You’ve been renting space in someone else’s house for decades. It’s familiar. Reliable. But now, it’s time to build your own — from the foundation to the wiring — and you’re already behind schedule.
That’s the position one of Canada’s largest investment firms found itself in. Locked into a shared services model with a parent company, the firm was ready to move out and stand on its own. But with over 90 IT projects to complete before the end of 2025, this wasn’t a typical transition — it was a full-scale transformation.
And not every partner was ready and able to help them build it right.
The Challenge
This wasn’t just about switching vendors or upgrading tools. The firm was working toward complete operational independence: no more shared infrastructure, no more inherited processes, no more outsourcing decisions that needed to be made in-house.
They had a firm deadline and a massive workload, including cloud migration, network rearchitecture, and Modern Work enablement. Internal teams were stretched. Four vendors were invited to offer support. What they asked for was augmented staffing. What they needed was something more foundational: a partner who understood that success wouldn’t come from brute force, but from thoughtful collaboration.
The Opportunity
Compugen approached the opportunity not as a vendor bidding for hours, but as a Technology Ally invested in outcomes. This was a chance to help a firm move from dependency to autonomy; to go from borrowed infrastructure to a tech environment built for their future.
We understood that this transformation wasn’t just about IT. It was about trust. Leadership needed a partner who could handle the technical complexity and fit into the culture. One who could help guide decisions with empathy, speed, and experience.
The Solution
Our team didn’t just show up with resumes, we showed up with a plan. We met with stakeholders, understood their business priorities, and designed a roadmap that matched their urgency with clarity.
We delivered:
-
Augmented staffing tailored to the complexity of their portfolio.
-
Modern Work solutions to drive better collaboration and adoption.
-
Cloud and network support aligned to their ultimate vision.
-
Ongoing strategic advice to navigate shifting priorities.
What began as a four-month engagement is now a multi-year partnership.
The Outcome
The firm stayed on track delivering key milestones without burning out their internal teams. What’s more, they started to see IT differently: not as a cost centre, but as a builder of business value. The projects moved faster. Decisions became clearer. And the anxiety of separation gave way to the momentum of progress.
They didn’t just move forward. They moved forward with confidence.
The Relationship
It’s easy to call something a partnership. It’s harder to earn it. But by showing up early, staying curious, and solving real problems, Compugen became the firm’s go-to team for both delivery and direction.
Because when you’re building from the ground up, the partner who helps you lay the first brick often ends up helping with the roof.
With their separation deadline in sight, the firm is on solid footing. But they know that staying independent means staying proactive. Compugen continues to support their teams with flexible resources, evolving services, and experience by design. We help IT leaders stay focused on what’s next, not just what’s urgent.
Rebuilding IT in financial services?
Work with a partner who sees the whole house, not just the blueprints. Talk to Compugen about building a smarter, future-ready foundation.
.png)