Craig Aston as CEO to Lead Next Phase of Growth

We are excited to announce the appointment of Craig Aston as our new CEO, effective immediately. Craig, who has been a key member of our leadership team as Chief Operating Officer, steps into the role of CEO as we continue to build on our success and position ourselves for further growth.

Over the last 22 years we have become a market leader in intelligent cybersecurity, data protection, and data visualisation services. With a turnover exceeding £40 million and a talented team of 90 professionals, we have been helping organisations navigate digital transformation and modernisation to optimise their critical enterprise infrastructure.

Since securing a £15 million investment from growth capital investor BGF in 2021, we have achieved significant growth, driven by our strategy of diversifying services, forming strategic partnerships, and acquiring complementary businesses. Craig’s promotion to CEO is part of our long-term succession planning to ensure continued success, as our founder Chris Roche transitions to a non-executive role to continue supporting Celerity.

Commenting on his appointment, Craig Aston said: "Chris’s vision and leadership have transformed Celerity from a leading infrastructure reseller into a cutting-edge provider of managed services for mission-critical IT solutions. I’m honoured to take on the role of CEO and to lead our talented team through this next stage of growth."

To support this leadership transition, we have strengthened our senior team with the appointment of Mike Gowen as Chief Revenue Officer and Graeme Smith as Chief Technology Officer. Meanwhile, departing CTO Chris Hall has also moved into a non-executive position to continue providing strategic input.

Chris Roche reflected: "I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved at Celerity over the past two decades. This leadership change marks an exciting new chapter, and I look forward to supporting Craig and the team as we continue to build on our success."

As we look ahead, we remain focused on our growth strategy, which includes diversifying our service offerings, expanding into new sectors, and pursuing strategic acquisitions. Recent moves, such as the acquisition of Chilli IT in May, demonstrate our commitment to enhancing our technical capabilities and expanding our solutions for an ever-growing customer base.

Phil Male, Celerity’s Non-Executive Chair, noted: “With Craig’s appointment, we are doubling down on our growth strategy, focusing on diversifying our services and expanding into new sectors. Our strong organic growth, combined with our ability to integrate complementary businesses, positions us well for continued success.”

Harry Jones, BGF investor and member of our board, added: “This is a key milestone in Celerity’s journey. Craig’s appointment as CEO will ensure we maintain momentum towards our ambitious growth plans while preserving the progress we’ve already made.”

We look forward to this exciting new chapter and are confident that, under Craig’s leadership, Celerity will continue to thrive and deliver exceptional value to our clients and partners.