Frank Colli – Leading Solutions
Frank Colli – Leading Solutions
Frank Colli, CEO of Leading Solutions, is my favourite entrepreneur. Probably unknown outside the IT industry, Frank could be considered a quiet achiever. But he has grown the business from a small HP dealership with less than half a dozen people in 1990 to one that will be listed on the stock exchange, employs more than 430 staff and has revenues of $300+ million a year. While organic growth saw Frank Colli take the company to larger premises and open an office in Sydney in 1995, it is through strategic acquisitions that really helped the company gain a truly national presence. It acquired Brisbane-based Kasys in 1990, which gave it representation in Queensland, it acquired Scala Australia in 2003 (for excellent ERP software applications), it acquired software developer Micro Knox in 2004, it acquired BCA IT in 2006 (broad range of software applications), and in 2007 it merged with publicly listed ComputerCORP, which gave it representation in all the other Australian states and the ACT. This latest merger will see Leading Solutions list on the Australian Stock Exchange, which will give the company the economies of scale to increase its reach throughout the country and provide a platform to expand overseas. The company, under Frank Colli's direct leadership, has grown to become the second largest IT solutions provider in Australia. Frank is also an avid Melbourne Football Club fan and in 1999 he commenced sponsorship of this club, which continues today.
Nominated by: Wendy McWilliams
More SmartCompany Idols:
Alexandra Smart – Ginger & Smart , Alison Dean – The Peppermint Group , Angela Sands – Vive 8 , Ben Keighran – Bluepulse , Chris Kettle – My247 , Craig Reardon – The E Team , David Graham – Farmer Dave Lamb , Dean Coates – Fleetmark , Donald John Trump – Trump Organisation , Emma Brown – Business Chicks , Eric Beecher & Di Gribble – Private Media Partners , Ewan Parsons – Open energy , Father Michael Kelly – Church Resources , Frank Colli – Leading Solutions , Greg Muller – iFocus , Jaimie Fuller – Skins Bio Acceleration garments , Jeff Bonnes – Find A Babysitter.com.au , Jeremy Levitt – Podproperty , Jim Penman – Jim's Group , Jo Wallace – Rubystar PR , Katherine Sampson – Healthy Habits , Kirsty Dunphey – www.reallysold.com , Kym Illman – The Message Group , Louise Broekman – HR Coach , Marc Carr – Mobile Data Group , Mark Alexander-Erber – Pubboy , Matt Bullock – eWAY , Michael Malone – iiNet , Mihiri Udabage – Generation Wonder , Michael Browne – Datacom Australia , Naomi Simson – Red Balloon Days , Neil Bolton – Recruitment Systems , Nick Verykios – Distribution Central , Pauline Michael – Skin Day Spa , Pierce Cody – Macro Wholefoods Ralph Edwards – Bright Eyes Sunglasses , Rob Levison – Industrea , Rowan Isaacs – Creative Promotions , Seth Watts – New Litho , Sharon O'Malley – O'Malley & Co , Shelley Barrett – ModelCo , Stan Perron – Stan Perron , Steve Loe – Precedent Productions , Tina Tower – Reach Education , Todd Wright – TRW Projects , Val Whitton – Fleetwash Industrial Systems , Vickie Burkinshaw – changemaker , Warwick Williams – Warwick Williams Real Estate , Wayne Kayler- Thomson – VECCI , Wendy Moore – Affluencia.