UKFast promises 'improvements for resellers' after business splits

Tech firm separates as new MD tells CRN of the implications for its channel partners

UKFast has split into two arms and has provided guarantees to resellers as two managing directors are appointed.

The Manchester-based tech firm will break into UKFast and UKFast Enterprise. Current managing director Jonathan Bowers will head up the firm's enterprise division, while co-founder Gail Jones takes on the role of managing director of UKFast.

Jones (pictured), who is married to fellow co-founder Lawrence Jones, told CRN the firm has had an enterprise division for some time, with its own technical team and account managers, and it makes sense to have its own leadership team too.

"Our enterprise division accounts for 43 per cent of UKFast's annual turnover from just four per cent of the client base," she said.

"Ultimately, we recognised that the two sides of the business required different approaches - each set of clients has different needs and requirements - and as our focus is on delivering the best customer service, splitting the two felt like the most logical thing to do."

As for the implications for channel partners, Jones claimed that in separating the two arms of the business there will be "improvements across the board for resellers".

"While we have always had a focus on delivering the best level of service for all our clients, there is a huge range of value-added services that our larger clients and partners require," she said. "This area of support will now receive a much stronger focus from a fully dedicated team, while the same still holds true for our smaller channel partners."

Jones insisted she plans to be a managing director "who listens" and foresees no problems with fellow boss Bowers.

"There are guaranteed to be decisions that need to be made between me and Jonathan, and others that will be completely separate - it will certainly be a bit of both," Jones added.

"We're a team and we both have areas of expertise that will continue across the business as a whole."