UPDATED: Calyx rejigs management after Brady departure

Managed services firm unveils new recruits as CEO takes new job at Southend United

Tara Brady, chief executive of Calyx Managed Services, has left his post - and the IT industry - to take on the top job at Southend United Football Club.

Brady (pictured) joined the services firm in June 2008 and was quickly elevated to the chief executive role. Under his guidance, the company moved away from its resale background to refocus on services provision.

After accumulating unmanageable debt levels, Calyx entered administration in September. A week later, it was acquired by private equity house Better Capital. The IT services firm has since spoken of its desire to get back in the acquisition game.

Speaking to the Southend United website, Brady said: "The chairman, Ron Martin, is well known to me, and I view this as a partnership to promote the club's success through the new stadium project. Relegation last year was a blow to everyone but now we are only looking forward, and I am highly motivated to help bring success to Southend United and the town."

Brady indicated to ChannelWeb that he would retain a non-executive directorship at Calyx. He added that he was looking forward to undertaking a challenge outside of the industry.

After being relegated last season, the Shrimpers currently lie 19th in League Two tablen. The Essex outfit has also had off-the-field problems of late, narrowly avoiding entering administration several times over the last 18 months.

Meanwhile Brady's former employer has acted quickly to reveal the new-look management team. Mark Thompson has joined from COA Solutions to take the reins at MentecPlus - Calyx's Irish software arm.

Martin Mackay takes over as managing director of Calyx Managed Services. During a 22-year IT career, Mackay has held senior positions at firms including Northgate and PeopleSoft. Most recently he served as international vice president of VeriSign.

"Customers' requirements are set to evolve rapidly towards public and private cloud based solutions, which means innovative managed services will become an even more critical component in IT infrastructures in the years ahead," said Mackay.

"Calyx is ideally placed to emerge as one of a handful of strong players in the fast-consolidating mid-market managed services segment."