Canon Business Services names Matt Clarkin to lead sales

Canon Business Services ANZ has appointed Matt Clarkin as General Manager, Sales and Marketing, adding a senior technology executive with more than 26 years of experience across enterprise software, systems integration and consulting.

Clarkin joins from Avanade, where he led the Australian financial services and commercial business. Earlier in his career, he was an equity partner at data and artificial intelligence firm Data Addiction and held leadership roles at Microsoft.

The appointment comes as organisations in Australia and New Zealand reassess technology spending on artificial intelligence, cloud, data and cyber security. Across the region, businesses are under pressure to show clearer returns on digital investment while managing rising operational and security demands.

Part of the Canon Oceania group, Canon Business Services works across cloud, managed IT services, cyber security, data, AI and application modernisation. It positions itself as a technology services partner for organisations in Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines.

Chief Executive Officer Luke Clark said the appointment comes as customers seek more practical results from technology programs.

"As local organisations grapple with complex shifts across cloud, data, AI, and security, they need a partner who can integrate these solutions with commercial clarity.

Matt brings a rare blend of experience, operating at major global vendors and leading large-scale system integrators. He understands exactly what it takes to deliver repeatable, high-value outcomes for Australian businesses. We're thrilled to have him on the team, and his appointment is a direct investment in CBS' capability to guide our customers through their next phase of technological maturity."

Career background

Before joining Canon Business Services, Clarkin was part of the growth of Data Addiction, a specialist data and AI firm later acquired by Seisma Group. At Microsoft, he worked across a broad portfolio and was credited with delivering year-on-year growth.

His background spans software vendors, consulting and founder-led services businesses, areas that increasingly overlap as customers buy bundled advisory, implementation and managed support. The move also reflects competition among technology services providers to recruit executives with experience in both direct software sales and broader consulting engagements.

Clarkin said customers are struggling with the pace of change in the market.

"We're at a point in the industry where the pace of change, especially around AI, data and IT security risks, can be overwhelming for many businesses.

Success is not just deploying new tools or delivering transactional services, it is about having a partnership based on trust, proven capability and providing consistent business value in a cost-effective approach. Having spent my career across the technology ecosystem, I joined CBS because it's in a unique position to be that partner. The business has a strong solution-focused mindset, true end-to-end capability and incredibly strong customer advocacy. I'm focused on building from that great foundation to unlock new business opportunities and growth for our customers."

Regional focus

The role is intended to support the company's push across the trans-Tasman market, putting Clarkin in charge of sales and marketing at a time when many customers are revisiting supplier relationships and looking for fewer providers that can handle multiple parts of the technology stack.

For Canon Business Services, the appointment also underlines the importance of front-end commercial leadership as managed services firms pursue growth in higher-value advisory and transformation work. Companies serving this market are under pressure to move beyond infrastructure support and connect technology decisions more directly to business performance.

Canon, the parent group, reported global revenue of USD $29.5 billion in 2025. In Oceania, its business interests include Canon Finance Australia, Canon Business Services ANZ, Canon New Zealand and a business service centre in the Philippines.

Clarkin's remit now covers a sales and marketing function expected to link demand generation with customer expansion in a market shaped by AI adoption, security concerns and tighter scrutiny of IT budgets. His recent experience in financial services and commercial accounts adds depth in sectors where regulatory pressure, data use and cyber resilience remain central purchasing issues.