ALKU buys rockITdata to add consulting delivery, federal health contracts

Andover, Massachusetts-based ALKU has acquired rockITdata, a Philadelphia technology consulting firm working in AI, digital transformation and data analytics, adding a consulting delivery arm and prime federal health contracts in the specialized staffing firm's first acquisition since it bought healthcare IT consultancy Holland Square Group in 2017.

The reason ALKU broke a near-decade pause is not a broader acquisition push. Clients asked for it. "As we've gotten deeper in some of our specialty areas, our clients are asking us to provide more than just the talent; they want some project ownership, they want ability to deliver," CEO Andrew Bull told Staffing Industry Analysts. That pressure is sharpest in two of ALKU's specialty areas, healthcare IT and AI, where Bull said some clients want both staffing and a firm to manage the work.

The two firms were already sharing clients before any deal talk. Clients frequently combined rockITdata's technical work with ALKU's staffing, the company said. Bull said the acquisition conversation began after ALKU learned rockITdata was interested in being acquired.

What ALKU buys with it is a delivery layer it did not previously own. RockITdata brings dedicated solutions infrastructure, specialized technical expertise and prime federal health contracts, ALKU said. The firm works across healthcare, life sciences and government.

ALKU ranks as the 43rd-largest US staffing firm, according to SIA. It is a portfolio company of private equity firm New Mountain Capital, and operates from Andover plus seven other US locations.

Bull was clear that this is not the opening of an acquisition program. Deals are not necessarily part of ALKU's broader strategy, he said, though the firm will look at opportunities: "This was a unique situation where it made sense." He also said demand for pure staffing continues even as solutions demand grows, and that adding to staffing capability was itself a consideration in the deal.

The company framed the economics of the combination in both directions in its announcement: rockITdata gains access to ALKU's advanced AI and data engineering talent to meet demand in its existing business, while ALKU gains the ability to sell end-to-end project ownership.

RockITdata will keep operating under its own brand for the near future, with ALKU aiming to fold it under the ALKU name by 2027.