CHE Proximity strengthens Sydney technology team with key tech hires + national promotions

(Pictured L-R: Jacinta Karras, head of tech programs; Tim Chapman, technical director; Charlotte Bruton, head of innovation strategy; Kirill Frolov, technical director)

CHEP Tech, CHEP’s technology offering, has strengthened its Sydney team with new hires, including ex-Isobar engineering leaders, Tim Chapman and Kirill Frolov, alongside the promotion of Jacinta Karras to head of tech programs and Charlotte Bruton’s role expansion from head of mixed reality to head of innovation dtrategy.

Says Mark Gretton, chief technology officer of CHEP Tech: “Our technology services have experienced a significant surge in growth over the last 18 months, both through the impact of COVID- driven digital acceleration and major new client wins. Having grown one of the biggest on-shore development teams in the industry in our Melbourne office, it’s exciting to be accelerating growth of our Sydney team too with great new leadership to provide higher order technology consulting support on-the-ground.”

Chapman, previously a tech director at both Isobar and Ogilvy Sydney brings in over 17 years experience, including leading the rebuild of City of Sydney’s digital experience, AAMI Smart Plates App, Travelcorp’s ecommerce platform, Starlight Children’s Foundation and major platform initiatives for Microsoft.

Frolov, joins from Isobar Sydney where he led Isobar’s Adobe Practice. His recent achievements include supporting the rebuild of Macquarie Bank’s public-facing web channels, leading the launch of Mitsubishi’s Australia web experience and consulting on Toyota Finance’s new digital platform.

Karras was one of CHEP Sydney’s first employees and has rapidly grown into a key leader after delivering a huge program of works for key clients like Danone, IAG and Uniting.

Having successfully launched CHEP’s mixed reality practice and digital practice for Samsung, Bruton is looking forward to diversifying her remit to broader forms of emerging technology solutions in her new role as head of innovation strategy.

In addition to the Sydney promotions, Sharon Adams and Josh Speight in CHEP’s Melbourne team have also been promoted to director of digital operations and head of tech consulting respectively, further reinforcing the strength of the Melbourne technology operations and strategic leadership.