Ambitions for recruitment firm

Jan 28 2008 by Iain Laing, The Journal

THE new boss of a Newcastle recruitment group has ambitious plans to double the size of the business within the next five years.

Gary Watson, managing director of NEWgroup based on Collingwood Street, has set himself the target of hitting £7m turnover by 2013 after taking over day to day operations from founder Brian Sharpe.

Mr Watson is a well-known figure in the regional business community having formerly been head of commercial services at the North-East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) where he was responsible for providing a portfolio of products to help its 4,500 members in the region to grow.

He said: “We are keen to grow the company organically through further recruitment to our team, but also via acquisitions and joint ventures.

“While our aims for the company are ambitious, we feel they are realistic in light of the opportunities that are out there.”

Mr Sharpe handed over the reins after more than a decade of owning the business.

While it will not be easy to cut the ties and deliver his company into new hands, Mr Sharpe is confident to have found in Mr Watson a leader whose enthusiasm and ambition for the company match his own.

He said: “I have to confess it is difficult to let go of something that has been so much a part of my life up to now, but I’m extremely confident that Gary aims to take the firm on to even greater heights and I will of course follow its progress with interest.”

Mr Watson was attracted to the position at the head of NEWgroup because of the company’s impressive reputation as well as its potential for future growth.