It's been another busy week for North West companies as they announced a raft of top hires and promotions over the last seven days.
The likes of top law firm Brabners have made changes to their teams as well as the group owned by former Manchester United star Gary Neville.
Below, BusinessLive profiles the latest top hires from all over the region.
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If you have a new or recent appointment or promotion that you would like featured in our next round up, please e-mail jon.robinson@reachplc.com.
Relentless Media
A former managing director of Manchester-based Social Chain has become the chief executive of Relentless Media.
Katy Leeson has joined the business which is part of the Gary Neville-led Relentless Group.
Writing on LinkedIn, she said: "As a team, we start with the responsibilities for the marketing and brand strategies of Salford City FC and The Overlap - which is an absolute dream come true.
"As a little girl, I grew up attending Oldham Athletic games with my dad. I got to experience first-hand the magic of watching your heroes play.
"And the thought alone of being able to get local children as excited to do the same with Salford is enough to make me emotional.
"I can’t wait to get creative, helping Salford FC to engage fans in totally new ways whilst also engaging the Salford community more broadly, reminding everyone that this is their club and we want to run it with them at the fore."
Banyan Software
Software investor Banyan Software has appointed Manchester-based Graham Carney as its first M&A director in the UK.
Mr Carney spent seven years at KPMG prior to holding a similar role at retail and technology giant THG.
Founded in 2016, the US-based Banyan Software specialises in acquiring, building and growing niche vertical market software businesses.
Mr Carney said: "I’m really excited to be joining Banyan. The company has forged a reputation for being a great permanent home for businesses rather than one that looks to resell them after only a few years which resonates closely with me.
"We see it as a long-term commitment. It’s about continuing to support and invest in the businesses that the owners have successfully built in order to drive sustained growth."
Realm Recruit
Altrincham-based legal recruitment consultancy Realm Recruit has welcomed a new consultant to its specialist team and made three promotions.
Maggie Rugadza joins as a recruiter specialising in commercial insurance roles.
Realm’s new hire comes shortly after three members of its existing team were promoted. Joseph Shenton has progressed from senior consultant to principal consultant; principal consultant Kelly Reid has been promoted to private client team lead; and office manager Rebecca Hopwood is now support team lead.
Managing director Duane Cormell said: "I’m really pleased to welcome Maggie to Realm and I’m confident she will be a fantastic resource not only for us, but for the multitude of firms acting in the highly specialised and competitive area of commercial insurance.
"I'm also delighted to have been able to promote Joseph, Kelly and Rebecca. All three have been with Realm since almost the very beginning and have made a fantastic contribution to the business during that period, whilst championing our core values of being human, dynamic and collaborative."
Lawton Hathaway
Daniel Hill has returned to Altrincham-based credit management solutions specialist Lawton Hathaway after founding the company in 2009.
Mr Hill, who helped steer the business before stepping back in 2015, has expertise in working in specialist white-labelled collections and debt recovery for clients with large consumer client bases and companies with high staff turnover, predominantly in the retail, hospitality, utility, and financial industries.
He said: "Having established Lawton Hathaway and making a success of the company in the early years, the time is now right to return and take the business to the next level offering a digital service to clients.
"More recently our payroll recovery service is seeing great interest, there are many companies who experience significant financial loss due to high staff turnover in their respective industries. Our offering supports those businesses with a solution."
Brabners
Law firm Brabners has appointed five new partners across its employment, litigation, corporate and real estate departments in its Manchester and Liverpool offices.
Employment lawyer Laura Darnley, litigation specialist Helen Otty, David Seddon (corporate), Helen Burns and Andrius Roos (both real estate) have been made partners.
Managing partner Nik White said: "This record number of promotions reflects the exceptional talent we have within our firm, and our ambition to continue growing our business through a blend of lateral hiring and promoting from within.
"This ethos has always underpinned our growth strategy and has been a big factor in our consistent recognition in the annual Best Companies List.
"After five years of consistent growth, the recent launch of our new team in Leeds and our impending office move to 100 Barbirolli Square in Manchester, it’s a really exciting time for our firm."
Haines Watts
Manchester-based Haines Watts has welcomed three new team members, with a further two internal promotions.
The new team members join across different departments, including audit, tax and tax incentives and reliefs.
Fariborz Dabirian and Bradley Steele have been hired as seniors, while Toby Denwood joined as an executive.
Robert Pooley and Donna Park have both been promoted to assistant managers.
Mr Pooley said: "It is extremely rewarding to be promoted to this position. Throughout my time at Haines Watts, I have been trained meticulously to ensure we deliver the high quality service expected from a Top 15 accountancy nationwide practice."
M247
Manchester-based M247 has appointed Simon Farley-Smith as product manager.
He will lead on unified communications and collaboration (UC&C), a key part of the suite of customer services offered by the company.
Mr Farley-Smith joins from Deloitte, with previous roles at Puzzel and Capgemini.
He said: "The recent changes in the way businesses operate means changing needs from the voice solutions that support both the business and the workforce.
"Some already use hosted services or incorporate Microsoft Teams as a long-term solution, but there are big changes coming down the line.
"The PSTN switch off means that even those businesses who have not yet explored alternative solutions will be forced to do so."
PJA
The Manchester branch of PJA has welcomed a new team member and moved to a bigger office.
Transport planning specialist Eddie Jackson has joined as an associate after previously working at Mott MacDonald.
The company's new office is located in Hilton Square in the Northern Quarter.
Director Chris Sibthorpe said: "I couldn’t be more proud of the team here in Manchester. Since we launched in June 2020, our office has gone from strength to strength in what have been really challenging circumstances."
ANS Group
ANS Group has appointed Richard Thompson as its first chief revenue officer.
He will take responsibility for the Manchester company's sales, marketing and commercial functions.
Mr Thompson joins the board following 20 years with telecoms giant TalkTalk, where he held roles including director of sales operations, marketing director and commercial director, before becoming a managing director within TalkTalk Business.
He said: "Having taken some time out to work out my next step after 20 years with TalkTalk, the opportunity at ANS felt like the perfect fit. I love to be the challenger, disrupting markets and generating huge growth. That’s what I saw in ANS.
"This is a Manchester-based tech business with amazing talent, a fantastic renovated workspace on the way, and a massive commitment to not only doubling EBITDA, but then seeing how we can push things even further.
"Hitting our targets depends on understanding what we're great at and making smart decisions, expanding our channels and continuing to invest in the best talent."
Cowgills
Accountancy and business advisory firm Cowgills has added to its team in Liverpool with the appointment of audit partner Helen Mills.
Helen Mills, who was previously at Haines Watts and Grant Thornton, joins the Liverpool team as the practice continues to grow following the opening of the Chapel Street office last year.
Managing partner Paul Stringer said: "Helen brings significant experience to Cowgills and her appointment is a further demonstration of our commitment to our clients in the area. We hope this will be the first in a series of appointments as we continue to invest in the region."
Helen Mills added: "It’s a really exciting time to join the business. I was very impressed with not only the opportunity to join a growing full-service team here in the city but also by the strong relationships Cowgills has with its clients and the team’s progressive approach to business."
Speedy Hire
Newton-le-Willows-headquartered Speedy Hire has appointed ex-IKEA UK & Ireland digital chief Paul Jackson.
Mr Jackson joins the national construction equipment hire and services provider as chief digital officer from furniture giant Ikea, where he held the same position in the UK & Ireland.
He will join the business’s executive board and will be responsible for enhancing the firm’s digital proposition across its customer base, from consumers to large contractors.
Mr Jackson said: "This is a really exciting time to join Speedy. The DIY market offers huge potential for growth and our 200-strong UK wide service centre network provides a fantastic foundation to build a digital strategy that will simplify and enhance the customer experience for consumers and businesses.
"This proposition, alongside the company’s clear sense of purpose in investing in its people, its communities and the environment, make this a compelling opportunity."
Knight Frank
Jason Gray has joined Knight Frank’s Manchester office as lead partner in the business rates team.
He said: "I am delighted to join Knight Frank – a business I have always admired and a true powerhouse in real estate consultancy with the highest professional standards and providing clients with the very best professional advice.
"In my 26 years practicing as a chartered surveyor, Knight Frank will be only the third company in my career and when they invited me to join them it was an opportunity I could simply not turn down.
"With the next national Rating Revaluation fast approaching in 2023, businesses across all sectors will need expert advice on the accuracy of their new assessments and if and how they should be challenged.
"The depth of knowledge and detailed research available at Knight Frank is second to none and a huge asset for helping companies plan their business strategies."
Apadmi
Digital technology consultancy Apadmi has added to its senior team with the appointment of Stu Lunn as UK managing director.
Headquartered in Manchester, and with further offices across the UK and Europe, 200-strong Apadmi is the digital product partner for organisations including Domino’s, Co-op, NHS, BBC, Chelsea Football Club, Co-op and Argos Financial Services.
Mr Lunn said: "Apadmi’s expertise is second to none and I’m thrilled to be joining as we take on the challenge of further national and international growth."
Lunn will take over the managing director responsibilities from M&A Director, Jasper van de Luijtgaarden, who returns to focus on M&A and overseeing Apadmi’s new Dutch office.
H&H Group
H&H Group has announced that Craig Norman, who farms at Little Orton, near Carlisle, is to join the board as a non-executive director.
Mr Norman has been involved in farming for most of his life and after completing his degree in business and economics at Durham University, he returned to Cumbria to join his parents and brother in the family business.
The Norman family farm is in the region of 400 acres and has a noted pedigree herd of Limousin cattle.
He said: "I am very pleased to have been invited to become a non-executive director and to be involved with such a large and diverse business.
"With so many changes, especially within the agri-sectors, it is more important than ever to keep abreast of the latest developments."
Exchange Chambers
Exchange Chambers has added to its family law team in Liverpool with the arrival of specialist children law practitioner Matt Rogan as a new member.
A solicitor since 2004, Mr Rogan has transferred to the Bar to join Exchange.
He has represented children, parents, family members and intervenors with much experience also of separately representing children in complex care proceedings or in the context of inherent jurisdiction High Court proceedings.
Mr Rogan said: "I was attracted to Exchange for a number of reasons.
"The Set has a track-record for welcoming former solicitors to the Bar while I also know the clerks and have for many years been instructing them as a solicitor.
"Exchange have been very welcoming and supportive and having been thinking about the move for a few years, my only regret is that I should have done it earlier."
Bridge Insurance Brokers
Manchester-headquartered Bridge Insurance Brokers has appointed Andre Backner and Alex Cohen to become members of the board of directors.
Both are the sons of Bridge founders Mike Backner and Gilbert Cohen and have worked with the company for most of their careers.
Mr Backner has moved from the London office to Manchester where he has been invited to be director and Mr Cohen invited to be the director based in the London office.
Mike Backner said: "Gilbert and I are incredibly proud of everything Bridge stands for and we both still love coming to work.
"That won’t change, but now is the right time to invite the next generation to the board of directors."
Martin Property Group
Phil Crowther has been appointed as acquisitions director of Martin Property Group’s new UK Living division in Manchester.
Formerly a director of Lambert Smith Hampton’s Manchester office, he is the first appointment of managing director Ian Scott.
Mr Crowther has worked in senior land-buying roles for Churchill Retirement Living Ltd and Story Homes previously.
He will be responsible for UK Living’s acquisition of land, housing, apartments and building stock suitable for Build to Rent (BtR), with a keen focus on the North West market.
He said: "Ian’s vision for the UK Living division is to be principally focused on property investment with some development in strategic locations.
"It’s a compelling proposition that really maximises the BtR potential in the North West, so it’s a pivotal and exciting time to join the business."
