Jonathan Bunch

McKellar Partners is an independent, boutique corporate M&A advisory specializing in the technology, defense, and business services sectors.

Key Areas of Expertise:

• Technology Sector: SaaS, AI, and MSP
• Business Services Sector: Defense, Mining, and Business Process Outsourcing/Offshoring

Services Offered:

• Assisting company shareholders in preparing for and executing a majority or complete exit (share sale)
• Helping customers raise capital (10M AUD or more) to accelerate growth, expand to new geographies, and make acquisitions, etc.

Approach and Collaboration:

• Leveraging extensive experience and proven, effective processes
• Utilizing a company valuation approach that considers financial performance and unique intellectual property
• Operating independently while collaborating with other M&A advisors

I worked in one of six operating divisions within Constellation Software Inc., the Vela Software Group (APX 1.5B) inside a portfolio called Vela APX (APX 250m). It was challenging to highlight all the relationships, so I added this section to help provide clarity. Constellation Software Inc @CSU:TSE (Market Cap > $100B AUD and $14B AUD in revenue for 2024).

The first two roles highlighted below this header include the primary roles I served in at Vela APX (Head Office). They were Chief Information Security Officer (Founder CISO) (2022-2023) and Software Portfolio Manager (2020-2024).

Just below those roles are roles in parallel with the Software Portfolio Manager position are numerous executive roles with companies included in my portfolio, which were: Bay Technologies, Mainpac, Infocouncil, MEMNET Solutions and Coresoft.

• Boosted growth and profitability within Portfolio by spearheading financial strategies, as well as collaborating with CEOs and GMs to optimise PNL performance through bi-monthly forecasting and best practice sharing
• Drove portfolio expansion by leading acquisition initiatives, from identifying targets and conducting due diligence to negotiating deals, whilst monitoring market trends to pinpoint growth opportunities
• Reduced go-to-market timeframes by 40% and improved cross-selling effectiveness by authoring and deploying Vertical Strategic Plan in 2023, which integrated and leveraged synergies across business units
• Instituted a pioneering professional development programme that not only focused on goal-setting but also incorporated peer feedback to increase staff engagement and achievement across the company
• Secured an initial revenue increase of $85K in 12 months and drove consistent annual growth by initiating and structuring reseller partnerships, coupled with designing tailored software solutions for government sectors
• Strengthened and deepened key stakeholder relationships, thereby creating a collaborative environment conducive to knowledge sharing and process optimisation

• Revamped security frameworks for a network of 35 companies which markedly improved safeguarding of assets, intellectual property, and personal data; led overhaul of security protocols, standards, and measures and aligned with both internal and external legal experts to refine data privacy practices, as well as optimise information handling
• Optimised strategic decision-making at the executive level by providing detailed risk assessment reports and expert mitigation strategies to the Group CEO and parent company
• Spearheaded the identification, selection and implementation of a state-of-the-art identity management system that bolstered access controls and eradicated reliance on traditional passwords through innovative authentication solutions
• Drastically cut costs associated with security operations by introducing a unified 24/7 monitoring and incident response framework; consolidated various security functions into a single streamlined platform and integrated SOC, and SIEM systems, as well as proactive cyber training initiatives which reduced overheads and risk
• Elevated compliance with security protocols by 80% and decreased fiscal expenditures on security measures by 60% (600k) within 12 months by engineering a strategy to centralise essential security operations and setting new benchmarks for policy adherence and operational thrift
• Expedited the rollout of 'Cyber as a Service' by 12 months, setting a new standard for efficiency; forged strategic alliances with third-party vendors to deliver cybersecurity services, which shortened implementation phases and enhanced agility
• Slashed cybersecurity threats by 10 fold in the first 12 months and established a resilient security environment with a streamlined security platform, including integrated SOC, SIEM , and cyber/phishing training initiatives, which immediately reduced overheads and risk

• Enhanced long-term financial stability by monitoring fiscal performance, establishing budgets, and managing costs; boosted productivity and profitability by implementing efficient operational frameworks tailored to government client specifications including PRINCE 2, Agile, and Waterfall
• Advanced business development by capitalising on NSW State Government penetration, converting key opportunities into successful business engagements through maintaining a majority of 75% market penetration in QLD State Government Dept. and Agencies
• Implemented risk management strategy and reduced overall organisational risk by 40%, leveraging risk register and ISO 27001 mapping to improve security investment ROI
• Drove corporate alignment and performance enhancement by developing a KPI-driven bonus programme; more than doubled company revenue within the first 18 months by aligning and monitoring key performance indicators with key objectives

• Championed the integration of advanced security protocols and created key policies, resulting in the attainment of ISO 27100 certification, thus elevating security standards
• Developed and executed innovative growth strategies by synergising with stakeholders to refine service offerings and exploit corporate reseller agreements, thereby effectively bypassing traditional procurement channels
• Cultivated high-level partnerships with major clients while synchronising objectives to fortify relationships and expand commercial opportunities; expanded licensing agreements and research funding, directly contributing to sustained revenue growth and product innovation

• Increased overall performance metrics by 20% by spearheading strategic team restructuring initiatives post-acquisition
• Facilitated the elevation of an operations manager to general manager by early 2023 through fostering leadership development within the management team
• Streamlined efficiency and optimised resource use and trimmed operational costs through the integration of operations between Coresoft and MEMNET, achieved via strategic staff reallocation and idea sharing
• Strengthened market presence and propelled organisational growth by launching dual service offerings within a single year in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams

• Devised and implemented strategic long-term objectives in anticipation of major software updates; developed a transparent sales strategy that addressed existing deficiencies and established credible resolution timelines
• Swiftly diversified operational approaches at the onset of COVID-19, which minimised disruptions and sustained essential functions for 18 months without revenue degradation

• Elevated company operations and customer experiences by developing and deploying innovative technology solutions including advanced Google Business integrations and bespoke scripting to meet complex business needs. Established the business as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert among 30+ technology vendors and industry leaders including Dell, HP, IBM, and Lenovo by keeping abreast of industry trends, building new partnerships, and leveraging technologies such as Google Explorer
• Delivered infrastructure services to major airlines such as Etihad and Qantas Freight, as well as managed projects including the relocation of Singapore Air's Brisbane headquarters that improved operational efficiencies and client satisfaction
• Optimised client interactions and operational efficiency by deploying on-site digital signature processes, utilising Google Business reseller partnerships to introduce cutting-edge solutions that expedited service delivery