The CEO of veteran Manchester plc Touchstar is to leave the firm after three decades of service.
Mark Hardy joined the developer of data collection and mobile computing solutions for industry in 1992, 10 years after it was founded and then known as Belgravium, as a business development director.
By 1997 he had worked his way up to managing director then was named CEO in 2005.
Touchstar, which has subsidiaries developing commercial applications for warehouse and logistics, telematics and tracking, proof of delivery, fuel and camera security, said it was targeting “a year of revenue growth and increased profitability”.
It has appointed Lynden Jones to succeed Hardy from 1st July 2025 “to accelerate the rate of development of the business”.
Jones, who has been with the company for over 14 years, is currently managing director of its subsidiary Touchstar ATC, where he has grown revenue 29% over the last two years and moved to a SaaS recurring revenue model.
Hardy will remain as a director and be available for consultancy for a year. Ian Martin will remain as chair.
Touchstar has a current market capitalisation of £6.6m. It intends to drive further investment in its fuel delivery business in overseas markets and build on the ability of its technology platform and solutions to be applied in a wider range of vertical sectors.
It also said it intended to return up to £1m to shareholders over the next year through share buybacks and dividend payments.
“Mark and I have worked hand in hand to transform this business. On behalf of the board, the company, all employees and myself I would like to thank him for his leadership and the opportunities that his work has created,” said Martin.
“Touchstar has an exciting future and I look forward to working with Mark and Lynden over the coming months as we transition with confidence and enthusiasm to new leadership.”