Aussie IT service provider blueAPACHE has made changes to its management with the promotion of Michael Zuppa to the role of chief executive officer (CEO).
Zuppa has been with blueAPACHE for the last 11 years, starting as a business development manager in July 2014. He was then promoted to the role of general manager technology in 2017 and has remained in that position until his recent promotion.
Managing director Chris Marshall will continue in his role, although he will transition strategically to a focused function, leading blueAPACHE’s global growth strategy with particular emphasis on sales and marketing.
Marshall said Zuppa has been instrumental in shaping blueAPACHE’s technology vision, spearheading initiatives that have strengthened the company’s position as a trusted IT partner.
“Michael is just a phenomenal leader,” he told ARN. “He was our general manager of technology and operational delivery — so he’s been across both ops and technology for many years already.”
“He’s had the technology and operations teams reporting through to him.”
This step into the CEO role just brings in the corporate services aspect as well into his remit, noted Marshall. This means he can now connect all the dots across all of the provider’s lines of business from a finance perspective too.
Marshall said blueAPACHE has also appointed a new general manager of operations, Jordin Marks — blueAPACHE’s head of managed services. He’s been with the business for nine years.
This shift will enable Marshall to concentrate on expanding the company’s international footprint and driving customer acquisition while Zuppa oversees day-to-day operations.
“This has been something that’s sort of been part of our planning for many years,” he said. “It’s really about allowing us to execute on our global growth strategy. For me, being able to focus purely on both the operational side and the sales, marketing, and growth side — it’s becoming quite a big role.
“I’ll be spending more time with our vendors and strategic partners, really getting alignment on how we can better execute together — market strategy not just for Australia, but also into the US and Asia as well.”
According to Marshall having the bandwidth to explore that strategy further, with acquisition being the ” certainly the “fastest one to market”. This will also give him the time and the opportunity — “to invest in building out that strategy”.
“FY26 for us is really about getting that foundation down,” he said. “The onus is on me now, to make sure that we put that plan endorsed for FY27. I think that’s when we start seeing some movement, and it’s exciting.”
Zuppa said the changes will ensure acceleration with the provider’s global plans.
“With Chris leading our global growth, sales, and marketing initiatives, we are well positioned to accelerate growth and continue delivering exceptional value to our clients,” he said. “This announcement comes as blueAPACHE celebrates 27 years of sustained growth and evolution.”
Over the past 12 months, the business has advanced its trajectory, relocating both its Sydney and Melbourne offices to CBD locations and building its consulting and advisory capabilities.
Together, these milestones position the company for its next phase of expansion, underscoring its focus on market leadership and delivering long-term value to clients.
This update reinforces blueAPACHE’s commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and global growth , now celebrating its 26th birthday on 30 July, said Marshall.
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