Peter Birks appointed new CEO of Velstar, succeeds Dan Sheard

Peter Birks has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Velstar, a development and marketing agency headquartered in Liverpool and Leeds. The founder of Velstar, Dan Sheard, previously held the position of CEO and will now continue with the company as Founder. In his new role, Sheard plans to focus on accelerating the growth of the company's revenue, expanding the Velstar brand, and managing partner relationships.

The company announced that Peter Birks will join Velstar's board, which consists of Dan Sheard, Graham Withe—who serves as the company's Managing Director heading up marketing services—and four non-executive directors. Birks brings a wealth of experience to Velstar, having held senior positions such as Vice President European Retail for Staples, Business President EMEA Digital Marketing & Commercial Operations at Avnet, and CEO of Ryman & London Graphic Centre. He has been recognised for his efforts in leading the transformation of businesses from brick-and-mortar operations to omnichannel enterprises with a robust digital footprint.

Speaking on his new role, Birks stated, "I am very pleased to be given the opportunity to assist Velstar in its ambitious growth and change agenda. The Velstar group of companies has a deep talent pool, focusing on exceeding its clients' expectations and is poised to rapidly become one of the largest development and marketing agencies in the UK. I am grateful for the warm welcome I have received from my new colleagues at Velstar and look forward to our shared journey of client centricity and exceptional financial results."

Dan Sheard expressed optimism about Birks' appointment, noting, "In Peter, we are very fortunate to have found a very experienced leader, with a proven track record in growing and professionalising businesses, as well as in integrating acquisition targets. His experience will allow for a swift integration of the acquired businesses, and a larger focus on robust processes to support Velstar's main assets, our esteemed clients, and our excellent people."

Velstar's recent activities include the acquisitions of 9xb and We Teach CRO. Birks is expected to focus on the integration of these recent acquisitions as part of his new responsibilities. In addition, Velstar plans to continue its structured growth trajectory.

In his role as Founder, Sheard highlighted his excitement about concentrating on growing the Velstar brand and cultivating relationships with both existing and prospective customers. "I personally am very excited to be focusing on growing the Velstar brand further, by delighting our existing and attracting new customers, and managing our partner relationships," he said.

The agency currently employs around 120 people and has projected a revenue of GBP £10 million for the calendar year 2024. Velstar aims to establish itself as a leading player in the UK's development and marketing sector.