An Interview with Ross Gaskell, Managing Director of Prophix Australia

Earlier this year, we shared that Forest Grove, a long-standing Prophix partner and leader in data and analytics consulting in the APAC region, had been acquired by Prophix. This August, the team officially becomes Prophix Australia.

As part of this transition, we sat down with Ross Gaskell, the Managing Director of Prophix Australia, to reflect on the journey so far and to look ahead at what this milestone means for customers, partners, and the growing Prophix community in the region.

Ross has been with Forest Grove for over 12 years, starting as a Prophix implementation consultant. His deep experience across technology, services, and customer relationships gives him a unique perspective into how the legacy of Forest Grove will continue to grow as part of the global Prophix family. 

You’ve been with Forest Grove for more than a decade. What was your reaction when you first heard Forest Grove was joining Prophix?

Ross: It was a mix of emotions, but mostly excitement. From the start, it felt like a natural next step. I joined Forest Grove as an implementation consultant, so I got to know the Prophix team early. Over the years, we built strong relationships and aligned closely in values, especially around customer success. Becoming Prophix Australia makes that alignment official and gives us the opportunity to accelerate our growth. 

What made this feel like the right strategic fit?

Ross: It really comes down to a strong foundation of trust and mutual respect - built not only on aligned goals but with a real familiarity with each other’s values, ways of working and culture. We’d already worked closely with the global Prophix team for years, so there weren’t a lot of unknowns. That helped ease any concerns around change. Instead, we saw a shared ambition to scale faster, to innovate and invest in new capabilities, and to keep doing what we love with even more support behind us. 

What will change for long-time Forest Grove customers and what will stay the same?

Ross: At the heart of what we do, our strategic partnerships and our commitment to long term customer success remains unchanged.  Our local team and the dedication to service that’s defined Forest Grove for years also stays the same.  

What new technologies are you most excited about bringing to your customers?

Ross: A big one is FP&A Plus. In the past, we’d often have to get creative to meet complex modeling requirements without slowing performance. With FP&A Plus, that complexity falls away. It’s fast, flexible, and easier to maintain, which is a win for our team and our clients.

And of course, Prophix One Intelligence is generating real excitement. Seeing AI built natively into the platform and watching customers discover what's possible with it has been a standout moment. The pace of innovation is fast, and we’re right at the front of it. 

What about the analytics side of the business? Will KNIME still be part of what you offer?

Ross: KNIME has been a cornerstone of our analytics practice for the best part of 10 years. This long-term, strategic partnership has and will continue to play a critical role in helping our customers unlock amazing value from their data, improve decision-making, and build incredibly innovative advanced analytics capabilities. With Prophix’s investment in this region, we’re in a strong position to further scale and strengthen what we’ve built – continuing to deliver advanced analytics solutions that drive real impact in this space. 

How does this shift improve your ability to serve global or enterprise clients? 

Ross: There’s no doubt that joining Prophix significantly enhances our ability to serve and support global and enterprise clients – both in scale and in sophistication. We now have direct access to international resources, global delivery frameworks, and enterprise-grade support structures. This means we can offer greater capabilities across time zones, faster implementation cycles, and tighter alignment with multinational teams. At the same time, we retain the local expertise, relationship-first approach, and on-the-ground presence that our clients have always valued. It’s the best of both worlds – global reach with the local focus and flexibility that we've been known for.   

What has impressed you most about the Prophix culture?

Ross: The openness to trying new things. There’s a continuous drive and encouragement across the organization to deliver more value for customers – not just in the product but in how teams think, collaborate, innovate and solve problems together. There’s a real sense of shared ambition across teams and time zones, and a willingness to work globally in a way that feels seamless. This level of energy and collaboration creates real momentum which is super exciting to be a part of.  

Looking ahead 10 years from now, what do you hope this move will mean for your team and your customers?

Ross: I’d love to see Prophix Australia recognized as the go-to partner for financial performance management and advanced analytics in the region.  For our customers, I hope this journey means they’ve continuously realized more value, solved increasingly complex problems and delivered deeper insights – powered by relentless innovation and a genuinely personalized experience. For our team, I hope it’s a time of new possibilities, meaningful growth, and plenty of fun experiences along the way. If in 10 years we’re still known for trusted relationships, great outcomes, and a team that loves what they do, just operating on a bigger stage, then we’ll have done this right. 

Discover how Prophix Australia brings the full suite of financial performance management solutions to teams across the region.