Newspaper systems developer Atex is pushing harder into the Gulf region with the appointment of Mark Pacey as sales director in the Middle East.

He joins Atex from NTT Data where he was head of media and entertainment for the EMEA region. Based in Reading, he brings more than 20 years' experience in IT services, from hands-on technical through to strategic consulting, project management, business development and practice management.

He also worked in public sector, finance, manufacturing, not-for-profit and retail verticals and with partners including Microsoft and Oracle.

"With existing clients in Israel, Turkey and the UAE, we have the perfect base from which to increase our presence in the region, provide even better solutions and services, and continue to help newspapers, magazines, broadcasters, pure-play digital and online gaming businesses realise their objectives," he says.