Sponge welcomes new CEO

Sponge Group is delighted to announce the appointment of its new Chief Executive Officer, Adam Poulter.

Adam’s remit is to create an integrated portfolio of international elearning services, initially from the four strategic investments in digital learning that Aliter Capital has made in the last 2 years. The focus will be on consolidating and expanding a domestic position in the UK whilst developing the businesses’ footprint in Europe and the USA.

Adam brings a wealth of international expertise from a career in private equity backed media-tech and SaaS businesses including platform buy and build.

Adam Poulter said: “Elearning markets have shown remarkable Covid resilience and Sponge’s growth has been particularly impressive. With a strong reputation, a highly valued brand, and global clients in pharmaceutical, tech and emerging FinPro, the business’ foundations are well set for further expansion.

"The emergence of business to hybrid, remote and agile offices are new corporate demands. Trusted partners to deliver compliance, upskill, onboarding, career progression and learning development are now Board’s priorities.

"I see Sponge’s ability to tailor or self-serve these new business needs, with elearning as a fundamental tool for motivating, inspiring and creating sustainable career progression, as the corporate promise we make to our partners”.

Billy Allan, Aliter Founding Partner and Chairman said: “We’re delighted to have Adam join the Board and lead the Sponge Group. This appointment follows a very successful deal origination focus resulting in the acquisition of Sponge, Bolt Learning, Skill Pill, and Idox Compliance, into the newly formed Sponge Group.

"With a strong pipeline of new business, a very solid balance sheet and Adam’s proven track record, the organisation is well placed to achieve its strategic goals.”

A proven track record of leadership

Adam is a media and tech services executive, formatively from the analogue side of the media and advertising industries, and then through the dotcom years, via convergence into digital and tech services. He has successful instances of M&A, and private equity, on both the buy and sell side, domestically and internationally. He has a proven record of integrating acquisitions, as well as delivering organic growth at exit.

He led the New York based start-up of Carlton Communications’ foray into the US cinema services business and its sale to Thomson S.A; was on the sell side of Carlyle Group’s $254 million exit of Vubiquity to Amdocs; of Liberty Media’s exit of Ascent Media to MacAndrews and Forbes; and prior to Sponge, CEO to KKR’s investment in Travelopia’s carve out of its non-core Education division.

You can follow Adam on Twitter.