Acquire Intelligence buys Applied AI Australia to add executive AI advisory

By AI, Created 11:41 PM UTC, May 26, 2026, /AGP/ – Acquire Intelligence has acquired Applied AI Australia, giving the firm a board-level AI advisory layer to pair with consulting and implementation. The deal expands its offer to Australian executives who want clearer AI investment decisions, stronger governance and a stated ROI guarantee.

Why it matters: - Acquire Intelligence now offers executive AI advisory, implementation and governance in one firm. - The combined model is aimed at helping leadership teams decide where AI should be funded, what should be stopped and how to tie outcomes to ROI. - The acquisition is designed for mid-market organisations that want AI to be commercially useful, not just technically deployed.

What happened: - Acquire Intelligence announced the acquisition of Applied AI Australia in Melbourne on May 26, 2026. - The deal adds Applied AI Australia’s executive advisory platform to Acquire Intelligence’s consulting and implementation services. - The combined offer is available immediately to existing clients and new organisations. - The acquisition also brings in the Applied AI Australia podcast. - Ramon Rodriguez joins Acquire Intelligence as GM Market Advisory and continues as host of the podcast.

The details: - Acquire Intelligence says the new model gives businesses a single firm to define AI strategy, deliver transformation end to end and back the work with an ROI guarantee. - If viable value is not identified, consulting fees are refunded in full. - Applied AI Australia’s advisory methodology now sits inside Acquire Intelligence’s engagement model before scope is agreed and before implementation begins. - The advisory layer is meant to give executive teams a decision framework and governance foundations before investment moves forward. - Acquire Intelligence says it can then apply consulting, implementation, training, governance and global outsourcing capability across teams in Australia, the United States, the Philippines and the Dominican Republic. - The company says it has more than 20 years of operational delivery behind its engagements. - Applied AI Australia was built for Australian mid-market organisations with revenue between $100 million and $1 billion. - Ramon Rodriguez founded Applied AI Australia and spent more than 15 years in Australian business, including nine years at News Corp Australia leading a nine-figure P&L. - Applied AI Australia’s services include AI readiness assessments, executive briefings, strategy advisory and governance frameworks. - The podcast has built an audience among Australian CEOs, CFOs, CIOs and board leaders. - Past guests have included the SVP and GM of Okta, former CCO of Domain and ex-Google and Uber executive John Foong, CEO of Pathfindr Dawid Naude, a director at PwC Australia, former CTO of Fujitsu and ex-PwC partner Anthony Mittelmark, and the GM of APAC at Notion. - The podcast focuses on AI governance, board accountability, revenue impact and operating model redesign. - Each episode gives executives one action they can apply inside 48 hours.

Between the lines: - The acquisition is as much about positioning as scale. - Acquire Intelligence is trying to move from AI delivery partner to boardroom adviser with a commercial framework attached. - The ROI guarantee is meant to reduce executive hesitation around AI spending, while also creating pressure to prove value early. - The podcast gives the combined firm a direct channel to decision-makers who are already active in AI budget conversations.

What’s next: - Existing clients and new customers can use the expanded advisory and delivery model immediately. - Acquire Intelligence will likely use the acquisition to deepen its presence with executive teams weighing AI budgets, governance and implementation plans. - Ramon Rodriguez will continue to shape market-facing advisory work through his new role and the podcast platform.

The bottom line: - Acquire Intelligence is betting that AI buyers want one firm to advise, implement and stand behind the result.