Driven by its parent company Cegeka, the Walloon integrator NSI is further expanding internationally. In fact, it has taken on responsibility for the Francophone divisions of the CTG group, covering France, Luxembourg, and Canada.
Manuel Pallage, 57, managing director of the Liège-based company NSI, has written an impressive story. He even publishes a musical discovery column on LinkedIn every weekend—but this time, he is taking it even further.
For him, there is no room for stagnation. NSI’s revenue grew from €22 million in 2010 to €194 million last year. Manu is quick to point out that this success is largely thanks to Cegeka, which initially acquired 67% of NSI’s shares in the summer of 2009 (now 75%, with the remainder held by Noshaq): “Cegeka and NSI share the same entrepreneurial spirit.” The company has enjoyed a minimum organic growth of 10%, spurred by acquisitions such as the Luxembourg-based RIME IT and, more recently, the Brussels-based BuSI. As a result, NSI has captured a significant share of the public sector market, which now accounts for half of its turnover. Manuel Pallage is targeting a turnover of €230 million by the end of the year.
Following Cegeka’s acquisition of the CTG group, NSI now boasts a strong international presence. It has taken over all of CTG’s ‘Francophone’ divisions in Luxembourg, France, and Canada. This move brings roughly 500 employees on board, meaning Manu now leads a workforce of no less than 2,000 people. Remarkably, the average age is 39. It’s hardly surprising that he opts for white trainers and a rather relaxed style.
The company’s offering comprises infrastructure (30%), applications (40%), and Microsoft ERP solutions, as well as an increasing focus on Odoo—the flagship platform of Fabien Pinckaerts, the Walloon unicorn. Cybersecurity is naturally becoming more important, and with the advent of 5G through Cegeka’s licence, developments are only set to accelerate. “Every fortnight, I have a meeting with Cegeka’s CEO, Stijn Bijnens. Our relationship is excellent. We understand each other perfectly. After all, a Limbourgeois is simply a Liège native who speaks Dutch,” declares Manuel Pallage.
Article by Luc Blyaert
