Celerity names Craig Aston as CEO to lead next phase of growth

Hybrid cloud and IT managed services, Celerity, has announced the appointment of Craig Aston as CEO. Formerly its Chief Operating Officer, Aston moves into the CEO role with immediate effect as the company embarks on its next phase of growth.

Founded in 2002, North West-based Celerity has established itself as a market leader in intelligent cybersecurity, data protection, and data visualisation services. With a turnover exceeding £40 million and team of 90, the company supports organisations through digital transformation and modernisation, helping optimise critical enterprise infrastructure.

Since securing a £15 million investment from growth capital investors BGF in 2021, Celerity has achieved significant and consistent growth driven by service diversification, strategic partnerships, and complementary acquisitions.

With over five years in post at Celerity, Aston’s promotion comes as part of the company’s long-term succession planning, designed to position it for continued success as founder Chris Roche stands aside to support in a non-executive capacity.

Craig Aston, CEO of Celerity, 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. He has been fundamental to the company’s success for over two decades, so it’s an honour to follow in his footsteps as CEO. The move is a long-planned next step in our journey – following milestones such as BGF’s investment – and I’m excited to lead our talented team as we continue to build for growth.”

Also read: 5 Key Elements of Robust Data Protection Strategy

As part of the leadership transition, Celerity has already taken steps to enhance its senior team. Mike Gowen has been appointed as Chief Revenue Officer and Graeme Smith has been named Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Departing CTO Chris Hall has also moved into a non-exec role.

Chris Roche commented: “I’m proud of what we’ve achieved at Celerity over the past two decades. This change marks another exciting new chapter for the company. Craig and the leadership team will continue driving our growth and I look forward to supporting Celerity in my new role as we build on our success and explore new opportunities.”

Celerity has been actively pursuing acquisition opportunities in recent months, acquiring Chilli IT in May to enhance its technical capabilities and offer complementary leading edge solutions to its expanding customer base.

Phil Male, Celerity’s Non-Executive Chair, said: “With Craig’s appointment, Celerity will double down on its growth strategy focused on diversifying its service offering, expanding into new sectors, and strategic M&A activity. The company’s strong organic growth, combined with its ability to integrate complementary businesses, positions it well for continued success.”

Harry Jones, BGF investor and a member of the Celerity board, added: “This is another key milestone in Celerity’s impressive journey. Craig will take the helm from Chris to provide continued growth and investment for the company; his appointment as CEO will ensure continued momentum to its ambitious plans while ensuring continuity with the progress already made.”