TEES TECH AWARDS 2022
BUSINESS LEADER
SPONSORED BY PUNCH ROBSON SOLICITORS – @ PUNCHROBSONLAW
FINALIST
KIMBERLEY TURNER ( DOUBLE ELEVEN )
Stunned – ITS founder Malcolm Knott with Elaine McLaine-Wood , managing partner of category sponsor Punch Robson Solicitors .
WINNER
MALCOLM KNOTT ( ITS )
For Business Leader of the Year Malcolm Knott , it ’ s all about the team . Malcolm admits he was “ stunned ” to pick up the award . But when asked what might have clinched it for him , his reply is simple : “ The team I work with .” He said : “ The things we do , they happen because of the team – the project managers , the heads of department , everyone .
“ I ’ ve set the targets . I ’ ve said , ‘ This is how I think it should be ’ and they ’ ve just said , ‘ Bring it on ’. And they ’ ve taken more and more responsibility away from me over the last few years . That , more than anything , is what I ’ m happiest about .
“ In five years ’ time , I want to be able to go in to the building , have a cup of coffee and see some of the people I ’ m working with now still there and still growing the business .”
After starting his career at ICI in 1971 and spending almost 20 years specialising in fibres and engineering , Malcolm saw a gap in the marketplace for a high-quality tech-based solution provider that could offer a full range of industrial control and computing services .
In 1991 he left ICI to set up his own company – Industrial Technology Systems . And from its Middlesbrough base , it has grown into an award-winning company that offers a huge range of services to some of the world ’ s industry giants .
And while he admits he ’ s starting to take more of a back seat now , he ’ s still very much involved in shaping ITS ’ future .
SPONSOR ’ S MESSAGE
Punch Robson Solicitors managing partner Elaine McLaine-Wood said : “ We were delighted to sponsor the Tees Tech Awards for a third successive year since its launch and the event at Hardwick Hall this year was arguably the best yet – a fantastic celebration of the Tees region ’ s thriving tech and digital sector . We heard some amazing stories during what was a memorable night and we were proud to present the Business Leader of the Year award . We had the difficult task of shortlisting the entries to the final three , and you could have picked any one from Kimberley Turner , Malcolm Knott and Rich Himsworth as the overall winner , as they were all outstanding candidates for the accolade .”
It ’ s been an incredible two years for digital games firm Double Eleven – and playing a huge part has been finance director Kimberley Turner .
Driven and with a passion for the sector she operates in , she has overseen the recruitment of more than 200 staff at the firm ’ s HQ in Middlesbrough ’ s Boho One , as well as its office in Malaysia .
Colleagues say she ’ s the lynchpin of the company internally , ensuring everything runs efficiently and in a way that lends itself to the “ everyone is equal ” culture she operates by .
Described as a strategic business leader who always looks at the bigger picture , she believes in an international approach but is also a huge advocate of developing local talent .
FINALIST
RICH HIMSWORTH ( SALESFIRE )
The CEO and founder of ecommerce software company Salesfire , Rich took it from the Visualsoft Innovation Labs programme to become a £ 2m-a-year business , employing more than 50 people in its central Middlesbrough base and with more than 600 UK-based ecommerce retailers using their products .
He has been at the forefront of developing all of their five core products , as well as building the company ’ s sales and marketing process , which has led to acquiring customers such as Hamleys , SportsShoes . com and Rangers FC .
Recently , he has secured a round of investment which will take Salesfire to the next level and elevate the company to a 100-plusemployee business .
50 | Tees Business