Centerprise hires James Bird for vertical push

Industry veteran returns to the channel five years after exiting Stone

The founder of UK PC builder Stone has resurfaced in the industry after a five-year hiatus, joining Centerprise International in a new strategic post.

Bird exited Stone in 2012 after growing the Staffordshire-based firm to £74m revenues.

He joins Centerprise in the post of strategic sales consultant, where he will focus on winning new accounts and forging into new markets for the firm, which has traditionally focused on the MoD and wider public sector.

Since leaving Stone, Bird has worked as an investor and non-executive director for multiple firms in sectors including financial services and retail.

Bird said: "I'm delighted to join a long-standing and well respected business like Centerprise. It's always been a business that I've admired within the market.

"Since leaving the channel I've had many opportunities to return in various forms, but for me it had to be the right time and the right business. Centerprise and I share the same values of quality products backed by UK service excellence and I'm excited to help them to take that message to more organisations within the market over the coming years."

Centerprise CEO Jeremy Nash added: "Bringing [James] into the fold at Centerprise is part of a number of growth initiatives we have planned in the coming months to propel us towards an exciting and even more prosperous future."