Pure Data snags new sales boss for growth push

VAR adds ex-SICL director to its roster with sixth hire in six months

Leeds-based reseller Pure Data has hired Gary Saunders as sales director, the latest in a string of six hires in six months.

Saunders (pictured) joins the VAR from SICL, where he was director for over three years. While at SICL Saunders worked with current Pure Data chief operating officer Cliff Fox.

Fox said the hiring push is part of a strategy to get its staff numbers up from 82 to about 150 in the next three years.

He added that he hopes to add a further three acquisitions to Pure Data in the next three years, following its buyout of rival VAR Servatech in 2014.

"I've been with the business now for seven months. We created a new strategy in April. Key to that is obviously the right people in the right roles, to get us where we want to be and to develop the group. I've worked with Gary before so he was a very obvious part of what we are trying to achieve here," he said.

"We want to grow the group from its £20m revenue now to probably around £40m. We are very successful already but we can see opportunities to do more and do even better."

Pure Data Group is gearing up to undergo a brand and web presence revamp in the autumn as part of the new strategy.

Saunders, who will be responsible for the services division, said that the growth ambitions of the VAR are what attracted him to the position.

"It's the potential of where we can go as a group and the opportunity we have as a group. I think in two or three years' time this group will be a defining company in the technology sector. That opportunity is both exciting and challenging. It will be rewarding," he explained.