DUBLIN, Jan 23, 2026, 19:58 GMT
- Irish media reported that businessman John Purdy has died at the age of 63.
- The death occurred just one day after U.S. tech services company Presidio finalized its purchase of Ireland’s Ergo.
- The purchase price wasn’t revealed, but Irish media put the deal at around 100 million euros.
John Purdy, the entrepreneur behind Irish IT services company Ergo, has died at 63, the Irish Independent reported Friday. His passing occurred just one day after U.S. tech services firm Presidio finalized its takeover of the Ireland-based group, MarketScreener data shows. (Independent)
The timing is crucial as Ergo has recently changed hands, while Presidio aims to expand its European footprint from Ireland and the UK. For Dublin’s tech scene, this adds a very tangible human dimension to an already closely watched deal.
Ergo offers “managed services,” handling corporate IT systems on an outsourced basis, in addition to cloud and cybersecurity solutions. Presidio is banking on steady demand for these services as firms upgrade their networks and shift increasing amounts of data to the cloud.
Presidio described the acquisition as a move to “establish a scalable platform for growth and expansion across Europe.” CEO Bob Cagnazzi said in the company’s press release that he was “thrilled to welcome the Ergo team.” Ergo’s CEO, Paul McCann, called the deal the “next … chapter” for both the company and its clients. (GlobeNewswire)
Presidio revealed the deal in October, highlighting plans to boost its footprint in Ireland and the UK while strengthening its Microsoft partnership. Brid Graham, senior vice president for Europe and Asia Pacific at Presidio, described Ireland as “a critical technology hub for Europe.” (GlobeNewswire)
Presidio hasn’t revealed the financial details. According to the Business Post, the deal was valued at roughly 100 million euros. The outlet also reported Purdy’s death a day after the deal was finalized. (X (formerly Twitter))
Purdy left his role as chief executive of Ergo in 2021, swapping positions with McCann, according to the Irish Times. “Paul knows the business inside out so it is in safe hands,” Purdy told the paper, adding his main focus would be “ensuring I keep out of his way.” (The Irish Times)
He and Tim Sheehy launched the company in 1993 as a small toner cartridge operation. They soon pivoted to broader IT services, according to the report. On Ergo’s website, Purdy later called their early recycling efforts “very dirty, very messy,” adding the business had to evolve fast since “it was not scalable.” (Ergo)
This acquisition comes as IT services firms scramble to consolidate, vying for corporate dollars flowing into cloud migration and security. Major competitors like Accenture and Computacenter are battling fiercely for those contracts.
But combining teams and retaining top engineers rarely goes smoothly, and losing a founder can shake both staff and clients at a critical time. Presidio and Ergo must now manage the transition while keeping hold of customers facing many other options.
Presidio, a portfolio company of private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, tapped Debevoise & Plimpton as its legal adviser for the Ergo deal, the law firm confirmed. (Debevoise)
