AppointmentsGrowing tech firm makes two senior hires

Growing tech firm makes two senior hires

Manchester-based tech firm Shopblocks has made two key hires as part of its growth strategy.

The company, which produces bespoke ecommerce websites at scale, recently signed a six-year lease on 6,500 sq ft offices in No 1 St Peter’s Square in Stockport after closing a £1.2m funding round.

Kristian Hunt has joined as Chief Operating Officer from leading Manchester audio branding agency PHMG after an 18-month search.

Stacey MacNaught has also joined the board as non-executive director after advising the company on its SEO and follows the recent appointment of former Proactis Managing Director Craig Slater, as a non-executive director.

Hunt said: “I’m delighted to join Shopblocks on the next stage of their journey. I’m really excited by the potential and the projections for growth.”

CEO and co-founder Kevin Jones said he was delighted by the latest appointments.

“We’ve never had a COO before and it took us 18 months before finding the right one,” he said.

“It was always in our plan to recruit a third director alongside myself and my fellow co-founder Stewart Reynolds and Kristian has been able to hit the ground running.

“Kristian has come from a business in PHMG that has so many parallels to Shopblocks. He joined as account manager when they had 40 staff and rose up through the ranks and left when they’d grown to 500 staff.

“As for Stacey she’s one of the best digital marketing people there is and regularly speaks all over the world. She’s working very closely with our marketing team.”

Shopblocks was officially launched in 2018 after two years of planning and has doubled in revenue every year since and now has more than 1,500 customers worldwide.

Latest

Buying a franchise in the UK: What you need to know before investing

Buying a franchise can be an excellent way to start your own business while benefiting from an established brand and proven business model. Instead of...

Winding-up petitions hit three-year high as creditors lose patience, court data reveals 

Creditors are moving to shut down struggling companies at the fastest rate in at least three years, according to new figures obtained from the...

SAVVY Collective strengthens leadership team with appointment of Marcus Magee and Stephen Miles

CHESTER, CHESHIRE. July 21st, 2026 - SAVVY Collective has strengthened its senior leadership team with the appointment of two experienced hospitality leaders, naming Marcus Magee...

7 Practical ways Manchester businesses can strengthen their brand identity

Manchester recorded 23,541 new company registrations in 2025, making it one of the UK's most entrepreneurial cities. New businesses continue to open across sectors including retail,...
Subscribe to our newsletter
Business Manchester will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.
Don't miss

How is AI transforming digital business development?

Artificial intelligence has moved well beyond the experimental stage, as it now serves as a practical and widely adopted tool that drives real results...

Winding-up petitions hit three-year high as creditors lose patience, court data reveals 

Creditors are moving to shut down struggling companies at the fastest rate in at least three years, according to new figures obtained from the...

SAVVY Collective strengthens leadership team with appointment of Marcus Magee and Stephen Miles

CHESTER, CHESHIRE. July 21st, 2026 - SAVVY Collective has strengthened its senior leadership team with the appointment of two experienced hospitality leaders, naming Marcus Magee...

New Chapter for Kirkham Grammar as International Schools Group Commits to Long-Term Investment

Kirkham Grammar School is entering an exciting new chapter following the acquisition of the school by a leading international education group. The acquisition represents...

More News

Zen Internet strengthens business division with appointment of Jon Nowell

Rochdale based Zen Internet, the UK’s longest standing independent telecommunications and network connectivity provider, has appointed Jon Nowell as managing director of its Business...

Unhooked appointed to promote Oxford Innovation’s new Bolton centre

Stockport-based PR agency, Unhooked Communications, has been appointed to deliver the PR campaign for The Wellsprings, Oxford Innovation’s newest innovation centre in Bolton. Part of the...

CTI Digital appoints new CEO to drive innovation and growth

CTI Digital, the North West-based full-service digital agency, has appointed Chris Burgess as its new Chief Executive Officer to lead its growth strategy and...