Kelway cheers 35 per cent sales hike

VAR that bought Elcom last year posts first-half sales of £55m and announces new chairman

VAR Kelway claims it is thwarting the dire market conditions after posting a 35 per cent growth in first-half turnover.

The HP Gold partner clawed in £55m revenue in the first six months of its fiscal 2008/9 and claimed it is continuing to take marketshare.

Net profits bulged 80 per cent to a “record high”, while the reseller said growth in infrastructure projects and other services work improved its margins.

Kelway also announced the appointment of a new non-executive chairman, Richard Barfield.

The VAR said it had completed the integration of Elcom ITG, which it snapped up from administration in June 2007 (Channelweb, June 11, 2007).

Phil Doye, chief executive officer at Kelway, said: “In market conditions widely recognised as some of the most difficult the IT industry has ever known, Kelway has continued to grow its revenues and take market share.”

Barfield, who was chief executive officer of technology staffing specialist Spring Group, between 2002 and 2006, said: “With continued revenue growth in the first half of its current financial year and a very strong balance sheet, the company has a solid financial platform for future growth and I look forward to working with Phil and his excellent team as Kelway embarks on the next leg of its exciting journey.”