Sales recruitment and training specialist Furza has promoted Ashleigh Cocker to the newly created role of northern sales director as the business builds on its strong growth.
Cocker joined Furza in 2022 as senior business development manager and was promoted to head of business development the following year.
In her new role, she will lead Furza’s northern sales operation, driving growth across new and existing accounts while developing the wider regional team.
Cocker has almost 10 years’ experience in business development, having previously held positions at Open ECX, THG Ingenuity and Randstad-owned Pareto.
She said: “I’m proud to be stepping into this new role after nearly four years at Furza. I joined the business in its very early days, and it’s been amazing to have been part of our journey so far. We’ve built a strong offering and I’m looking forward to taking it further.”
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Furza, which is headquartered in Salford and has an office in London, works with fast-growth companies to recruit, train and build their commercial teams, from early-career sales staff and account managers to sales directors and revenue leaders.
The company increased revenue by 37 per cent in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year, reflecting continued investment in the team, the introduction of additional services and new client wins.
Furza recently launched new offerings as part of a restructure to support further expansion and respond to client demand.
These include Furza Talent, focused on executive search, and Furza Enable, which provides outsourced management, training and development programmes for in-house sales teams within fast-growth businesses.
Furza Training delivers bespoke and modular programmes for existing sales teams, while Furza Advisory provides advice on sales strategy, team structure, processes and onboarding.
The company works with clients across sectors including IT, software, legal, publishing, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing. Its Salford headquarters are at Bruntwood’s Riverside complex on New Bailey Street.
Chief executive Mark Rothwell said: “Ashleigh’s promotion is thoroughly deserved and reflects the outstanding contribution she has made to Furza over the past four years.
“She has played a pivotal role in our progress, consistently delivering outstanding results while supporting and inspiring those around her.
“As we continue to strengthen our national presence, Ashleigh will play a key role in our expansion across the North.
“Creating this position represents a significant investment in the region and in the next phase of our evolution. We have every confidence that Ashleigh will make a tremendous impact.”
Furza has also promoted Rory Ferrier to business development manager. He joined the company last year as a business development executive.