Critical application management specialist Hostworks has appointed experienced management consultant Carlo Meneguzzi to head its new Melbourne sales office.

With a background that includes call centre software firm Interactive Intelligence and contact centre outsourcers, TeleTech and the Excelior division of Skilled Group, Carlo brings extensive experience in applying technology and outsourced services to solve the business problems faced by organisations.

As a critical application management specialist, Hostworks provides high availability systems and expert staff to meet the rigorous requirements of running a 24x7 business in the modern world. Its clients include Codan; Compass Group; News Digital Media; Network TEN; ninemsn; realestate.com.au; SBS; SEEK; Southern Cross View; Ticketek and Wotif.com.

As Victorian Sales Manager, Carlo aims to enlarge Hostworks' footprint in the Victorian market. "Hostworks already has a number of clients here, but we aim to expand that significantly," he said.

"As one of Australia's largest commercial centres, Melbourne has many companies that are seeking to manage their growth in the online and critical enterprise application space. A local office gives us much better access to them.

"Hostworks provides a unique range of managed services that helps clients reduce their cost of ownership, deliver critical applications for both enterprise and online systems to very high availability standards and with skills that companies simply find impossible to attract and retain themselves.

"While many companies have invested heavily in infrastructure, they are increasingly looking for an alternative to the way they buy applications and recruit the expertise to run them. Hostworks provides a unique level of service and quality to respond to these needs. Hostworks leverages its investment in infrastructure and expertise by virtue of supporting clients with critical needs."

Carlo's management consultant experience includes working with companies at every level from strategic planning to tactical implementation, including putting structures, processes and people in place. Previous roles include working throughout the Asia Pacific region and launching off-shore companies in Australia.

Carlo said the great opportunity for Hostworks arose from the changing role of technology in business. "Businesses are trying to get rid of the ‘technology for technology's sake' mentality and the problem of trying to find and retain the right skills to manage these technologies," he said.

"At the C-level, executives are interested in how to align managed service providers so they add value to their business. It's about providing more than just a fee for service, but having some skin in the game, so that service is based on rewards/penalties and true partnerships.

"I am offering Hostworks' capabilities from a business challenge perspective. When you drill down, many companies have serious business issues that relate to being challenged or constrained by their technology infrastructure, capability and/or cost control. There are a range of drivers for companies that work with Hostworks, which include seeking to grow through expansion and/or to maximise profits by controlling costs."

Hostworks Sales & Marketing Director Klaus Bartosch said Carlo provided the new office with sound business experience. "Carlo understands the challenges that businesses face in the critical application and online environment space and how Hostworks can help them solve those problems," he said.

Hostworks PR for media assistance:

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About Hostworks:  www.hostworks.com.au

Hostworks is the region's leading critical application managed service provider and is responsible for managing the availability, performance and running costs of its customers' critical business applications. Hostworks does this by providing specialist services designed to ensure IT operations excellence. Hostworks delivers its services on tightly engineered, secure infrastructure which provides optimal performance and protects its customers' applications and data from security threats. Experience demonstrates that organisations seek Hostworks services for the following key reasons;

• Existing IT operations are struggling to meet required company service levels
• The business has a desire to reduce cost whilst improving service levels
• Company growth is increasing faster than the internal IT division can support
• The business has experienced a major disaster or outage.

Hostworks manages critical applications for organisations that depend on quality of service and high availability. Hostworks clients include Codan, Compass Group, News Digital Media, Network TEN, ninemsn, realestate.com.au, SBS, SEEK, Southern Cross View, Ticketek and Wotif.com. Hostworks is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Broadcast Australia Pty Limited which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Macquarie Communications Infrastructure Group (ASX: MCG).