Fast-growing e-commerce firm OnBuy has appointed experienced telecommunications and electronics executive Julian Browne as its new chief technology officer.
The Dorset company – the UK’s fourth-largest online marketplace – said Mr Browne would drive new technological plans it is set to reveal, and will be “full of significant improvements and new integrations”.
Mr Browne joins the Bournemouth-based firm after serving as CTO for consumer services start-up Comparison Technologies. He has also previously been head of engineering at energy smart home device manufacturer Hive and chief architect at O2.
OnBuy said Mr Browne had proven expertise in implementing digital and cultural transformations and would help bring its new tech campaign forward “at pace”.
Founder and chief executive Cas Paton said: “We are really excited to welcome Julian to the executive team at such a pivotal time for OnBuy.
“We have mega plans for the platform in the upcoming months and Julian’s vast experience, expertise, and true visionary mindset, combined with our ambition, will lead and further solidify our commitment to creating the best choice marketplace for retailers and customers alike.”
Mr Browne added “I feel I’ve joined OnBuy at a significant and exciting point in its journey, as it breaks free of its start-up roots to become a truly major player in the marketplace sector. I’m looking forward to helping scale the business to even greater heights.”
In March OnBuy was ranked among the fastest-growing companies in Europe by The Financial Times, with a 479% increase in revenue growth between 2017 and 2020 – rising from £394,000 to £2.2m.
With the announcement of its new base in Bournemouth town centre at the start of the year, OnBuy said it was looking to double its workforce by filling more than 100 roles, while it also has plans to open a base in Manchester.
Last year it recruited more than 80 new staff members, grew the number of sellers on its website by more than 50% to more than 11,000, and secured £35m of investment during a series A funding round.
