Another changing of the guard at Unisys UK sees 25-year company veteran Nick Fraser take over the reins from Rob Chapman, who is leaving the business after less than three years in post. Chapman took over from Duncan Tait (now Fujitsu UK&I CEO) in October 2009. Fraser headed up Unisys’ TCIS (Technology, Consulting and Integration Solutions – i.e. all bar hardware) activities in EMEA, which remains part of his ‘day job’. Indeed, he reports to EMEA TCIS VP, Bart Steukers.
Fraser is a long-time company man so must be well aware of the challenges facing Unisys. Despite Chapman’s best efforts to stabilise the business (see Chapman's challenge - stabilise Unisys UK), by our estimates Unisys UK revenues dropped by another 7% last year to £255m. This may well see Unisys drop out of the UK SITS (software and IT services) Top 40 altogether – at current course and speed, never to return.
Unisys’ problems are deep seated. Basically the company got stuck in a rut while the rest of the IT services world moved on. It’s hard to see Fraser being able to do much more than try to stem the bleeding.