Conex going for growth after buyout of partner

Aug 15 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

COMPANY managing director Garry Schonewald is planning for a period of sustained growth at his data communications firm after buying out his founding partner for £500,000.

Schonewald and Mark Douglass both left their jobs as BT engineers 21 years ago to establish Conex Data Communications.

Conex, which lists some of the region’s biggest companies, including Nissan, Sage, Greggs, Glaxo and Proctor and Gamble as clients, now employs 50 people at its Gateshead headquarters.

With annual revenues of £3m, Schonewald says he is planning for turnover growths of £500,000 over each of the next few years. Talks on the management buy-out between the business partners – who each owned 50% of Conex – began this time last year.

Conex’s senior management team now includes finance controller Joanne Smith, project engineers Alan Flannigan and Ian Butterfield. In May this year, Schonewald created a new position of sales and marketing manager which has been filled by Keith Rowe.

Schonewald said: “Mark and I started the business together 21 years ago after leaving BT. About this time last year, Mark said he would like to spend more time with his family and we came to an agreement where I became the sole owner of the company.

“I am now the sole director, the managing director and I believe we now have a strong management team in place to grow the business. This is a very exciting time for the business and we are planning for sustained growth of £500,000 a year over the coming years.

“We are looking for sustained growth over the coming years. Keith has been brought in to generate new avenues and I will look after the existing clients. I have some really loyal employees and I see the MBO as an opportunity not only to grow the business but also to reward the loyalty shown by some of the staff who have been with me over the years.”

Conex is one of the largest independent networking installation companies in the North of England. It offers a comprehensive design, installation and maintenance service for all aspects of local and wide-area networks.

Last year Conex closed its operation in Livingston, Scotland, and Castleford after restructuring the way it operated.

The company recently secured a contract to supply cabling and computing hardware for Sky retail – basically the sales point it established in shopping centres – and foresees major growth in the leisure and education sectors.