razorblue, the Teeside and Salford-based managed IT, cloud, connectivity and security service provider has announced the appointment of Chris Lillie as chief operating officer.
The appointment follows the retirement of one of the firm’s original founders and outgoing COO, Chris Gill, who has been with the company since 2009, albeit with a break between 2015 and 2021.
Lillie brings more than 20 years of experience across the IT managed services sector, having progressed from frontline engineering and service desk roles, through to senior operational leadership.
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Before joining razorblue, he held a senior leadership position as head of cloud and service integration at CDW, where he gained extensive experience delivering complex managed services for large organisations.
Throughout his career, Lillie has focused on building high-performing teams, strengthening service operations and creating consistently positive outcomes for customers.
Dan Kitchen, CEO of razorblue, said: “We’re delighted to have Chris on board. His extensive experience and leadership style will no doubt be a key asset as we continue our growth plan.”
Lillie added: “Having gained extensive senior leadership experience within a global technology organisation, the opportunity to join an ambitious, growing managed services business was hugely appealing. razorblue has a strong reputation, talented people and a loyal customer base. My role is to build on those foundations as we scale and make sure the customer, and our core values, remain at the centre of every operational decision.
“For me, great service comes from clear accountability, capable people and a culture that is always looking for ways to improve. I’m direct and pragmatic in my approach, but I also believe strongly in listening to the people closest to the customer and giving teams the clarity and confidence they need to perform at their best. I want us to be honest about where we can improve, and act quickly to do so.”
Lillie adds that he can offer a straightforward, people-focused leadership style and the ability to combine strategic thinking with a practical understanding of frontline service delivery. Having started his career in technical and service desk roles, he also has a strong appreciation of the practical challenges teams face and the impact operational decisions have on customers.
