Nursery management software provider  Connect Childcare has announced the appointment of chairman Paul Kennedy.

News comes as the company plans to accelerate its growth strategy and bring true innovation to its next-generation early years education platform, by increasing functionality and delivering true value to its existing users. 

The appointment also coincides with the Lancashire-based firm securing additional funds from Seascape Capital Holdings Ltd.

Paul Kennedy is a highly experienced leader, having held a number of executive and non-executive positions over the last 25 years. His career has seen him work with FTSE 100, privately owned and private equity-backed organisations. 

During this time, he has built a wealth of experience in growing technology-enabled service businesses, across multiple sectors. Paul led his first management buyout for Inprova Group in 2008 despite turmoil in the financial markets during that time. 

He subsequently transformed the business into a multi-disciplinary services provider, operating in the procurement, payment services and public services arenas. Over a 15 year period, Paul executed a successful growth strategy, driven both organically and through acquisition across all areas of the group.

Now focusing on developing a portfolio as a non-executive chairman for solutions-driven businesses, Paul’s approach is guided by his passion for innovation, delivery — and establishing genuine partnering relationships that provide longevity and profit. 

Paul stated: “I’m delighted to be joining the Connect Childcare team. The business has a well-established, market-leading position and I look forward to working with Chris on accelerating the company’s growth plans.”

With the launch of new enquiries and parental onboarding modules ahead of the next nursery intake in September, Paul will have a ‘hands on’ role, working very closely with the leadership team at Connect Childcare to improve the Software-as-a-Service(SaaS) platform for its pre-existing 3,500-plus childcare settings. 

Commenting on Paul’s appointment,  Chris Reid, chief executive of Connect Childcare, said: “We’ve been in dialogue with Seascape for a number of months now. Although we’ve had the continued support of existing investors,  it was clear that Paul’s  passion for our vision, coupled with his wealth of experience in helping to scale businesses in our phase of growth, offered the right opportunity to revitalise our board structure.”