‘Our businesses, people, and customers will benefit from the coming together’: Softcat CEO talks Oakland buyout
Graham Charlton says first-ever acquisition falls within Softcat’s long-term vision to boost data, automation, and AI capabilities
Softcat has acquired Leeds-based data and AI consultancy Oakland to support its customers in managing, enhancing, and governing their data.
This comes just a month after Graham Charlton, CEO of Softcat, told CRN that the company’s strong organic development might create room for acquisitions.
As this marks the VAR’s first buyout since its launch in 1993, CRN sat down with Charlton to better understand what led to the investment and its impact on the future of both companies.
The CEO explains that while Softcat has never made an acquisition before, it has always been open to the idea of accelerating its strategy through a purchase should the right opportunity come along.
The company decided to make a move on Oakland after years of collaboration between the two companies.
“We've been working with Oakland for a few years as both a supplier and partner of ours, and their capability in a very important area for our customers has impressed us greatly,” he says.
“It all added up and we think both businesses, our people and our customers will benefit from the coming together.”
Charlton says the buyout brings around 70 people to Softcat’s ranks.
Founded in 1986, Oakland is an AI and data consultancy that partners with vendors like AWS, Google, and Microsoft.
In the twelve months to 31 December 2024, the organisation generated around £10m in revenue.
Through this merger, the number one company on CRN’s Top VAR’s List intends to further leverage Oakland's AI and data capabilities “to help customers manage, enhance, and govern their data.”
“Softcat and Oakland together can offer unbeatable support and execution.
“We can scale that capability to more and more customers over time.”
Looking ahead, the organisation intends “to become a true leader in the data and AI space,” explains Charlton.
To attain this goal, Softcat strives to do “what [it] always has”, which is “looking after and investing in the people, and responding with ambition to the demand we're seeing from customers to build for the future.”
“The Oakland team will be part of developing the vision we have for our data, automation and AI capabilities, and we'll invest in them and that vision for the long term.”
The acquisition will see both firms operate a staged plan to bring the two businesses closer together over the next few years.
The transaction of £8m has been financed by Softcat's existing cash, with further payments over the next three years depending on performance.