Opencast Software, which specialises in building and running systems for global financial services, the government and key public bodies, has appointed internally and externally to its leadership team.

The new members are: 

• Tom Lawson, head of corporate development 

• Sam Manson, head of client relationships 

• Dave Sarginson, head of software development 

• Adam Coles, head of software engineering 

• Sheena Widdowfield, head of learning and culture 

They will work alongside founders Mike O’Brien and Charlie Hoult in shaping the organisation for its next phase of growth.   

Tom Lawson followed his degree in Internet Systems and E-business from Durham University with six years of programme management at BT Global Services, then nine years in digital transformation and consulting with Capgemini. He joined the Opencast team last month. 

Sam Manson completed a BA degree in European Studies at the University of Bradford, and at Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich. After working in Germany as a marketing executive, she returned to the UK to work with advertising agency McCann Erickson and then Orangebus before joining Opencast last year. 

Dave Sarginson followed his computing degree at Northumbria with eight years at Accenture and three years with fintech specialist JHC and has been with Opencast for four years. 

Adam Coles is a physics/computing graduate and certified scrum master who joined Opencast five years ago after a long career in the systems team at Northumbria Police. 

Sheena Widdowfield developed her skills as a business analyst at Barclaycard and has recently led on setting up the Agile BA network for the region. She has been with Opencast for over two years, working with NHS and Barclays. 

They join the senior leadership team alongside MD Carl Shovlin, chief technology officer Fiona Hobbs and financial controller Denise Power.