SPONSORED BY PUNCH ROBSON SOLICITORS
BUSINESS LEADER
FINALIST
JASON PRITCHARD ( SCALE DIGITAL VENTURES GROUP )
Winner – Punch Robson Solicitors managing partner Elaine McLane-Wood presents the Business Leader of the Year award to Salesfire ’ s Rich Himsworth .
WINNER
RICH HIMSWORTH ( SALESFIRE )
America here we come ! That was the message from Rich Himsworth , CEO of Middlesbrough-based software specialist Salesfire , after he was named Business Leader of the Year .
And as well as thanking his team , an emotional Rich dedicated the award to his late father Alan , who sadly died in January .
Rich said : “ I don ’ t think it ’ s anything to do with me personally – it ’ s being surrounded by the best possible team .
“ It ’ s been quite a journey , starting with us in a little room that if you walked around it , the floor was so damp your shoes would smell by the end of the day . There were live electrical wires hanging down in our first office – I think we ’ ve moved on quite a long way from there !
“ The next plans are to go overseas . We ’ ve already established teams in the US and the idea is to conquer America – they ’ re the plans we ’ re on with now .
“ Over the next 18 months , we ’ d like to establish that US base and then sell the products globally .”
But he was quick to stress how much Teesside – and winning a Tees Business Award – meant .
He said : “ It means a lot to me because your friends , your family , your home , your ecosystem is here – there ’ s an element of pride to it in anything you do , an element of punching above your weight .”
And at the heart of Salesfire ’ s operations is Rich ’ s insistence on putting employee wellbeing and professional development first – a champion of diversity and inclusion who has created a welcoming and supportive workplace .
SPONSOR ’ S MESSAGE
Punch Robson Solicitors managing partner Elaine McLaine-Wood said : “ Wow , what a night ! As one of Teesside ’ s leading law firms , Punch Robson Solicitors were proud to be involved in the inaugural Tees Business Awards , which were just a fantastic celebration of our region ’ s business community and a brilliant advert for the area .
“ We were blown away by the quality of the entries in our category – as well as the shortlists in the other categories we judged – and it was incredibly difficult to pick just three in the Business Leader of the Year award .
“ Rich Himsworth is a worthy winner and we offer him and everyone at Salesfire our warm congratulations . And well done again to finalists Jason Pritchard and Victoria Lynch , both of whom would also have been worthy winners of this award .
“ We look forward to being involved again in 2024 !”.
Jason ’ s career is even more admirable given that he was once unemployed and sleeping on a park bench . His first job was handing charity bags out – but when he focused on personal development , he rapidly worked his way up the career ladder to become group MD of Stockton-based Fitfactory – a software specialist currently helping more than 400 factories through their digital transformation journeys .
He joined as chief commercial officer in May 2021 and within six months had been promoted to group MD of SCALE Digital Ventures Group , comprising Fitfactory , DNA . am , Valuechain and SMS Technology . A team motivator both technically and emotionally , he oversaw a 40 per cent turnover growth in 2022 .
FINALIST
VICTORIA LYNCH ( ADDITIONAL LENGTHS )
Passionate about haircare since her early teens , Victoria started her business from a room in her parents ’ house . It now has three locations across Teesside , including Stockton ’ s Wellington Square , employs 27 staff and is the UK ’ s second-largest hair extensions company .
Also the brand creator of Remi Cachet hair extension methods and aftercare ranges , Victoria is responsible for all aspects of running the business . She has become a role model and mentor to inform and inspire her audience with her knowledge , skills and experience . But it ’ s her determination to offer a highquality customer experience that continues to drive Additional Lengths forward , seeing it grow exponentially over the past 12 months , increasing turnover and profit .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 37