll
Payroll and SAP services
Datacom provides payroll technology, payroll processing and SAP-related consulting and managed services. Payroll has been part of the group’s capability since its earlier computer-bureau period and was strengthened through the 1989 merger with Computer Services Limited and the 2013 acquisition of an Australian SAP payroll business.
Software development
Custom software development
The software practice develops and integrates tailored applications and digital systems for public- and private-sector organisations. It grew from Datacom’s early programming and fourth-generation-language work into contemporary application development, enterprise integration and digital-transformation services.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity services
Datacom Technical Security Services provides security-related consulting and technology services. The practice was established in the 2010s and reflects the group’s broader move from infrastructure operations into specialist security, risk and protective-technology work.
Customer-support outsourcing · 2003
Contact-centre services
Datacom has operated contact-centre and customer-support services in Australia and Asia. Datacom Connect was formed in 2003 through a merger with Connect Interactive Business Services, substantially expanding the group’s call-centre activities. The Asian contact-centre arm was sold in 2013, while the group continued to serve markets with IT services.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Datacom Foundation
New Zealand
Datacom established the Datacom Foundation to provide long-term educational support for children of families affected by the Christchurch mosque shootings.
Outcome. The foundation was intended to provide continuing support and educational opportunity for affected children.
Brand decisions
2022
Transport for New South Wales network-operations contractOtherBackground
Transport for New South Wales sought network operations and digital infrastructure to support its customer-service environment.
Action taken
Datacom secured a four-year contract to provide network operations and a high-speed digital ecosystem.
Aftermath
The agreement extended Datacom’s public-sector managed-services work in Australia.
2018
Group leadership transitionStrategyBackground
Datacom reorganised its leadership structure as Jonathan Ladd’s tenure as Group CEO ended.
Action taken
Greg Davidson, previously CEO of Datacom Systems ANZ, became Group CEO on 31 March 2018, while Ladd moved to chair the International Business.
Aftermath
The transition introduced a new group leadership team and organisational structure.
2016
Western Australia GovNext-ICT selectionOtherBackground
The Western Australian State Government sought a consolidated technology-services model covering infrastructure and communications capabilities.
Action taken
Datacom was selected to deliver the GovNext-ICT programme, including data-centre, server, cloud, storage and telephone services.
Aftermath
The programme was designed to support departments across the Western Australian government.
2015
Australian Department of Health managed-services contractOtherBackground
Datacom competed in a tender for technology infrastructure and support services for the Australian Department of Health.
Action taken
The company won a five-year contract using a fully managed, consumption-based service model.
Aftermath
The agreement added to Datacom’s portfolio of long-term Australian government technology contracts.
Contract value. NZ$242 million (Five-year contract announced in 2015)
2012
New Zealand Superannuation Fund acquires New Zealand Post stakeM&ABackground
New Zealand Post held a 35 percent shareholding in Datacom. The New Zealand Superannuation Fund became a major shareholder after acquiring that interest.
Action taken
The fund purchased the 35 percent holding for NZ$142 million, according to the cited historical account.
Aftermath
The transaction left the New Zealand Superannuation Fund as one of Datacom’s two largest shareholders.
Purchase price. NZ$142 million (2012)
Recent events
Datacom Group reports FY20 financial results[2]
Datacom Group reported financial results for the year ended March 31, 2020. Revenue was $1.34 billion, up from $1.30 billion in FY19, while net profit after tax was $19 million, down from $40 million. The company also reported $56 million in capital expenditure.
Datacom forms strategic partnership with 8x8 for unified communications services[3]
Datacom announced a partnership introducing 8x8's cloud communications platform into its unified communications services portfolio. 8x8 and Datacom said they would work together to enhance customer experience throughout the region.
Sources4 sources
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