Dxw digital, the London-based digital consultancy for public sector organisations, is set to open a new office in Leeds.
The Northern base will be led by Saul Cozens, the former head of the Home Office’s digital hub in Sheffield.
The firm said its new base will make it easier to work with a wider range of public sector organisations, as well as with local authorities in the North and Midlands.
“The Leeds region not only has a large public sector presence but it gives us access to a great talent pool that can help us build our capability,” said managing director Dave Mann.
“Leeds is the ideal choice for our first base outside London.”
Cozens has spent the last two years leading digital activies in the Home Office. Prior to that he helped set up Sheffield Digital, which works to grow digital businesses in Sheffield and the surrounding area.
He has previously worked with numerous public sector organisations, charities and business, including Comic Relief, DACS, NHSBSA and Money Advice Service, as an agile coach, executive mentor and digital team leader.
Cozens spent 10 years at Technophobia, helping to grow the organisation from a 30-person, £2 million-turnover business to a 90-person, £6 million division of a FTSE 100 corporation.
He said: “I’ve been impressed with the services dxw digital has delivered for public sector organisations. The team really understands what digital services are all about, and I’m looking forward to helping them deliver these to new regions.
“It’s vital that we build the same open and inclusive team culture in Leeds as exists in London. This has been key to dxw’s success and is one of the factors that convinced me to join them.”
On Cozens heading up the new office, Mann added: “Saul has the perfect pedigree to lead this new venture, with a combination of digital and commercial skills, and we’re all looking forward to working with him and learning from his experience.”