Celerity makes first director change for 14 years

Former Datatec VP Craig Aston joins IBM partner as commercial director

Celerity has rejigged its director line-up for the first time in 14 years as it looks to bolster is managed services and infrastructure businesses.

Craig Aston (pictured) has joined the Preston-based integrator and IT services specialist from IT group Datatec, where he was European vice president for its financial services division.

Before that Aston spent 14 years at IBM, which Celerity counts as a key vendor.

Talking to CRN, Celerity managing director Chris Roche said the firm's former commercial director, Chris Wilson - who is 64 - has opted to take a step back from the business. Wilson will continue to help the company with ad-hoc projects.

"It's quite significant as we have had the same directors for 14 years," Roche said.

"It's key to the growth of the company moving forward because we have two business streams - infrastructure and managed services - and Craig has experience of growing both."

According to accounts filed on Companies House, Celerity's revenues for calendar 2015 rose 17 per cent to £15.9m, with £3.6m of that coming from two IBM mainframe contracts.

Roche - who founded Celerity in 2002 with fellow director Chris Hall - said 2016 revenues had powered up to about £21m or £22m.

"Everything grew last year," he said.

"It's about bolstering what we have - getting new logos and growing the business. We are very strong in public sector and finance."