KAZ Group founder and chairman of the Austalian Information Industry Association, Peter Kazacos, today unveiled his new IT services company, PK Business Advantage (PKBA).

Kazacos said PKBA will take products and solutions from the world's largest technology companies, together with the best local products, and deliver them to thousands of businesses across Australia.

"We believe Australian businesses deserve the best IT and communications service levels and expertise to give them a competitive advantage," he said. "PKBA will offer the best technologies from global players to everyone - from city-based enterprises to emerging regional firms - enabling them to grow their business, improve service to customers and become more profitable. "We have identified a clear need by the SMB market in particular, for a comprehensive, tailor-made IT and communications service. PKBA will be a trusted advisor to emerging enterprises, providing tailored and cost-effective solutions as they grow." A 30 year IT industry veteran, Kazacos was inducted into the IT&T Hall of Fame in 2004.

He formed the KAZ Group in 1988, and turned it into one of Australia's largest IT consulting and outsourcing providers employing over 3000 staff.

In 2004, KAZ was sold to Telstra, where Kazacos has just completed a two year assignment. He said the next stage of his business life was aimed at helping build premium IT and communications infrastructure across regional Australia. Since February 2007, PKBA has acquired regional-based IT and communications companies in South Australia, North Queensland and Tasmania, forming a national team of 80 and growing. These companies include CWS in Queensland, Comstra in Tasmania, and Pecol in South Australia. "PKBA is already on track to be placed in the top 20 Australian owned IT services operations and plans to expand into other centres with more acquisitions under consideration, aimed specifically at meeting the needs of high-growth emerging enterprises across the country," he said. PKBA's national network will provide a wide suite of IT business applications, services and infrastructure technologies, including IP telephony, hosting, and consulting.

Kazacos said PKBA aims to be a natural home for innovators, encouraging the development of cutting edge technology. "These technologies will be implemented by PKBA's locally based operators, enabling regional Australia to rapidly improve their IT capabilities," he said. PKBA has created a Centre of Excellence for Business Applications in Adelaide, and will create further Centres of Excellence in Northern Queensland and Tasmania later this year. "Regional areas are currently under-served when it comes to gaining access to top quality IT services," Kazacos said.

"The SMB market is also lacking a one-stop solution to meet IT and communications needs. We believe PKBA will deliver considerable benefits to businesses as they seek to grow, no matter where they are located. "The vision of PKBA is to enable emerging enterprises as well as large organisations to get the best out of their IT investments by deploying advanced technologies and working closely with our local service delivery teams."