UK-based specialist engineering and technology recruitment firm Gattaca is appointing Kevin Freeguard as CEO and a member of its board of directors, effective Oct. 1.

Freeguard previously worked for Verifone as managing director for UK and Ireland from 2014 to 2018. Prior to this, he was managing director for De La Rue plc’s solutions division.

Gattaca’s previous CEO, Brian Wilkinson, stepped down in February, stating that he wished to retire from full-time executive roles.

Earlier this month, the group also announced that it intends to withdraw from a number of international markets in order to focus on more profitable territories.

Gattaca said it will withdraw from the contract telecommunications infrastructure markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It will also close operations in Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Qatar. The company added that as part of this process, it is also consolidating its London and Bromley offices to a single location at its London Cotton Centre premises. The group also announced that it is opening a new hub in the US.

The closures will release £7 million (US$9.0 million) in working capital before exit costs, and reduce net debt, Gattaca said. One-off restructuring costs are expected at approximately £3 million.

“The steps we are announcing today will place Gattaca on a firm footing for future growth,” said Chariman Patrick Shanley. “The withdrawal from these territories and Telco Infrastructure operations remove some very low margin business, which was tying up significant working capital and diluting the strength of our core operations.”