People: CloudCoCo; Ardent; and more

Leeds-headquartered technology specialist, CloudCoCo, has made another strategic hire.

Head of cyber Mark Allen is the latest addition to the senior team, bringing with him 18 years of technical and commercial industry experience.

Having worked for a number of telecoms, software, and digital transformation organisations during his career, his last three roles have centred on strengthening the Managed Service Provider (MSP) offerings within UK Internet Service Providers.

Attracted by CloudCoCo’s ambition to become a modern MSP with a difference, he will now lead on the firm’s security offering.

His appointment follows Lee Thatcher joining CloudCoCo last quarter, as the newly-instated head of cloud.

In the same month, the business revealed an exclusive partnership with large-scale digital innovation specialist Abstract Tech, similarly based in Leeds. A strategic agreement was also unveiled with Ingram Micro UK, allowing CloudCoCo to offer vendor cloud solutions, such as Microsoft Azure, AWS and Google GCP.

CloudCoCo’s director of group sales, Gary Saunders, said: “We are well positioned to move customers to the cloud, for free. This completely contradicts long-standing misconceptions that a cloud journey is cost prohibitive.

“But as they continue on that journey, it is important that we understand and support them with improving their security posture — that’s where Mark comes in.

“Cyber will be a core pillar of our growth as we continue with our plan to reach £100m turnover, so as we advance our tech-agnostic position in the market, it’s critical we have ultra-experienced people in post to do the job.”

Allen added: “It’s a fantastic time to join CloudCoCo. The business is making waves in what is currently a crowded market, which sees most MSPs ultimately offering the same thing — everyone talks about being cloud agnostic, but few people are actually doing anything about it.

“I am excited by the opportunity to join the disruption.”

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A surveying and consents management practice has made a key hire to launch a new directorate as part of its growth plans.

Ardent, which has expertise in the transport, utilities, renewables and regeneration sectors, has recruited Tom Hacker to head its new Planning and Engagement team as a senior director after he spent eight years with WSP.

Hacker will be based from Ardent’s office in Leeds but the new service offering will be available to clients across the UK and Ireland via the company’s bases in London, Birmingham, Warrington, Glasgow and Dublin.

The initial focus will be around stakeholder engagement and consultation in the planning process for major infrastructure and regeneration schemes.

Ardent will not only invest in new staff in the new directorate – it could rise to 30 people in the next five years – it will also be using its own in-house ATLAS platform to deliver engagement and consultation services bespoke to each project and client.

The business recently rolled out a new look and brand after it surpassed £10m in turnover for the first time. The company has plans to double in size by 2026.

Hacker, who has more than 15 years’ experience in planning and stakeholder engagement on major infrastructure projects, said: “I have worked with Ardent for more than 10 years and kept a close eye on the company’s impressive growth.

“I have been hugely impressed by Ardent’s ambition moving forwards and I am happy to join this project.

“When we met, we talked about the present but the real focus was on where we wanted to be by 2025 and beyond.

“I am really excited to launch this new offer and start delivering fantastic work for clients across the UK.”

Richard Caten, Ardent CEO, said the new directorate and the arrival of Hacker was the latest piece in the jigsaw for the company.

He said: “We’re really pleased to bring in someone of Tom’s expertise and experience – and, most importantly, someone who shares our vision for the future of the business.

“The new Planning and Engagement Directorate complements our other services and means we can offer much more to clients on projects that have a positive impact both economically and socially.”

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TransPennine Express (TPE) has appointed a new operations development manager – Anita Wright.

Wright joined TPE as a qualified driver in October 2022, after previously working as both a driver and driver manager at East Midlands Rail.

She said: “It’s wonderful to see a good number of women who now work within the rail industry, especially within traditionally male dominated roles such as train drivers.

“Diversity, inclusion, and fun is part of the culture at TPE, and I truly feel like every career opportunity is open to anyone, regardless of their gender.

“After 14 years as a driver and driver instructor, and 10 years as a driver manager, I decided I was ready to take on a new challenge and after encouragement from my peers, pursued a new role within the operations team.

“As operations development manager I support the development of our drivers, conductors and traincrew management team. I’m really excited to get stuck into this new challenge.”

Kathryn O’Brien, customer service and operations director at TPE, added: “Anita is great example of the hard work we’re doing at TPE to break the stereotypes of traditional roles within the rail industry.

“It’s been a pleasure to work alongside Anita and I hope she will encourage other women to follow in her footsteps.”