Comms-care picks Berry from Phoenix IT Group

Channel services provider claims staff flocking from weaker rivals to join its ranks

Comms-care has held up its capture of a Phoenix IT Group account director as evidence of its ability to attract high-calibre staff from rivals.

The channel services outfit has poached Phoenix account director Mark Berry at a time when its larger, debt-laden rival is known to be selling off some non-core assets.

Marketing director Richard Eglon claimed that Berry is just one in a growing line of staff Comms-care has nabbed from competitors as it continues to expand headcount in a consolidating market.

"Mark is a switched-on salesperson who wanted to be part of a business that is growing rather than declining," he said. "He has already brought us some exciting opportunities.

"We've seen a big increase in the past six to nine months in the calibre of personnel approaching us from not only Phoenix but all the large service providers. But they have to complement our existing proposition and have channel experience - end user is no good for us."

With 60 of the UK's top 100 VARs already using Comms-care for break-fix, the focus this year will be expanding into new services, Eglon said. It now has 200 staff and is gunning for £22m revenues in its financial year ending this month.

"Our break-fix business is now mature and we don't have a lot of competition in that space," he said.

"As we bring on new professional and managed services, it's key that we have the right type of people to sell that message."