Former CTI Digital CTO backs Cheshire hospitality agency GAZER

Rick Steckles, the former chief technology officer at CTI Digital, has invested a six-figure sum in GAZER, a Cheshire-based food, drink and hospitality marketing agency, Prolific North reports. The size of his stake was not disclosed.

Steckles joins as technical and insights director. His job is to build out OPTICS, GAZER's campaign evaluation product, which tests products, serve strategies, point-of-sale and activations in live hospitality venues before brands roll them out more widely.

"What attracted me to GAZER was its specialist understanding of the on-trade," Steckles said. Strategy and growth director Michael Potts called the investment an important milestone. The agency is also about to launch a rebrand.

It is a small deal, but a useful model: a specialist agency brings in an experienced operator as an investor and director, getting money and know-how in one move without a full sale.

Sources: Prolific North