Firm strenthens its team

BUSINESS and staffing industry support provider Optionis has bolstered its executive team after recording an increase in annual pre-tax profits.
The Warrington-headquartered group has appointed Andy Hague, formerly managing director at human resources specialist Croner, as SME operations director.
Andy Gunson has oined as finance director from industrial recruitment firm Gap Personnel, where he spent just over two years in the same role.
They join chief executive Rob Crossland, managing director Derek Kelly and operations director Ifti Ahmed on the Optionis senior management team.
Pre-tax profits for 2013-14 increased from £2.5m to £2.7m on turnover of £316m, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation edged up from £5.32m to £5.33m.
Net assets more than doubled from £5.5m to £11.8m.
Derek Kelly said: “After a solid year of trading that supports our long-term strategy of sustainable growth, these two appointments will help us to take the business to the next level.
“Andy Gunson is a talented finance director who possesses first-class knowledge of the staffing industry – a key audience for us.
“At the same time Andy Hague’s experience of providing support services to small and medium-sized firms will be invaluable as we look to grow market share in that space.”
In addition to two offices on Centre Park in Warrington, Optionis has bases in London, Middleton in Greater Manchester and Poole and Dorchester in Dorset – employing around 250 people in total.
Pictured, left to right, are Ifti Ahmed, Andy Gunson, Derek Kelly and Andy Hague.