Aliter recruits industry leader to head up network infrastructure services business
Aliter, the specialist investor focused on small to medium-size UK support services businesses, has appointed highly experienced business leader Simon Fieldhouse to spearhead the growth and development of ITM Communications (ITM), a market leading critical network infrastructure services business in its £134m Aliter Capital II fund.
Simon Fieldhouse has worked in senior leadership roles in the global technology sector over the past 20 years. His previous roles include CEO, Global MD, Chief Commercial Officer, non-executive director and board adviser, working with FTSE250 PLCs, private companies and VC and private equity backed organisations.
His track record includes successful start-up, scale up, transformation, M&A, integration and value creation, primarily in B2B network infrastructure managed services, hybrid cloud and software services. From 2019-2022, he was Global Managing Director at NCC Group PLC’s Software Resilience Global Division (FTSE250), where he led the $220m carve out acquisition and integration of Intellectual Property Management (IPM), a USA software escrow provider and division of Iron Mountain (NYSE: IRM).
The appointment of Fieldhouse follows Aliter’s investment in ITM earlier this year. ITM is a critical network infrastructure support and managed services provider, based in Milton Keynes. Fieldhouse will now work closely with the teams at ITM and Aliter to drive growth organically, whilst leading a nationwide buy and build strategy, to gain scale and a national footprint.
Aliter’s business strategy focuses on using its deep industrial expertise and broad networks to help drive both organic and acquisitive growth. Aliter will be actively looking to acquire complementary businesses as bolt-ons for its platform business, with particular interest in aspirational SME and mid-market specialists in critical infrastructure services, and adjacent sectors such as IoT, intelligent edge computing, safety and security, 5G, SDWAN and Data Centre and Colocation Services.
Simon Fieldhouse said, “I have been aware of Aliter for some time and have been thoroughly impressed with their pedigree in B2B support and managed services. Their recent investment in ITM and the critical network infrastructure services sector, provides a solid platform to support further organic growth, alongside a strategic buy and build strategy, to create a UK leader in critical infrastructure services.”
Aliter partner Greig Brown said: “We are pleased to have recruited Simon to lead the growth and development of this platform business. His wealth of experience in the technology sector speaks for itself. Aliter also has a strong track record in this sector and we look forward to working with Simon and the ITM team to realise a very promising future for the business. “
ITM supports ICT infrastructure, with expert capabilities in cabled and wireless connectivity, physical infrastructure, converged IP, offsite staging and logistics and site technical services. ITM director Mark Barber said: “The arrival of Simon with his track record, and wealth of knowledge and experience in the sector is a truly exciting prospect. This together with Aliter’s investment and support, will help us accelerate the next stage of ITM’s development.”
ENDS)
Issued on behalf of Aliter Capital by David Budge T: 07831 156333 E: david@budgepr.com
Background Information
About Aliter
Aliter was founded by a group of seasoned support services entrepreneurs and investors – Billy Allan, Greig Brown, Andy Galloway and Andrew Busby – and focuses on small and medium sized businesses in the UK support services sector, a market valued at over £300 billion. Its approach differs from traditional private equity models by making only a limited number of selective portfolio investments to deliver dedicated hands-on support. Aliter has now closed over 20 transactions since the beginning of 2017 (across Fund I and Fund II). www.alitercap.com
Aliter’s extensive buy and build experience in the ICT sector includes the growth and development of North, to become a leading force in the smart integrated technologies market. The first acquisition for the North platform was Boston Networks in 2018, followed by four more acquisitions, leading to the sale of the business to Livingbridge in 2021.