Sep 20, 2017   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Utilligent Acquires Transformory, Expands Global Footprint and Solutions Offerings

Utilligent, a management consulting firm focused on advising utilities, today announced the evolution of its international reach and its transformative solutions offerings with the acquisition of leading Australian and New Zealand corporate advisory firm Transformory Pty Ltd.

Transformory brings a passion for the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) and sustainable development. The firm was founded by Australian entrepreneur and strategist Ben Meek, and visionary technologist Neil Belford in partnership with a group of highly respected Australian business leaders, technologists and entrepreneurs. The firm works across all infrastructure verticals including telecommunications, electric, gas, water, roads, airports and cities, offering both consulting services and solutions to its clients.

Meek will be serving Utilligent as executive vice president (EVP), strategy and business development. In this global role, Meek will be responsible for advancing growth, setting company direction, and leading sales.

“Ben's primary passion is building customer-focused businesses with highly engaged teams, strong balance sheets, as well as unique and highly valued assets,” said Utilligent chief executive officer (CEO) and founder Michael Bassignani. “He and his team offer significant experience in business solutions, innovation and growth. Bringing the two groups together will enable Utilligent to significantly expand its offerings and provide leading-edge business solutions to our utility customers.”

Meek has over 30 years of business and technology experience gained in a wide variety of engineering, consulting and senior management roles. With significant operational and management experience, particularly in telecom and utilities, Meek has a unique talent for identifying future strategic opportunities and risks. Most recently he was group executive, strategy and innovation at RXP Services where he helped build the fastest growing publicly-listed technology consulting firm in Australia.

Neil Belford will serve as chief technology officer (CTO). He will be responsible for curating Utilligent’s technology solutions portfolio, and helping to lead clients through the exciting and yet challenging times ahead as they embrace digital business transformation.

“We are so excited to be part of a notable North American utilities advisory firm which believes that an innovative and resilient utilities sector is critical to a long-term sustainable future on earth,” said Transformory advisory board chairman Mark Franklin. “Now with global reach and adding business solutions to advisory and project work, the sky is the limit.”

About Utilligent

Utilligent is a management consulting firm guiding some of the largest utilities in North America and beyond, from strategy through implementation with extensive expertise in the electric, gas and water industries, delineated into five tightly integrated practice domains — Customer Engagement; Network, Grid & Utility Operations; Smart Utilities; Market Integration; and Cyber/Physical Security. Spanning these areas of focus are service offerings developed to address the multifaceted needs of utilities: Strategy, Solution Architecture, Analytics, Change Management, Program Management, and Technology Enablement.

Formed by a veteran team of utility executives and consultants who had developed mutual respect and trust through decades of professional collaboration, Utilligent has grown to include likeminded experts, each chosen for their individual knowledge and skill set as well as their alignment with a straightforward, results-oriented culture.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, the company has locations in Houston, TX; Boston, MA; Columbus, OH; and Sydney, Australia.