New Kinetic IT CEO sees AI as key to rapid growth

Dean Langenbach said the use of AI can help it compete with multinational firms in the managed services space effectively, as long as it integrates it at a rapid pace.

Kinetic IT has appointed Dean Langenbach as its new CEO. Langenbach will replace interm CEO Shane Quinn, who now steps into the role of chief operating officer at the technology services firm.

Langenbach has more than two decades of executive experience in in technology services, consulting, managed services, and enterprise solutions, most recently serving as CEO of NRI Australia & New Zealand for the past five years.

Langenbach sees his broad experience growing prior employer’s businesses as a key strength he can bring to the role.

“When I started with my previous employer 20 years ago, we were 250 people. When I finished, we were two and a half thousand, so I've taken organisations through that,” he told CRN Australia.

In terms of challenges for Kinetic IT, while he said that “the people are first class” the issues of competing – which he stressed Kinetic IT already “does today” – with the larger multinational managed services firms was a primary concern, but one that he’s confident that he can help Kinetic IT meet.

“I’ve always believed there’s a space for a very strong Australian player” he said.

“The challenge is the growth when you get to those very large contracts. Having said that, Kinetic IT do already manage highly secure complex environments in defence and education, so they’ve got the pedigree.”

While AI has been transformative for many businesses, Langenbach sees a huge opportunity for Kinetic IT to pick up clients through the smart application of AI to its core offerings.

“I believe that what AI does, it’s a bit of a leveller. If you combine AI with a sovereign, secure organisation, all of a sudden that cost differential that the offshore providers had is diminished.”

“That area that Australian based, Australian owned providers couldn’t play in because of cost is diminished. I think that’s the real opportunity” he said.

“We will be going really hard on AI” he said. “We want our customers to know that we are going to focus on transformation and AI with the client so that we're not left behind.”

While much of Kinetic IT’s work is with government departments, Langenbach feels that the strategic deployment of AI can open up wider opportunities.

“I do believe that AI opens up the manufacturing sector, the banking sector, other sectors that we really couldn’t enter into due to cheaper offshore providers,” he concluded.