Sorted is a company which has been on the up for some years now.
Founded in 2010 by David Grimes with the launch of MyParcelDelivery.com, the company has gone from his parents’ kitchen table to a global software company targeting aggressive growth in the United States next year.
Rebranding as Sorted Group in 2017, the delivery platform now employs more than 115 people after acquiring fellow Manchester firm Clicksit, an automated returns startup. The majority of those are in technology roles.
Carmen Carey has served as a non-executive director at the company for the past two years and in September migrated into the role of CEO after securing board and investor support for its growth plan, with its latest round of investment – led by Chrysalis Investments and Arete Capital Partners – coming in at £30 million.
She describes herself as a ‘transformation CEO’. “Over the past 25 years I have spent my professional career in the B2B enterprise software market, namely helping to lead fast-growing SaaS businesses transformation, in order to realise scale and value,” she explains to TechBlast.
Her career began in Silicon Valley as VP (Americas) of global services at NASDAQ-traded BroadVision, where she ran a $100m P&L. After becoming a global executive, she moved to London in 2004 as COO of MessageLabs. “Since then, I have focused my career as a transformation CEO,” she says.
“I’ve led three successful exits – ControlCircle to Alternative Networks Group (now Daisy) for Scottish Equity Partners, Big Data Partnership to Teradata for Beringea, and an AIM delist transaction to Hanover Investors.
“Before being recently appointed as CEO at Sorted, I served on the boards of Arts Alliance Media, Brady. Therefore, I have a great understanding of board governance from executive and non-executive director perspectives.”
Sorted has made its name serving enterprise customers including ASOS and Asda and says the acquisition of Clicksit will bring industry-leading delivery experiences to the SME market for the first time.
Clicksit also has a growing number of US returns management customers. Carey is targeting US expansion with the Series C investment – and says the firm will ‘hire at pace’.
“We will continue to hire at pace over the coming months: we have recently moved to a hybrid working model, allowing staff to work from home, or from our new London and Manchester office spaces. Adopting this approach means we can recruit the best talent, nationwide.
“In terms of international expansion, the new funds will help support our US ambitions and maintain our very strong growth trajectory.
“The next stage of Sorted’s journey – and next journey in my professional career – is a thrilling prospect. The last 18 months has completely re-written the rules for online retail and delivery, marking this period as the most exciting time to be leading the industry as it undergoes significant change.”