Trustmarque & Ultima merge to form GBP £1 billion IT giant
Trustmarque and Ultima Business Solutions have completed their merger, creating one of the largest IT channel organisations in the United Kingdom with a projected gross invoiced income of GBP £1 billion.
The newly combined group will comprise over 1,000 employees and serve more than 3,000 customers across both the public and private sectors. The leadership team is set to integrate both companies' expertise, with Simon Williams leading as Chief Executive Officer and Jamie Beaumont taking on the role of Chief Financial Officer.
Details of the merger
The merger is positioned to bring a wide portfolio of IT services including advisory, infrastructure, and managed support. The organisation will also offer technical depth in areas such as cloud, cybersecurity, automation, and artificial intelligence. In addition, capabilities from Ultima Labs and Livingstone Group-both known for their in-house intellectual property and software development-will be leveraged within the merged business.
Both companies possess nearly four decades of experience in the UK IT channel landscape. The group has longstanding relationships with major technology vendors such as Microsoft, Cisco, IBM, HPE, Hitachi Vantara, Palo Alto, and Citrix. The combined entity also benefits from continued support of private equity firms One Equity Partners and Apse Capital.
"This completion marks the beginning of a new chapter - from today we are stronger together, built on innovation, scale, and expertise," said Simon Williams, CEO of the new group. "By combining Ultima's automation and managed services strength with Trustmarque's deep technical heritage and professional services expertise, we are uniquely positioned to help our customers cut through that complexity to unlock tangible value today and in the future. IT leaders are telling us their estates have become more complex, and that creates real barriers to maximising innovation and growth. Responding to this demand requires partners remain attuned to these shifts and adapt with the right expertise."
The merger comes at a time when many IT leaders are facing increasing complexity in their IT estates, slowing the adoption of technologies such as AI, automation, and digital services. The combination of Trustmarque and Ultima aims to address these challenges by delivering streamlined, integrated services to help organisations navigate ongoing transformation.
Integration and future direction
Jamie Beaumont, newly appointed Chief Financial Officer, commented on the integration process and market opportunities:
"We're already seeing new joint opportunities emerge from enabling multi-cloud optimisation to delivering next-gen AI-powered operations for clients across sectors. Our integration teams have laid the groundwork for a seamless transition, and we are excited to move forward as one team with one mission: to help our clients thrive in a fast-changing digital world."
The new group will initially continue to operate under the Trustmarque and Ultima brands. A single new corporate brand is set to launch later in the following year, as the ongoing integration brings together the operational structures and customer offerings of both organisations.
Industry reactions
Nick Hedderman, EMEA Channel Lead at Microsoft, also commented on the deal:
"Microsoft is really excited about the merger between Ultima and Trustmarque. Both organisations span from large enterprise down to some of the most strategic SMB organisations in the UK market and together will become an incredible powerhouse, helping our shared customers to be successful in the era of AI."
The strategic alignment with major technology vendors is expected to provide the new group with greater purchasing power and the ability to offer clients consolidated solutions. The group has seven locations across the UK and globally, and a clientele that includes FTSE 100 organisations and secure areas of government.
