Last weekend’s Australian Financial Review profiled Assetlink’s principals Aurora and Franco Fonte and the growth of their organisation. The story, written by Fiona Smith, reflects our industry’s positive evolvement from ‘cleaning’ to integrated property services and, more recently, asset optimisation.
In some 27 years the Fontes have grown their Sydney-based, national business, to one that turns over about $350 million a year and employs some 3,000 people.
A significant investment in the recruitment of an executive team in 2010, when Assetlink’s turnover was about $70 million, proved well worthwhile.
“This team has helped the company diversify into an integrated property services company, offering services in cleaning, maintenance, security, laundry, catering, pest control and waste management,” noted Smith.
She then described the Fontes more recent move into an ‘asset optimisation business’, AssetFuture. That organisation offers strategic asset optimisation, management planning, maintenance and project management services.
As well as its Australian base, AssetFuture has offices in Dubai (UAE) and Toronto (Canada).
AssetFuture’s website explains this business has ‘developed a unique multilayered approach that incorporates asset identification, condition auditing, functionality assessment, degradation modelling and strategic asset planning.
‘We have a proven track record of delivering cost efficiency across entire asset portfolios for all tiers of government, large corporates and asset intensive organisations.’
While Smith’s copy gives an interesting insight into the Fontes’ personal life and their professional exertions, this writer also recognised the AFR story for enhancing our industry’s image.
The AFR story highlights the strides an Australian family company has made in terms of services’ sophistication and international expansion in a highly competitive marketplace, one which can be perceived as being dominated by international players.