With Australian MSP First Focus officially combining with United States headquartered MSP Integris, mid-market ANZ businesses will be able to access deeper AI, security and vertical expertise, backed by international support and round the clock service.
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Announced in April this year, the agreement, completed on September 1st, 2026, sees the combined businesses unifying their branding under the Integris name. The move integrates First Focus, supporting about 1,000+ SMB customers across ANZ, with an international organisation that provides managed AI and IT services to small to medium business.
First Focus CEO Ross Sardi and his existing executive team continue to lead the business in ANZ, while Sardi also assumes the role of Managing Director (ANZ) and Chief Innovation Officer for the combined group.
Customer relationships remain local
Management of customer relationships stays local under the new structure, with the group offering broader security and compliance capabilities, greater innovation resources and enhanced service coverage.
“Customers will continue to work with teams in-market that understand their needs, and maintaining those relationships is fundamental to our strategy,” says Sardi. “The agreement with Integris is about combining global capability with strong local delivery.”
First Focus says the agreement paves the way for accelerated investment in AI, cybersecurity, automation and innovation in managed services. Customers in Australia and New Zealand also benefit from follow-the-sun operational capabilities and specialist expertise in regulated industries such as financial services, banking, legal and manufacturing.
A shared vision drives agreement
Complementary perspectives and ambitions made the decision to join forces an obvious move, says Sardi. “Integris saw in First Focus a business that shares its people-first philosophy, commitment to regulated and growth-focused organisations, and an ambition to redefine what managed services can deliver,” he says. “We have built one of the most respected MSPs in the region, and that made First Focus the natural platform for Integris’ expansion into Australia and New Zealand.”
Leading MSP directory Cloudtango recently named First Focus the number one MSP in Australia for the ninth consecutive year, which Sardi attributes to years of investment spent building a customer-centric organisation.
“We have deliberately designed our business around accountability, responsiveness and long-term customer relationships,” he says, citing a pod-based delivery model that assigns a semi-dedicated team to each customer, a same-day support SLA and continued investment in customer experience platforms.
AI and automation driving MSP transformation
First Focus and Integris both see the MSP sector undergoing significant transformation, driven by AI, automation, cybersecurity and changing customer experiences.
“We have both invested heavily in helping customers achieve business outcomes, rather than simply maintaining technology,” says Sardi. “At First Focus, we focus on helping customers modernise securely, adopt AI responsibly and generate measurable value. With Integris sharing that mindset, this created strong alignment between the two organisations right from the beginning.”
Accelerating innovation in new role
Sardi is particularly excited about what the role of Chief Innovation Officer delivers to the combined organisation.
“The opportunity is to accelerate innovation across a much larger customer base and bring successful ideas to market faster,” he says.
“One of the most exciting aspects of the partnership is the ability to learn from customers, industries and use cases across multiple regions. We can identify successful AI and automation requirements, refine them and make them available to customers globally.
“The role ensures we continue to innovate, experiment and develop practical AI-driven solutions that deliver measurable outcomes. Customers will gain access to specialist teams across Australia, New Zealand, the United States and the Philippines, with broader support for AI adoption, cybersecurity, compliance and regulated-industry use cases.”
Sardi believes the most important element of the agreement is the creation of more opportunities for customers and employees. “We genuinely believe the combined organisation will be able to deliver something greater than either company could achieve independently.”
About First Focus
First Focus is a leading managed AI and IT services provider supporting businesses across Australia and New Zealand. The company provides managed IT, cybersecurity, cloud, AI, software development and support services for small and mid-sized organisations, with a focus on local service, customer relationships and practical technology outcomes.
First Focus has been named Australia’s number one managed service provider by Cloudtango for nine consecutive years.
About Integris
Integris is a United States-headquartered provider of managed AI and IT services for small and mid-sized businesses. Backed by OMERS Private Equity, Integris helps organisations adopt and manage modern technology, with services spanning IT management, cybersecurity, compliance, AI adoption and technology strategy.
Following the acquisition of First Focus, Integris has expanded its international presence across Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines.
Media contact
Brendan Ritchie
Chief Growth Officer, First Focus
Email: brendan.ritchie@firstfocus.com.au
Phone: +61 407 501 407
Brendan Ritchie is available for media comment on what the acquisition means for First Focus customers, the future of managed AI and IT services in Australia and New Zealand, and how mid-market businesses are approaching AI adoption, cybersecurity and managed services.
