Celerity Expands Leadership Team with New CFO Ed Brookes
Portfolio - People | Mar 12, 2025 | Business Cloud

Celerity, a hybrid cloud and IT managed services provider, has appointed Ed Brookes as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This appointment follows the hiring of Craig Aston as CEO in September 2024, marking a significant leadership reorganization within the company. With over twenty years of financial leadership experience, Brookes joins from Native Places and aims to enhance Celerity's financial processes and controls. The Lancashire-based firm, supported by a £15 million investment from BGF since 2021, has seen substantial growth through service diversification and strategic acquisitions. The addition of Brookes underscores Celerity's commitment to expanding into new markets and pursuing further acquisition opportunities while maintaining its trajectory of innovative solutions and sector leadership.
Sectors
- Technology
- Private Equity
Geography
- United Kingdom – Celerity is based in Lancashire, and the involvement of London-based Native Places further positions the geographic relevance within the UK.
Industry
- Technology – Celerity operates in the hybrid cloud and IT services sector, marking it as part of the larger technology industry.
- Private Equity – The involvement of BGF in supporting Celerity with a substantial investment places the context within the private equity industry.
Financials
- £15 million – The investment amount BGF provided to Celerity in 2021.
Participants
Name | Role | Type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Celerity | Target Company | Company | A hybrid cloud and IT managed services provider. |
BGF | Investor | Company | A private equity firm providing growth capital for Celerity. |
Ed Brookes | New CFO | Person | Recently appointed CFO of Celerity, previously CFO at Native Places. |
Craig Aston | CEO | Person | Recently appointed CEO of Celerity. |
Mike Gowan | CRO | Person | Recently appointed Chief Revenue Officer at Celerity. |
Graeme Smith | CTO | Person | Recently appointed Chief Technology Officer at Celerity. |
Native Places | Previous Employer of CFO | Company | London-based company where Ed Brookes previously served as CFO. |