26 Jun 2013 07:00
June 26th, 2013
blur (Group) plc
("blur," the "Group" or the "Company")
Board and Management Appointments
Former Sporting Index CFO joins blur Group to drive the next phase of global growth
blur (Group) plc, (LSE AIM: BLUR), the company that's reinventing commerce at blurgroup.com, today announced the appointment to the board of James Davis as Group CFO, to be effective as of 29 July 2013. The appointment strengthens blur's finance team in terms of both strategic and operational capabilities, supporting blur's rapid growth and plans in the light of its recently over-subscribed secondary $11.5m raise.
James has an outstanding pedigree of working with online exchanges and digital businesses including Sporting Index, the online sports gaming group. Most recently James was CFO of Four Cross Media, a network of businesses in the USA, India and Singapore that was established in 2010 to marry the best of Western and Asian know-how in the media services space.
A Chartered Accountant, James began his career with accountancy firm Saffery Champness before joining Rollover, a retail operator in the fast food industry. As the CFO of Sporting Index James was responsible for all financial matters, including its M&A and fund-raising activities and was part of the Executive team which led the group through two successful management buy-outs. He is also Non-Executive Director of Centurion Safety Products.
In a second appointment to the finance team, Paul Bennett, a qualified ACCA accountant, will be joining the Company as Financial Controller. Paul has extensive experience in international finance operations with detailed knowledge of accounting systems and implementation as well as financial management and reporting. Most recently, Paul was Group Financial Controller at MoneyCorp Group, and previously held senior finance positions at Hedge Fund firms Forsyth Group and Prologue Capital where he was Finance & Compliance Manager.
Following a structured handover, Paul will be taking over from Belinda Wrigley, and will report into James Davis. The Board thanks Belinda for her contribution to the success of the Company to date and wishes her well in the future.
Philip Letts, CEO blur (Group) plc, said: "As blur Group seeks to capitalise on its share of the $2tn global services industry, the finance team becomes a cornerstone of this growth, both operationally and at a strategic level. James brings an exceptional track record in online Exchanges from Sporting Index and detailed knowledge of the b2b technology and digital space globally to create just the dynamic leadership we need. Paul's extensive experience will ensure continued strong financial controls and reporting at an operational level. These hires are key to building on blur's incredible momentum to date and provide strong management for all our stakeholder communities."
James Davis, incoming Group CFO, blur Group plc, said: "I am delighted to be joining blur Group at this exciting time with the Company experiencing such strong growth. The s-commerce market is showing really exciting dynamics, and I very much look forward to working with Philip and the rest of his team to help drive the Group forward."
Regulatory Information
James Edward Coleman Davis (aged 47) currently holds, and has during the last five years immediately preceding the date of this announcement held, the following directorships or partnerships:
Current | Past |
Centurion Safety Products Limited Clairwood Limited | Four Cross Media Holdings 1 Cyprus Limited Four Cross Media Holdings 2 Cyprus Limited Four Cross Media Holdings 3 Cyprus Limited Four Cross Media Limited Four Cross Singapore Private Limited FCMCo 1 Limited ToTheNew Limited BK Communications Limited Tangerine Digital US Inc |
There are no other matters which are required to be announced as required under paragraph (g) of Schedule 2 of the AIM Rules.
-ENDS-
For further information please contact:
blur (Group) plc | investors.blurgroup.com |
Philip Letts, CEO/ Ravi Pau, PR Manager | Tel: +44 20 3176 0548 |
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N+1 Singer | |
Shaun Dobson / Matt Thomas | Tel: +44 20 7496 3000 |
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Newgate Threadneedle | |
Caroline Evans-Jones/ Josh Royston/ Hilary Millar | Tel: +44 20 7653 9850 |
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About blur (Group) plc at blurgroup.com
blur Group is a technology company reinventing how businesses do commerce at blurgroup.com. Its Global Services Exchange delivers services differently: a new way to buy, manage and pay for core services. Over 30,000 businesses in 141 countries have adopted this s-commerce platform and changed the way they work.
blur Group (BLUR) is a public company headquartered in the UK with offices in the US and Europe. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market. blur was founded in January 2006 and launched in alpha in 2007 with the full, formal launch of the Global Services Exchange in January 2010. At that time, just over three project briefs per month were submitted. Now 100 projects per month from companies like Broadridge, Coral, Exceed, HCA, Momentive, Red Commerce, the Financial Times, Berlitz, Butlins, GE Healthcare and Tyco are received. Over the same time, average brief value has grown from approximately $1,500 in 2010 to $10,800 in Q1 2013.
Today, more than 2,100 projects have been submitted with a combined value of over $32million. These have come from the US, UK, Europe, Africa and Asia with nearly 28,000 expert service providers on eight exchanges responding to them.