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MANAGEMENT TEAM OF THE YEAR


Sponsored by:


Winner: Gamma


With an excellent chicken main course consumed, 350 satisfied diners reverted to their professional roles as dealmakers as they re-focused their minds on the alternative ‘main course’ of the evening – the five upcoming winners of 2015 Deals Awards.


First up was the Management Team award category – one with an important difference. It covers those people directly affected by a deal – the management teams of the companies involved – and is based on their success with a recent deal, and their commitment to the ongoing growth of their organisation.


As such, it was also the only award on the night not presented to professional advisers.


This year, the shortlist had a trio of impressive management teams from: The EPI Group, Gamma Communications, and Skyscape Cloud Services.


The management of The EPI Group, a Surrey-based seismic consultancy firm got the backing of Palatine Private Equity and RBS for a buyout. Led by Edward Bowen and Richard Bradley, EPI’s management team has delivered significant growth, with revenues increasing from £9 million in 2009 to £24m currently.


Gamma Communications, led by Bob Falconer, listed on AIM in October with a market capitalisation of £162.5m, pricing 44.1m shares at 187p each. The placing raised more than £82m for the selling shareholders. The Newbury-headquartered voice, data and mobile services specialist has shown rapid growth in recent years.


Skyscape Cloud Services, the cloud infrastructure company whose customers include the Home Office and HMRC, secured Business Growth Fund backing to support its rapid expansion. Set up by Jeff Thomas, Phil Dawson and Simon Hansford, in 2012, Farnborough- based Skyscape is definitely ‘one to watch’.


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – MAY 2015


Communications


With PwC sponsoring this category again this year, partner Jason Wakelam joined Tony Hawks on stage to announce the winner and present the award to – Gamma Communications.


Several supportive nominations for Gamma Communications mentioned the success of the company’s market listing on AIM. “The management team really came into their own during the IPO process..” and consequently is “…highly regarded in their industry and now in the City…”


One nomination noted that the management team had “ … driven significant growth in the business over a number of years, which has been converted to strong operating cashflows.” Another stated: “Management has been a driving force in developing the market for SIP services, and is focused on providing a single, easy-to-use single point of service for its partners and end users.” A third stated: “We have really come to appreciate that Gamma is a business of the highest quality.”


A plainly delighted Andrew Belshaw, finance director of Gamma Communications, said after receiving the award: “We are absolutely delighted to have won. We got an IPO away in October last year when very few were doing so, and we did that because we have a fantastic quality business with a strong management team and great staff as well. It was a team effort from everybody in the company.”


So, what’s the secret of that team effort? “Everybody is committed to Gamma and we look after one another. Our entire management team has been together for at least eight years; in fact I was the last to join almost eight years ago to the day. We have been a team that has stuck together through difficult years for the business community at large.” So, continuity, strong management, and quality business operations? “Yes.”


www.businessmag.co.uk


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