OneSix Acquires CTI Data to Build Governed Foundations for Enterprise AI

CHICAGO, IL – January 08, 2026 – In a strategic move aimed at addressing the critical need for trustworthy artificial intelligence, data and AI services firm OneSix announced today its acquisition of CTI Data, a consultancy with three decades of experience in data management and governance. The merger creates a specialized entity designed to provide enterprises with the governed data foundations required to scale AI responsibly, particularly within the Snowflake cloud data ecosystem.

The acquisition is coupled with a significant leadership enhancement, as OneSix also welcomes Frank Farrall to its board. Farrall is a globally recognized executive known for scaling multi-hundred-million-dollar AI and digital businesses at Deloitte Digital and fostering strategic alliances with major cloud providers. Together, these moves signal OneSix's ambition to become a definitive leader in the rapidly expanding market for enterprise-grade AI solutions.

"AI success starts with trusted data," said Dave Kilimnik, Chief Executive Officer of OneSix, in the official announcement. "As demand for Snowflake-centric data and AI services continues to grow, this acquisition represents an important next step in OneSix's evolution. By joining forces with CTI Data, we're bringing together governed data foundations and advanced AI capabilities to help enterprises deploy AI responsibly, at scale, and with measurable business impact."

The Responsible AI Imperative

The timing of the acquisition is pivotal, as organizations across the globe grapple with the dual pressures of adopting AI for a competitive edge while navigating a complex web of ethical risks and regulatory demands. The market for AI governance is projected to soar, with some analysts predicting compound annual growth rates exceeding 25% over the next decade. This growth is fueled by new regulatory frameworks like the EU AI Act and the NIST AI Risk Management Framework, which are moving responsible AI from a philosophical ideal to a legal and operational necessity.

At the heart of this challenge lies the foundational issue of data quality and governance. The infamous "black box" problem, where AI models produce outcomes without clear explanations, is often a direct result of being trained on biased, incomplete, or poorly managed data. For enterprises, particularly those in regulated sectors, deploying such systems is not just a technical risk but a significant business and compliance liability. This is the core challenge the newly combined OneSix-CTI entity is built to address.

CTI Data, founded in 1994, brings deep, time-tested expertise in establishing trusted data ecosystems for clients in data-intensive fields like healthcare, life sciences, and higher education. These industries are bound by strict compliance mandates such as HIPAA and FERPA, making data integrity and governance non-negotiable. By integrating CTI's proficiency in data management, quality, and governance, OneSix can now offer a solution that begins not with the algorithm, but with the data itself, ensuring that the foundation for any AI initiative is secure, compliant, and trustworthy.

A New Powerhouse in the Snowflake Ecosystem

The merger also solidifies the company's strategic position within the burgeoning Snowflake ecosystem. As more enterprises select Snowflake as their central platform for data warehousing, analytics, and AI workloads, the demand for specialized consulting partners has exploded. The competitive landscape is crowded, featuring large global system integrators and smaller niche firms. The combined OneSix-CTI entity carves out a powerful niche by offering a truly end-to-end service portfolio on the platform.

Where many consultancies focus either on data engineering or machine learning, the new firm can guide clients through the entire lifecycle. This begins with CTI’s traditional strengths in migrating and governing data within complex hybrid and multi-cloud environments, and extends to OneSix's advanced capabilities in applied AI and machine learning. This holistic approach is designed to help clients not only implement Snowflake but also maximize its value by building sophisticated, impactful AI applications on top of a well-governed data cloud.

"Joining OneSix gives us the scale and reach to do more of what we do best," stated Harry Kasparian, Founder and CEO of CTI. "Together, we can take on larger, more complex data, analytics, and AI initiatives and help clients turn trusted data foundations into insight, intelligence, and real business impact." This sentiment reflects the ambition to move beyond isolated projects and become a long-term strategic partner for enterprises on their data-driven journey.

Growth by Design: Strategy and Leadership

This acquisition is more than a simple combination of capabilities; it is a calculated strategic maneuver to accelerate growth and capture market leadership. The tech consulting industry is seeing a wave of consolidation as firms race to offer the specialized, full-stack solutions that clients now demand. By acquiring CTI, OneSix gains not only a portfolio of clients in high-value regulated industries but also a team of seasoned experts with a deep understanding of enterprise data challenges.

The appointment of Frank Farrall to the board is a critical component of this strategy. His track record at Deloitte Digital, where he was instrumental in shaping cloud and AI strategy and building a business unit valued at over $500 million, speaks directly to OneSix's growth aspirations. Farrall's experience in leading strategic alliances with Snowflake, Google Cloud, AWS, and Salesforce provides the new entity with invaluable insight and connectivity at the highest levels of the cloud industry. His presence signals a clear intent to scale the business aggressively and compete with top-tier consultancies.

This deliberate strategy—combining deep governance expertise, advanced AI capabilities, and proven leadership for scaling—positions the firm to capitalize on the next phase of enterprise AI adoption. The focus is shifting from experimental proofs-of-concept to production-grade, mission-critical AI systems that deliver tangible business outcomes, a shift that requires the precise blend of skills that OneSix and CTI Data now offer together.