North West companies large and small have made a range of top hires and promotions over the last week.
The likes of online retail giants, law firms and consultancies have all made announcements recently.
Below, BusinessLive rounds up the latest hires and promotions we feel you should not miss.
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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.
Matalan
Liverpool-headquartered Matalan has appointed a new chief executive as it also put itself up for sale.
Nigel Oddy will take over the role on an interim basis from October 3, having previously been the CEO of New Look and chief executive of The Range.
Senior non-executive director Tim Isaacs will also become interim chairman, succeeding founder John Hargreaves who has stepped down to take part in the sales process.
Lichfields
Manchester planning and development consultancy Lichfields has announced several new appointments.
Alexandra Gavin and Josh Woollard join as senior planners at the firm's King Street office while Harry Russell, Abigail Knowles and Clover Long start as planners.
They are joined by economics consultant Tom Harrison, who will be part of the office’s economic team.
All six appointments will be working on a range of commercial, industrial, housing and leisure development projects alongside progressing business development initiatives across the Manchester and the wider North West of England region.
Simon Pemberton, senior director and head of Lichfields Manchester office, said: "The new appointments reflect our continued success and organic growth alongside the opportunity for career progression at Lichfields.
"Alexandra, Josh, Harry, Abigail, Clover and Tom will all be great additions to our team. They have some excellent experience, bringing even more depth to our services as we continue to grow off the back of a diverse, high quality client base and exciting portfolio of work."
Vypr
Manchester-based Vypr has appointed former Co-op chief product officer Adam Warburton to head its product development team.
Vypr’s clients include Marks & Spencer, Leon and Ella’s Kitchen.
Chief executive Kevin Baldwin said: "We are delighted to bring Adam into the Vypr team as we continue strengthening the consumer insight we offer to our clients.
"Adam’s outstanding experience and industry knowledge will inform our product roadmap and help us to attract the best talent to our product team."
SoMo
Manchester-based lending firm SoMo has added four new appointments.
Laurel Livesey joins as its newest underwriter, bringing the team to 12 members strong. In the newly-created role of valuations manager, Rachel Killeen will work alongside both the sales and underwriting teams to oversee the valuation process.
Greg Applewhaite is the sales team’s newest relationship director for the home counties while Damiano Lo Presti has joined SoMo as relationship executive.
Senior talent acquisition partner Lindsey O’Neill said: "It was important to strengthen our team to not only help support our growth but also maintain the quality customer service we are known for.
"Thanks to our popular Valuation Only product and market-leading Second Charge rates we’re lending more year on year."
Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers
A commercial litigation lawyer with over 18 years’ experience has joined the expanding litigation department at Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers.
Leigh Sunter, a chartered legal executive, is an expert in all aspects of commercial debt recovery.
Director Christopher Burke said: "Leigh is very welcome addition to our growing litigation department of nine staff members. She is very highly regarded and brings with her great client care, experience and pragmatism.
"Her appointment enables us to specialise more in specific areas of the law and I look forward to introducing her to our clients and helping her develop her career at Pearson."
Beever and Struthers
Accountants and business advisory firm Beever and Struthers has added to its not-for-profit team with two senior appointments.
Helen Knowles has joined from BDO as a director and Nonie Freeman has been hired from Crowe as a senior manager.
These latest hires take the number of dedicated and specialist staff in the not-for-profit team to over 100.
Sue Hutchinson, partner and head of charities, said: "Helen’s skills and experience across not-for-profit in both external and internal audit will expand the strength of the team nationally, and in particular drive our growing foothold in the further education sector forward."
Bromleys Solicitors
Four solicitors have been promoted to senior associate at Tameside law firm Bromleys.
The quartet are Anthony Theakston, Kate Allsop, Rachael Frankland and Francesca Rigby.
Senior and managing partner Mark Hirst said: "This round of promotions reflects the acknowledged expertise of each individual in their respective fields as well as recognising their dedication, the success they have achieved for their clients and their contribution to the growth of the firm.
"Anthony, Kate, Rachael and Francesca all have a great future here with Bromleys and are integral members of our growing team. Their promotions are very well-deserved."
Aaron and Partners
Chester-based law firm Aaron and Partners has announced its annual promotions.
The firm, which also has offices in Shrewsbury, Manchester and the Wirral, has confirmed a total of 11 new roles for its team, ranging from associates to partners.
Layla Barke-Jones and Phil Caton have both become partners. Solicitors Jennifer Harrison from the corporate and commercial team, Hannah Fynn from real estate, and Claire Hughes, who works in restructuring and insolvency, have all been promoted to senior associate level.
Debbie Dugdale, Jayne Bamford, Helen Alexander, Natalie Antenbring, Katie Hughes-Beddows and Michael Redston take up new roles as associates.
Beyond Law Group
Beyond Law Group’s specialist corporate and commercial practice, Beyond Corporate, has appointed partner Alistair Gregory in its litigation and dispute resolution team.
He said: "At this stage in my career I wanted to be part of something that was progressive, modern and which had a dynamic and vibrant culture.
"The group has created an inspiring working environment that is becoming increasingly attractive for clients and individuals, like me, who want to work in a positive, engaged and agile legal business."
Travcorp Holdings
BGF-backed, Chester-based Travcorp Holdings has added to its senior team with the appointment of Kate Wadeson from Sykes Holiday Cottages.
She joins the online travel operator as head of marketing, after 13 years at Sykes Holiday Cottages and brings over 20 years’ experience in travel marketing to the role – from direct mail to omni-channel contact strategies.
Chief executive Andrew Botterill said: "We are delighted to welcome someone of Kate’s calibre to Travcorp, after searching for many months for the ideal candidate to fill this vital role within our growing business.
"Our ambition is to become one of the largest B2C tour operators in the UK and this newly created position will be pivotal in ensuring we reach the next stage of our growth journey.
"Our marketing team is already benefiting from part of the multi-million pound investment BGF made into our business last November and over the next few months we expect to see positive changes as we look to expand our team further to help meet our strategic aims."
Stephensons
The Wigan-based law firm Stephensons has made a series of appointments and promotions in its family department.
Jack Chapman joins the firm as a solicitor having recently completed his law degree and legal practice course at the Nottingham School of Law.
Also joining the firm is Jamila Fatima, a newly-qualified solicitor with experience in a variety of children and family law matters.
Catherine Hudson and Nicola Horrocks have also begun solicitor training contracts.
Claire Pilling hasalso qualified as a CILEX Fellow and is now a chartered legal executive.
The department has also recruited two new paralegals; Özgü Horozal based in the firm’s Wigan office and Meerab Mazhar in the Manchester office.
Tim Galbraith has recently been accredited as a specialist by resolution in abduction and private children work.
Vita Group
Cheshire-based Vita Group has added to its senior leadership team.
Russell Hayes has been promoted to director of residential and will lead the businesses residential portfolio.
Chief executive Mark Stott said: "We’re delighted to promote Russell to director of residential of Vita Group, Russell has been a trusted employee delivering outstanding results since he joined the business, proving himself every step of the way.
"He will now lead the businesses residential portfolio at an incredibly exciting time for the business with new brands about to launch to market and new cities in the pipeline.
"We’re sure that Russell will continue to develop and exceed expectations as he helps drive the business forward."
Graham + Sibbald
Property agency and multi-disciplinary consultancy Graham + Sibbald has appointed a new director and associate across its Manchester and Glasgow offices.
Carole Latham has joined the firm as a director from Latham Davies, an RIBA Chartered Architects practice that she co-founded and ran for 15 years in Sheffield.
She said: "The incredible opportunity to be part of the G+S Architecture growth was clear. There is a wealth of expertise that we can complement with new skills.
"We will continue the collaboration across the different specialisms that delivers co-ordinated and well researched solutions.
"It’s a unique offer for the property sector and our clients – a property consultancy with its own in-house architecture department. Every feasibility study, offer and proposal becomes more informed, creative, marketable and deliverable with this level of experience."
Joining Graham + Sibbald as an associate, Rachel Murray has studied both interior design and building conservation.
Napthens
North West law firm Napthens has added two new members to its business recovery team, with the appointments of Stuart Beatson as legal director and Dominique Moore as business recovery executive.
Legal director Stuart Beatson said: "Napthens is a firm on a clear growth trajectory, that has been making waves in the regional market for a number of years.
"As we enter what is expected to be a difficult 12 to 18 months for the economy, businesses will be in need of our support as they navigate new challenges.
"Alongside Grahame, Laura and Dominique we’ll be focused on delivering specialist advice that makes a tangible impact on the success of our clients."
Liverpool Chamber
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce has nominated Alison Lobb as its next chair of the board.
The chamber will formalise the appointment at its annual general meeting on November 1, which will be for an initial period of three years.
She is the managing partner at Morecrofts Solicitors, former president of Liverpool Law Society and a founder of the Merseyside Independent Business Awards.
She said: "Liverpool Chamber is the authentic voice of business in the Liverpool City Region and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this organisation and its membership into a new era of development.
"I look forward to working with the board of directors and the excellent operational team to drive further improvements on behalf of our members and the wider business community, maximising our operational resources and demonstrating best practice and value to our stakeholders at a time of much economic uncertainty."
Brabners
Manchester and Liverpool law firm Brabners has added to its litigation team following the appointment of media, data and communications specialist Nick McAleenan as partner.
Mr McAleenan began his career by training with Brabners in 2003 and returns to the firm following 12 years with JMW as solicitor and partner in media law.
Managing partner Nik White said: "Nick’s expertise will complement and build on the existing skills within our litigation team, which continues to advise on some of the UK’s most high-profile disputes involving both businesses and individuals.
"His skills in data law will help us to further develop that niche specialism within the team. And his experience will help us to bring further success for clients in privacy and defamation disputes, which have recently included spearheading England Cricket captain Ben Stokes’ privacy claim against The Sun.
"He becomes the sixth partner to re-join us in recent years, which reflects our fast-growing position as one of the best firms to work for in the UK."
P3 People Management
An expert in leadership and management training has been appointed by HR services provider, P3 People Management in Altrincham.
Chloë Bisson has joined P3’s team as learning and development consultant and will be responsible for developing and leading the roll out of its new L&D leadership and management training programme.
Charlotte Dean, founder and managing director, said: "Chloë is a fantastic addition to our team and shares our values and passion to continually look for ways to support others, and to equip them with the tools and knowledge needed to not only reach their own full potential but to empower others to do the same.
"As huge advocates of L&D, we are beyond excited that Chloë is already busy developing our new Leadership and Management Training Programme which will be launched in the next few weeks and will be a fabulous way to celebrate P3’s 18th birthday next month."
Sugar PR
Sugar PR has appointed University of Manchester philosophy graduate Megan Browne as junior account executive.
Managing director Pete Davies said: "Megan has gained some vitally important skills throughout her degree, including critical thinking, researching and problem-solving skills which will make her a great asset to Sugar PR.
"Megan has also demonstrated creativity within her writing which I am certain will enable her to make a positive impact within the industry. I am looking forward to seeing her progress."
BGF
BGF has expanded its Manchester team with the appointment of Courtney Walker as investor.
She joins from Clearwater International where she worked as an associate in the M&A team, advising on deals ranging from £50m to £400m, including the firm’s first IPO.
Prior to this, she worked as an analyst at DC Advisory, predominantly focussing on buy-side transactions.
She said: "One of the things I loved about being on the sell-side was working with skilled entrepreneurs and management teams.
"At BGF, I'm really looking forward to continuing these relationships into the investment period and beyond, as I work alongside business owners and management teams to support them in achieving their strategic growth ambitions."
Belong
Sue Goldsmith has been appointed to the post of chief operating officer at not-for-profit care provider Belong, which operates eight dementia care villages and home care services across the North West.
A registered nurse and experienced social care professional, she was previously operations manager with the organisation and joins the executive team as Belong's outgoing COO, Stacey McCann, prepares to retire at the end of this month.
She will work alongside chief executive Martin Rix, who took the helm at Belong in April, and chief finance officer, Chris Hughes.
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