People: Sambro; Suttons Tankers; Sportive Breaks; Roxtec UK; Teledata; QASSS
Bury-based toy manufacturer and distributor Sambro International has made two senior promotions and one senior hire, solidifying its senior leadership team for 2023.
The global toy supplier has announced that Clare Rix has taken on the newly created role of Brand and Licensing Director, Ed Whieldon the role of Buying and Sourcing Director and John Mallett has joined the business in the role of Product Director.
As Brand and Licensing Director, Clare will have direct responsibility for nurturing and growing Sambro’s current licensor relationships, including key accounts such as Hasbro, Disney, Paramount, Mattel and more. She’ll also be responsible for developing relationships with new licensors, growing the number of brands the company supports.
Ed Whieldon will develop a sourcing strategy in line with the company’s growth plans with an ultimate objective of delivering quality product into value-led channels.
John Mallett will put his 10-years’ plus of creative experience to use, ensuring Sambro continues to excel in product development and innovations, both across its own IP brands and licensor brands.
The trio will join the senior leadership team’s existing five members taking the team to a total of eight as Sambro looks to future growth following its 25th anniversary last year.
The strengthened team will now have a renewed focus on product development and innovation, supporting Sambro’s wider growth aims.
Sambro, which grew its turnover by 38% in 2021 to £52m, is expected to announce similar growth in its end of year (2022) figures.
Paul Blackaby, CEO Sambro, said: “Our people are the biggest driver of our success here at Sambro and it is wonderful to see three of the new team include the promotion of two employees who have supported us on our growth journey for some time now.
“Each of them has the drive, determination, and passion we need to help us build further successes in 2023 and their roles in particular will really focus on our products and the ongoing development of our licensor portfolio, both of which are pivotal to our growth plans.
“Now we have the best leadership team we’ve ever had and it’s exciting to see how this new team with take us forward into 2023 and beyond.”
Clare Rix, Ed Whieldon and John Mallett join Ben Armstrong (Chief Finance Officer), Steve Hunt (Operations Director) Sara Greenhalgh (UK Commercial Sales Director) Eric Markus (European MD) and Denise Scott (HR Director) on the senior leadership team.
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Suttons Tankers has appointed Simon Williams to the role of general manager of waste, as part of the Widnes-based business’s growth strategy.
Simon Williams
The waste sector has been identified as an area of growth for the logistics provider. With more than 25 years’ experience, Simon will join an established team to strengthen the business’s offering to its existing customers, while aiding further development into this market.
Simon is an industry expert and brings technical knowledge and commercial experience gained from a long career in all areas of the waste supply chain. He will implement growth and oversee the day-to-day running of complex operations for the business in this sector.
Michael Cundy, Suttons Tankers managing director, welcomed Simon, saying: “With decades of experience in the waste sector he will strengthen our offering to customers.
“Under his guidance the business will further develop into this sector in line with our ambitious growth strategy, building and strengthening relationships with new and existing customers and continuing to bring high levels of safety and reliability.”
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Former pro cyclist, Matthew Holmes, has joined the team at Manchester-based Sportive Breaks.
Matthew has enjoyed a successful cycling career, most recently riding for UCI World Team Lotto-Soudal, with career highlights including a stage win at the Tour Down Under, completion of the Giro d’Italia in both 2020 and 2022 and obtaining a polka dot jersey on the Criterium du Dauphine and Paris Nice.
Holmes retires from professional sport this season, and his appointment at Sportive Breaks marks the start of an exciting new career path for the talented rider.
Sportive Breaks offers premium travel packages for cyclists looking to take part in Europe’s most prestigious cycling events, including Etape du Tour and Paris Roubaix, as well as organising international cycling breaks and weekenders.
Matthew Holmes
Holmes brings years of cycling and travel knowledge to the team at Sportive Breaks, and starts his new full-time position this week, in which he will be cultivating and developing bespoke travel packages for those looking to participate in the most prestigious and adventurous cycling events around the world.
He will also be a friendly face on the ground at some of the most popular 2023 events, giving customers the chance to cycle with a former world team rider.
Alex De Waard, director of destination sport experiences UK and Sportive Breaks, said: “We are thrilled to have Matt join us at Sportive Breaks, he will be a key asset to the logistics behind the preparation of our tours.
“We are also very much looking forward to having him join us on some of our 2023 events, and are confident that he’ll bring with him unrivaled wealth of experience and insight.”
Matthew said: “I’m extremely happy to be joining the team at Sportive Breaks. I have raced and trained abroad for most of my cycling career, so I feel I can understand the needs of the clients. I can’t wait to help create memorable trips.”
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Cable and pipe seal manufacturer, Roxtec UK, has strengthened its infrastructure and industry team with the appointment of Gavin Pettifor as Technical Sales Advisor.
He joins Greater Manchester-based Roxtec UK after spending several years in a similar role in the construction materials sector.
Gavin Pettifor
In his new position with Roxtec he will deliver support to the division’s sales team and business development managers. Gavin’s role includes project mapping and research as well as identifying new business opportunities.
His appointment comes as the international business is looking ahead to further growth in sectors ranging from rail infrastructure and pharma labs to factory automation.
Gavin said: “I’m really looking forward to developing my new role and the opportunities it presents. What attracted me to Roxtec was the breadth of sectors it works in. And as the global leader in pipe and cable safety seals, Roxtec is a name known across the world in multiple industries for its engineering excellence and its innovation.”
Roxtec entered the marketplace in 1990 and is now active in more than 80 markets worldwide. The British subsidiary of the £173m Swedish group has a turnover of more than £6m and a team of 20 based at its Waterfold Business Park head office in Bury.
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Following its acquisition by Datum Datacentres in September, Manchester data centre operator, Teledata, has started the new year with the announcement of four internal staff promotions.
Seb Graham, former Commercial Development Manager for Teledata, has been promoted to Group Head of Sales for the Datum Group. Vicki Edgley, HR Manager for Teledata, has taken the role of Head of People for the Datum Group. Anna Nicholls, former Head of Marketing for Teledata, has been promoted to Group Head of Marketing, and Lee Veitch, Teledata’s Data Centre Supervisor, has been promoted to Data Centre Manager at Teledata.
These internal promotions follow two new hires for Teledata in the past month – Luke Carter joined the business as Infrastructure Engineer in December while Kane Friend has been hired as 1st line/2nd line support engineer.
Further key department heads at Teledata will be taking on critical responsibilities as the group continues to grow its service and support portfolio to maximise combined capabilities. The group will be making further announcements to this end as it evolves further along its 2023 roadmap.
From left: Seb Graham, Vicki Edgley, Anna Nicholls, Lee Veitch,
Teledata was acquired by Farnborough-based data centre provider Datum Datacentres in September. This marked the first regional bolt-on acquisition for Datum as part of its regional expansion strategy. Datum was acquired by Funds managed by the UBS Asset Management (UBS-AM) Real Estate & Private Markets business (REPM) in September 2021, with the intention to expand into key regional markets.
Matt Edgley, Director for Teledata, said: “Teledata’s acquisition by Datum Datacentres presents a huge opportunity for growth, both at a business level and for our team. As we continue to expand our operations as a group with a national presence, it’s essential that we have the right people in roles. We’re proud to announce these very well-deserved staff promotions as we continue to build an outstanding team of people that is dedicated to providing enterprise-class service.”
Dominic Phillips, CEO of Datum, said: “I’d like to extend my congratulations to Seb, Vicki, Anna and Lee and wish them all the best in their new roles. We’re excited to be heading into 2023 as a group – our new national presence will allow us to better serve our partners and customers across the UK. There are exciting times ahead for the Datum Group and we’re delighted to have the Teledata team on board as we continue with the next stage of our expansion plans.”
Datum Group will build two new data centre facilities over the next 12 months. Scheduled to come online early 2024, FRN2 in Farnborough will provide 600 footprints on the ground floor, with scope to double this capacity on the first floor. MCR2 at the Teledata site in Manchester will offer up to 25,000 sq ft of space, 4MVA of power and more than 1,000 new server racks.
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Manchester-based QASSS, the resolution services provider to the home improvement and renewable energy sectors, has made two appointments as it kicks off its ambitious 2023 growth plans to almost triple its revenues.
Launched in 2021, the business has grown rapidly, already more than doubling its original headcount and taking on national clients including the Federation of Master Builders, SafeStyle UK, Barclays Partner Finance and Shawbrook Bank.
QASSS is now targeting 153% year-on-year revenue growth, which will see it grow its client count by 50% and double its headcount once again. Already joining the business this year are supply chain officer, Matthew Walker, and business development manager, Colin Niblock.
Matthew will be responsible for the procurement of QASSS’s contracting services, with a focus on rates schedules, compliance and legal frameworks, with the role becoming increasingly critical as QASSS’s network grows.
Ciaran Harkin and Scott Robinson
With a background in the home improvement sector, having run his own glazing company and, subsequently held senior commercial roles at organisations including Peninsula UK and SMAS Worksafe, Colin will be responsible for leading QASSS’s business development within the dispute resolution market.
As part of its growth plans, QASSS will be moving into new Manchester offices, rolling out a new career pathways programme, and launching five new services to the UK home improvement and renewable energy markets.
Ciarán Harkin, managing director of QASSS, said: “Thanks to our unique combination of human, technology and data resources, we’re able to help businesses and consumers resolve complaints, disputes and claims quickly, fairly and with as little stress as possible.
“Over the past two years our offering has proven incredibly popular, and we’ve quickly started using our expertise, innovation and experience to support clients right across the home improvement and renewable energy sectors. We’re looking forward to helping even more people in 2023 as we begin a year of exciting but sustainable growth.”
