The founders Newcastle digital agency Orange Bus have stepped down from the business, making way for a new chief executive to run the company.
The digital solutions business was first launched as a three-man team operating from an attic room above a shop in Jesmond, Newcastle, in 2006.
Now, the firm has 130 workers across its Newcastle headqarters and a London office, working with the likes of Formula One, Direct Line Group and Aston Martin Racing, with plans in place to set up further 海角视频 and international offices.
Three years on from a multimillion-pound acquisition by multinational Capita, founders Mike Parker and Julian Leighton are stepping down from their roles, paving the way for former chief commercial officer, James Hall, to be appointed chief executive officer.
The firm, based in Milburn House, has delivered on growth plans that saw revenues rocket by 23% in 2018, posting annual turnover of £9m amid projections of a further 25% increase in turnover for 2019.
Mr Leighton, who will continue in a brand ambassador role indefinitely, said: “We’re delighted to have reached this milestone - we’ve been focused on getting the right senior management team in place for some time now and it’s a great feeling to know Orange Bus is ready for its next phase of, what will undoubtedly be, exponential growth.
“It’s also great to still be a part of it, I’m very proud of the company and I’ll be here for as long as I can add value.”
The firm said its growth has been driven by contract wins in the utilities, retail and public sectors, particularly from complex organisations requiring solutions to better their digital engagement with staff and customers, to improve operational efficiency and customer experience.
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Its current portfolio includes a host of high-profile names including Porsche Motorsport, Mobilcom Debitel, BBC and Direct Line as well as HMRC and Government departments.
Orange Bus is now eyeing opportunities at home and overseas with Capita’s introduction of a new division, Capita Consulting.
Mr Hall has been instrumental in the company’s growth and transformation since he joined in 2017. Before joining Orange Bus he spent four years at energy services company Engie, where he led an international team developing smart digital solutions designed to improve the lives of local communities.
He said: “During the last year alone we’ve been building the management team with this transition and the future growth of the organisation in mind. It’s all formed part of the transformation we’ve been through whilst simultaneously increasing revenue and profit, which is a fantastic achievement.
“In this industry the potential for growth is huge; digital and technology consultancy are the fastest growing areas in the sector and are set to be worth £3.5bn globally.
“We help organisations capitalise on technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence, to improve the experience of their customers interactions, enabling them to attract new customers and retain current ones, which delivers real commercial value to our clients.
“I’m excited to be leading the company going forward as we enter this really exciting time. There’ll be growth across all of our capabilities - from service design consultants to developers and it’s fantastic to be able to do this in the North East.”