Northgate Managed Services (NMS) is parting with long serving UK boss Andy Ross, sources have claimed.

His exit follows the unsuccessful efforts to find a buyer for the business, as revealed last September, with company insiders saying the asking price was simply too high.

The firm was hawked about by investment banker Jefferies International but the £100m price tag was way higher than bidders were prepared to match.

Northgate Information Solutions (NIS), comprising NMS, NorthgateArinso and Northgate Public Services was acquired by VC Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) for £593m in 2007.

Sources said KKR had "high expectations" for NMS, applying the same multiples when it took over the group.

"The star contract is the Northern Ireland Education Authority, it was nice little business but not worth the premium," said a channel source.

Ross rocked up at Northgate MS as chief executive in March 2004, prior to that he was sales director for Atos Origin, a principal consultant at KPMG and strategic sales exec at EDS.

Northgate refused to comment on any replacement being lined up for Ross. ®