Connect Communications Announces Management Buy-Out

Lloyds Development Capital (LDC) has backed a management buy-out (MBO) for unified communications specialist Connect Communications, by entrepreneur Alex Tupman.

The investment will be aimed at fuelling Connect’s growth, with a view to building a £100m managed IT services business. Tupman will step up as ceo of the company.

Connect already works with companies like Coca-Cola, HP, Barclays, Tupman and will be leading its expansion from the company’s London headquarters and various other offices around Europe.

“It has taken a little time to find such a high quality, well respected and differentiated business as Connect. The business has invested heavily in intelligent infrastructure and toolsets within its service center that can support enterprise clients on a global basis,” said Tupman in a statement.

“We aim to invest further in Connects’ asset light but technology-rich, unique capability; expanding our global reach, our channel and our penetration of the enterprise space, as well as expanding our service portfolio.”

Tupman, who is a previous Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year winner, added that he is looking forward to working with the current staff and board of Connect such as CTO Martin Cross and CFO David Rose. “We have an exciting future ahead of us,” he said.

Arman Khan, who has worked with Cross and Rose in Connect’s business, welcomed Tupman to the company and predicted success for the new team.

“Adding Alex’s experience and proven leadership gives Connect an exceptionally strong management team going forward,” he said, “plus the additional financial firepower from LDC to deliver on its expansion strategy.”

Connect Communications is a UC services specialist based in London, with offices in Paris and Frankfurt. It has worked with vendors like Microsoft and Avaya as well as clients in sectors such IT, finance, law, and technology.