Disrupting data destruction: Cork’s Wisetek merges with US-based DataKillers

7 Nov 2017

From left: Paul Carr, CFO, Wisetek; Sean Sheehan, founder and CEO, Wisetek; Chris Scott, president and CEO, CDI/DataKillers; and Zack Boorstein, executive vice-president, CDI/DataKillers. Image: Wisetek

Merger paves pathway for global provider of destruction of unwanted data.

Cork-based IT asset disposal player Wisetek has agreed a merger deal with Washington DC company Computer Discounters, which trades under the DataKillers brand.

The value of the transaction has not been disclosed but the combined entity will have revenues of more than €30m for this year, and expects revenue to grow to more than €50m within the next two years.

‘Both organisations have major multinational customers, including major IT manufacturers, data centre ‘cloud’ services providers, financial institutions, pharmaceuticals and government agencies’
– SEAN SHEEHAN

The new company will be able to provide a global service in terms of the delivery of IT asset disposal and data destruction services.

“This is a key strategic move for Wisetek that supports our combined customers requirement for standardised services delivery, to ensure that their critical data destruction and IT asset disposal operations meet their stringent data security and CSR environmental standards,” explained Sean Sheehan, CEO of Wisetek.

“Together, both organisations have major multinational customers, including major IT manufacturers, data centre ‘cloud’ services providers, financial institutions, pharmaceuticals and government agencies. These organisations consistently require centralised management control of IT asset disposal operations to ensure all data is secured in retired IT equipment before leaving their premises.

“Wisetek’s substantial investments in developing innovative customer operational systems that deliver extended operational control and evidential reporting will immediately be rolled out within DataKillers,” Sheehan said.

DataKillers, qu’est-ce que c’est?

DataKillers is headquartered outside Washington DC, strategically located in close proximity to address both the US federal government market and the US’s largest data centre hub in Virginia.

DataKillers and Wisetek now operate the largest fleet of mobile data destruction trucks across the US, providing customers with national coverage for on-site data destruction and IT removal services.

“DataKillers and Wisetek are already successfully working in close partnership to deliver controlled data destruction services globally to our combined multinational customers,” said Chris Scott, president and CEO of Computer Discounters.

“Our joining together is already proven to be a welcome development by these combined clients to deliver the global services they require from a single source.”

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com