CEO of Marlow's Softcat plc steps into board role

By Tom Kilkelly

3 August 2023

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Background iStock. Credit: SoftCat Plc.

Marlow-based IT infrastructure company Softcat Plc is undergoing a change in executive personnel, with current CEO Graeme Watt announcing that he will taking on a new role as chairman of the company.

Graham Charlton will assume the position of Softcat CEO from today (1 August), following eight years as Chief Financial Officer. Graham joined Softcat in 2015 following five years as Finance Director at Compare the Market.

Graeme's new role as non-executive chair comes as Martin Hellawell (former chair) steps down.

The announcement of this change was made last year in May amongst a series of other shifts within the company, including Richard Wyn Griffith taking up the position of Chief Commercial Officer.

Commenting on his new role as CEO Graham Charlton said: “Softcat is a unique Company made special by its people and culture. The prospects for us and our industry are as strong as ever, and becoming CEO is a privilege and an honour.”

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Graeme Watt will take a three month break before assuming the responsibilities of non executive chair. During his stint as CEO Softcat went from £1.08bn in 2018 to £2.5bn last year.

He said: ''Yesterday marked the end of my tenure as CEO at Softcat plc and today I embark on a non-executive career as Chairman of Softcat plc.
I have enjoyed all my roles and companies to a greater or lesser extent but Softcat has been my standout favourite role and company.

''Throughout my career I have worked alongside some great people and great partners. Thank you to all those who have put their trust in me over the years and a special thank you to Martin Hellawell who steps away from Softcat after an amazingly successful career as CEO and Chair.''

By Tom Kilkelly

Tom Kilkelly started working as a freelance journalist for The Business Magazine following his graduation from UCL in 2022.

During his studies Tom became very interested in the works of Irish authors including Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan).

His current role as a freelance business reporter is his first exposure to the world of business journalism. Working at TBM has given Tom the chance to really get to grips with the goings-on in the business hive that is the South East.