Serco buys defense sector consultancy WBB for $295 million
Serco Inc., the US subsidiary of Serco Group plc, a UK-based global government services outsourcer, has acquired Whitney, Bradley & Brown (WBB), a Reston, VA-based provider of consulting services to the defense sector.
Founded in 1981, WBB delivers program management and consulting services to the US Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agencies. The firm supports clients with solutions in weapons acquisition support, advanced analytics, mission support, organizational development, and training – with strong capabilities in weapons modernization, machine learning, cybersecurity, wargaming, and simulation.
WBB has approximately 1,000 employees across 14 US offices.
Serco’s acquisition of WBB will strengthen its consulting offering to defense sector clients. Specifically, the move allows the firm to tap into Army, Air Force, and Missile Defense Agency contracts.
The move builds on Serco’s 2019 acquisition of Alion’s naval systems business, which allowed it to become a full services provider to the US Navy.
“This acquisition aligns with our strategy to expand our scope of services with the Air Force, Army, Missile Defense Agency, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and other key accounts,” said Dave Dacquino, chairman and CEO of Serco Inc. “WBB brings a physical presence and established customer relationships at strategic locations that fit Serco's service offering. Their expertise in weapons modernization, including cybersecurity, improved sensors, machine learning, and tactical networking, is highly complementary to our existing work for the US Navy and other DoD customers.”
The addition of WBB will bolster Serco’s existing capabilities in AI, machine learning, data analytics, and cyber consulting, while adding new expertise in the areas of wargaming, modeling, and simulation.
The $295 million purchase will add nearly 1,000 employees and $230 in annual revenue. Herndon, VA-based Serco currently has 8,000 employees in North America and annual revenue of $1.4 billion, and delivers professional, technology, and management services to primarily public sector clients in defense, transport, and citizen services. Parent company Serco Group plc has $5 billion in annual revenue and more than 50,000 global employees.
As part of the deal, which is slated to close in Q2 2021, WBB CEO Robert Olsen will continue to lead the company as a new segment within Serco.
“We are excited about the prospect of joining Serco and taking advantage of their larger platform to sustain the tradition of high-quality products, collaboration, and growth that WBB has become known for since our founding in 1981,” said Olsen, now an SVP at Serco Inc.
