Circle IT recruits former Dell executive to help it hit £50m turnover

Former Dell UK education and networking boss Ken Harley joins as sales and marketing director

VAR Circle IT has turned to a former executive of one of its vendor partners, Dell, to help it scale from £10m to £50m turnover, and beyond.

Ken Harley has joined the Cardiff-based reseller as sales and marketing director.

He previously served stints as sales director of Dell's UK networking and education arms during an 11-year stint at the vendor, which is one of Circle IT's key allies.

"I've known Ken for years in his Dell role and he was very well thought of, so this is a major coup for us to fuel our growth to £50m and beyond," Circle IT CEO Roger Harry told CRN.

Circle IT's most recently filed numbers on Companies House show it recording an EBITDA of £233,000 on revenues of £9.1m for its fiscal year ending 30 November 2015.

But according to the firm, revenues rose to £10.6m in fiscal 2016, meaning it has grown by 375 per cent over the last five years.

Harry said he is in the process of securing funds to fuel Circle IT's growth, adding that the firm is now on three major frameworks, with more planned, and is also looking at acquisition.

In a statement, Harley said: "During my time at Dell I had the opportunity to work alongside Roger and his team at Circle IT and was always hugely impressed.

"We enjoyed a number of significant successes as partners and I aim to continue to build on those successes. Circle IT is a dynamic, energetic and rapidly growingly business with inspiring ambitions. Their future looks very exciting and I am very much looking forward to joining the team and being a part of that future."