At a time of significant growth, South Shields-based Howell Technology Group (HTG) has announced the appointment of Graham Wight as chief executive officer.
Graham, 43, will work alongside managing director and founder, Kevin Howell and finance director, Sarah Howell, taking responsibility for the future strategy and direction of the business.
HTG, which was formed in 2005, is an IT consultancy specialising in digital consultancy and technology services, for clients in the public and private sectors.
The company’s expanding client base includes UK Government, finance, healthcare, utilities and education.
In addition to Graham’s appointment, the company has also hired two new consultants, bringing the headcount to 11 and, in line with its growth plans, this is anticipated to increase to 30 in the next year.
The company is based at One Trinity Green, South Shields, a managed workspace for new and growing companies, where it has recently acquired new office space, doubling its current occupation in anticipation of the expanding team. HTG already has a digital suite, which can be utilised to demonstrate new product offerings to potential customers as well as replicating existing or potential issues while moving to a full cloud or hybrid cloud hosted environment.
Graham, said: “We have a clear point of differentiation in what is a crowded IT consultancy market. Many organisations are looking to move their IT to the cloud and believe that this can be achieved simply through good planning. What many overlook are the legacy issues from their current IT infrastructure that can seriously impact on their ability to operate in the cloud. Very simply, we have the expertise to spot those issues at any stage and to provide the right solutions.
“Kevin and I have skills that complement one another and this is what is driving the business forward. Kevin and other members of the team have exceptional technical and solution design knowledge, which gives me the confidence to develop stretching targets for the business in full confidence that we have the ability to deliver.”
Graham began his career at the age of 17 with Nissan Yamato working as a computer technician. He has also been a senior programme manager for BT Global Services, and his most recent role was programme director at the North-East Combined Authority.
Kevin Howell, said: “I have known Graham since secondary school, our careers have followed similar paths working globally with enterprise clients over the years. His knowledge and expertise will be invaluable as we look to grow HTG’s client base and develop our presence globally as a digital market leader.
”We both have a passion for our region and we want to grow our business significantly in South Tyneside, employing talented, local people and offering high quality apprenticeships. We already invest in the borough via sponsorship of South Shields Football Club and Westoe Rugby Club and we have established strong links with a local school, Westoe Crown Primary, with whom we have donated significant numbers of computers and related equipment.”