A senior appointment to support ambitious growth

Smarter Capital is pleased to announce the appointment of Martin Hargreaves as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately.

Martin joins the existing senior management team and will play a central role in the development and implementation of the group's future growth strategy.

His remit will include financial leadership, acquisitions, integration and the continued development of Smarter Capital's core digital-marketing and ecommerce activities.

Nine years of growth leadership at ITEC Connect

Martin brings substantial experience from ITEC Connect, a managed-technology provider based in the South West.

During nine years with the company, he served first as Finance Director and later as Managing Director, playing a pivotal role in driving significant growth.

Under his leadership, revenue increased from approximately £10 million to £45 million through a combination of strategic acquisitions and strong organic expansion.

Transforming a managed-print company into a technology partner

Martin also helped diversify ITEC Connect's service portfolio, supporting its evolution from a managed-print provider into a comprehensive technology partner.

The transformation broadened the company's proposition and created a stronger platform for continued growth across managed technology and business services.

Leading through acquisition and integration

ITEC Connect's growth journey culminated in its acquisition by Xerox Corporation in 2020 for £36.1 million.

Following the transaction, Martin led the integration of ITEC into the wider Xerox organisation while also spearheading the UK sales team.

This experience gives him direct knowledge of the full acquisition lifecycle, from scaling a business and preparing for sale through to post-transaction integration.

Financial acumen aligned with the group's expansion plans

Mark Callaghan said Martin's strategic insight and financial experience will play an important role in delivering Smarter Capital's expansion plans.

His appointment strengthens the leadership capability available to the group as it continues building its position across digital marketing, design, development and UK-focused ecommerce businesses.

Building on recent acquisition momentum

In the six months before Martin's appointment, Smarter Capital completed four strategic acquisitions.

Those transactions added an estimated £3 million to annual group revenue and demonstrated the company's commitment to acquisition-led growth.

The group set an ambitious objective of reaching £12 million in revenue by the end of 2024.

Joining a dynamic and forward-thinking business

Martin said he was delighted to join Smarter Capital and looked forward to working closely with the team.

He highlighted the group's growth trajectory and commitment to innovation as being closely aligned with his own professional values.

His focus will be on helping drive continued success and contributing to the company's future achievements.

The CFO's role in the next phase

As Chief Financial Officer, Martin will support the group across financial planning, management information, transaction evaluation, acquisition integration and strategic decision-making.

His experience scaling a technology business and working within a major international organisation provides a strong foundation for Smarter Capital's next phase of development.