Kyndryl selects Graeme Beardsell as ANZ managing director
Previously was the APAC CEO of Fujitsu.
IT consultancy firm Kyndryl has hired Graeme Beardsell as its new managing director for Australia and New Zealand.
In his new role, Beardsell will be responsible for accelerating customer value and expanding Kyndryl’s market presence through industry-aligned capabilities.
He brings years of experience leading technology organisations in Asia Pacific and Japan and is well prepared to support Kyndryl’s customers in adopting new AI and IT modernisation trends.
Speaking to CRN Australia, Beardsell discussed what stood out to him about Kyndryl.
“The clarity of its strategy to build capabilities, skills, partnerships and innovation to drive sustainable growth through the 3A’s (alliances, advanced delivery and accounts), with Kyndryl Consult and Kyndryl Bridge at the centre,” he said.
“My immediate focus is to spend time with our customers, partners and the Kyndryl team to enhance our delivery of this strategy and drive greater value for customers and partners locally.”
Beardsell noted that customers are looking for technology partners that can truly help them understand how the technology investments they’ve previously made can be harnessed to deliver better outcomes and provide them with genuine guidelines to make more strategic investments in the future.
“There is a clear opportunity for technology partners such as Kyndryl that can deliver these advisory services, backed by solid implementation and managed services – particularly as it relates to areas such as cloud migration, increasingly hybrid IT environments, cybersecurity risks and the adoption of AI,” he said.
Prior to joining Kyndryl, he was the APAC CEO of Fujitsu. He has held key leadership positions at Akamai, Experian, Salesforce, and IBM in the Asia Pacific region.
He began his career in the services industry over 30 years ago and since then have spent much of his career leading and growing services businesses in the region.
“Having led both partner organisations and technology solutions providers, I understand the importance and the mechanics of being a trusted orchestrator within the partner ecosystem, especially when it comes to critical technologies including cloud and cybersecurity,” he said.
“I will bring this experience to the fore to enable our team in Australia and New Zealand to craft integrated, multi-alliance solutions around our customers business outcomes.”
He will also support Kyndryl’s ongoing local commitment to develop technology skills within underrepresented communities, including through its partnership with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
“I am very passionate about championing purpose-led initiatives to drive greater diversity, equity and inclusion,” he said.
“I am excited to continue to support the work already underway in Kyndryl ANZ through the Kyndryl Foundation grant awarded to the University of Technology Sydney, as well as identifying additional opportunities to promote greater pathways into STEM for underrepresented communities and in tertiary education.”
Beardsell takes over from Ashish Kumar, who was recently appointed as Kyndryl’s Global Collaborative Leader, based in India.