Annodata: We are a 'trailblazer' in the market

Newly installed CEO Rod Tonna-Barthet opens up on his plans at the Hertfordshire-based VAR

VAR Annodata has claimed it is a "trailblazer" in the market and pledged to continue widening its portfolio of services and unified communications offerings.

Speaking with CRN, the newly installed CEO Rod Tonna-Barthet (pictured), said: "I don't think we would be arrogant enough to say we are a market leader, because it depends on the market you are talking about, but I think we are a trailblazer.

"The moves we have made and the money we have invested, and will continue to invest, in the right acquisitions are [a] demonstration of that," he said.

Tonna-Barthet took the reins of CEO at Annodata in July, following founders Andrew and Tim Harman's decision to shift their focus from the day-to-day running of the business to forming its strategy. Tonna-Barthet was previously group sales director, a position that has been filled by Geoff Slaughter, who joined from print vendor Canon.

Tonna-Barthet said his tenure will not see a big deviation from the roadmap that the Harman brothers have set down.

"The strategy which Tim and Andrew [Harman] envisioned is on the money. The changes they have made are about them recognising as founders of the business that they have other interests. They want to make sure they have a management team they can trust, and I am really proud of the team we have got," he said.

The Hertfordshire-based company's strategy over the years has involved a number of acquisitions; with the firm acquiring VAR Keltec last November and print firm STS in February. These deals, along with its organic growth, have given Annodata a much wider portfolio of services, according to Tonna-Barthet.

"What we have now is three buckets; print professional services (PS), IT PS and communications PS," he said.

Annodata's acquisitive strategy is also not going to abate under his tenure, Tonna-Barthet said.

"I wouldn't give a time scale in terms of when the acquisition will be. But are we talking, and is there lots of dialogue out there? Yes there is. [This is] predominately in the IT managed services space and it's continuing to increase our IT services and unified communications to the client."

He also said that what gives Annodata an advantage over some of the larger firms in its space, is its ability to remain agile.

"I'm really excited about the opportunity we have in the market place. I think there are some organisations out there in the systems integration space that are very big. That gives us the opportunity, because we are not that type of scale and are more fleet of foot. One of our key strengths is to be able to move more dynamically."

For its 2014 fiscal year, Annodata's operating profit was at a record high of £5.2m, on sales of £57.3m. The firm has previously set itself the goal of becoming a £100m business by 2016.