ELECTRONICS manufacturer Stadium Group has appointed Charles Peppiatt as its operations director.

Peppiatt joins the Hartlepool-based firm from FTSE 250 business Laird plc of London.

Since 2009 he has been vice-president of global operations at Laird Technologies, which specialises in network infrastructure, wireless connectivity, displays and industrial controls.

Most recently he had operational responsibility for a division with turnover of £300m and 6,000 staff.

Stadium chief executive Stephen Phipson said: “He brings considerable experience of the global electronics manufacturing industry which, coupled with other recent organisational enhancements, provides the management capacity for operational improvement and supports our growth aspirations for Stadium in the future.

“Charlie will lead one of the company’s new key initiatives, described during our recent interim results, to create value through leveraging our global operations.”

Peppiatt began his career with Laird in 1992 and has held a number of senior management positions.

After being located in Beijing for the last four years, he has a familiarity with China operations which Stadium said would benefit its global operations.

The Hartlepool firm employs around 100 people locally and has sites in Rugby and Chang Ping City in Guangdong.

Mr Phipson outlined major growth plans for the company after taking over from previous Stadium CEO Nigel Rogers last month.

He wants to wants to double turnover at the firm to £90m in three to five years and create dozens of jobs at its Hartlepool site.