HH managing director Robert MacMillan said: "Weve put in a massive amount of investment to have the best infrastructure. The missing link has been a really top-level technical director to drive things forward."

Barnes will join HH as group IT director in September, following his notice period, and will be tasked with strategic development of HHs e-technology service.

HH is currently planning further expansion in Europe and the Middle East.

"Weve got clients who want us to work further afield, who were already servicing on a pan-European basis," said MacMillan.