Member Article

Arena Group appoints finance director to aid growth

Wakefield-based Arena Group has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of a new finance director.

Francis Fitzpatrick, 49, joins Arena at a time when the rapidly-expanding print and document management firm sets out its long term strategy for organic growth and expansion through acquisition.

A qualified accountant, Mr Fitzpatrick has extensive experience in growing SMEs and was employed in a senior finance role at Remploy for five years prior to setting up his own consultancy business a year ago.

He will now take on overall responsibility for all financial activity at Arena Group and support managing director Adrian Fitzpatrick and the rest of the board in growing the business over the next five years.

Francis said: “Arena is a growing business with a small strategic team, exactly the kind of business I’m used to working for, and there’s a great opportunity for me to really get involved and help to shape the direction of the company.

“Having already demonstrated steady growth in terms of size, geographical spread and turnover in recent years, there’s a real appetite for the senior management team to take the business a step further and implement a new strategy which will see it expand into new regions and sectors.

“I’m hugely looking forward to supporting the development of a strategy that will build on the work done to date and see Arena improve both its top and bottom line, add to its regional office network and integrate other successful businesses into the Group.”

Adrian Fitzpatrick, managing director at Arena Group, added: “Francis is the perfect fit for our business and brings with him a wealth of experience which we know will help us to achieve our strategic growth plans.

“As a business we have doubled in size over recent years and we believe we’re now in a position to fuel the next growth strategy. Francis will play a key role in outlining and delivering both our organic and acquisition strategies and we’re sure he’ll bring a great deal to the table.”

Arena Group was established in 1991 by six employees, two of which are still with the business. It now employs 160 staff across six UK sites, with its Head Office in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

The company specialises in hard copy and electronic document management. It provides the hardware, software, service and expertise to enable organisations to cut costs, improve efficiencies and become more environmentally friendly. It operates in a variety of industries including: housing, education and professional services.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jodie Balmer .