M&A guru Ronnie Smith lands at TIG

Six Degrees and Spiritel deal maker takes non-exec role at managed services provider

A deal maker who has overseen acquisitions at Spiritel and Six Degrees has joined the board of managed services provider TIG.

Ronnie Smith, who is currently a director at buy-and-build comms provider Six Degrees, was today appointed as non-executive director at TIG, according to Companies House documentation.

Talking to CRN, TIG chief executive Des Lekerman confirmed the move and said Smith would help move the business "to the next level".

"He has become a non-executive director and has joined our board to help us address further acquisition opportunities," Lekerman said.

"We feel there is a good consolidation opportunity in the market."

Having undergone a management buyout in 2013, Microsoft and VMware partner TIG reported an operating profit of £99,000 and EBITDA of £445,000 on revenues of £5.7m in its financial year ending 31 March 2016.

Smith is currently corporate finance director at Six Degrees, a £67m-revenue comms provider that has grown rapidly through acquisition since its formation in 2011. Before that, he was CFO at another buy-and-build player, Spiritel.

"Ronnie has got a wealth of experience having done many acquisitions for Six Degrees and Spiritel," said Lekerman.

"As a managed IT services provider, we have a fantastic platform business and an experienced board in place and Ronnie will help us move the business to the next level, and that's by acquisition."

Watford-based TIG, whose original founder Adam Maurice left and sold his 30 per cent last summer, recently launched a city office in Moorgate.

"We have come a long way since 2013, when we were making a loss, and are getting a lot of traction in the Microsoft space," Lekerman said.