Companies across the North West have announced more than 20 top appointments and promotions over the last week.
Business with operations in the likes of Manchester, Liverpool, Chester and further afield have been in contact with BusinessLive since our most recent North West round up.
Firms in sectors from as diverse as law, finance, marketing and recruitment are among those who have made a series of moves in the last seven days.
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.
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Here, BusinessLive runs through the latest North West appointments announced in the last week that you shouldn't miss.
MSIF
One of the most prominent business leaders in Liverpool has joined the board of a North West funding provider.
Paul Cherpeau has been appointed by MSIF as a non-executive director.
The CEO will become the chamber’s representative in its capacity as a guarantor of MSIF.
Neil Ashbridge who previously held this position, will remain on the MSIF board as an independent non-executive director.
Chester Business Club
A top legal professional and well-known figure in the Chester business community has been named vice chair of a city-based organisation.
Jan Chillery, insolvency partner at Aaron & Partners has been appointed vice chair of Chester Business Club, and is expected to become chair of the club in due course.
She said: "It’s a really exciting opportunity to get more involved in Club management. My focus as vice chair is to get to know members as well as I can. I want to find out what more we can do as a club and how members can help each other.
"Chester Business Club is a great organisation, warmly social and firmly promoting business in Chester. It provides a voice for the business community.
"Throughout my career, I’ve always had a strong social ethic and really enjoy communicating with businesses, helping individuals and companies and getting involved in things."
Shoosmiths
Shoosmiths has added new expertise to its construction practice with a partner hire in Manchester.
The law firm has recruited Ian Hardman who is a specialist non-contentious lawyer with over 20 years’ experience advising on construction and engineering matters.
He arrives from Weightmans where he was a partner and head of its Manchester construction team, working on key projects including a £250m distribution centre in the North West.
Mr Hardman said: "Shoosmiths is working on some of the UK’s most significant building projects. The firm’s construction team is commercially-minded and ambitious. However, what makes it truly stand out, is its ability to help clients de-risk and deliver transformational construction and engineering schemes, spanning infrastructure, commercial and residential property, and urban regeneration.
"It’s an exciting time to join Shoosmiths. Patrick, John and the wider construction team have laid strong foundations for growth and I’m looking forward to contributing to the practice’s long-term success."
Alliance Manchester Business School
Professor Raquel Ortega-Argilés has been appointed chair of regional economic development at Alliance Manchester Business School.
She will be based in the Innovation, Management and Policy (IMP) Division and will be a member of both The Productivity Institute (TPI), and the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (MIoIR).
She is expected to take up her new post on June 1.
Professor Ortega-Argilés said: "I am delighted to be joining the Alliance Manchester Business School as part of MIoIR and The Productivity Institute.
"This is a wonderful opportunity to further develop my work on the empirics on innovation, productivity and levelling up."
The Armstrong Partnership
Chester-based B2B marketing agency The Armstrong Partnership has promoted two of its team to senior level roles.
Maria Persia, formerly account director, is promoted to head of client services, while Simon Andrews moves from head of design to creative director.
The news comes after the firm announced a strong financial performance for 2021, with a 117% growth and turnover exceeding £3.4m.
Chief executive Daniel Owen said: "The year ahead looks incredibly promising for The Armstrong Partnership, with new projects underway and a growing team of talented individuals joining us.
"We wanted to strengthen our senior team from within the agency, both Maria and Simon are so well respected in their teams.
"Not only are they both highly skilled leaders, they are trusted implicitly and they also truly understand the Armstrong DNA. This is really important for me."
Savills
International real estate advisor Savills has expanded its northern planning team with two new recruits at the firm’s Manchester office.
Sophie Moore joins from Berrys where she worked as a planning consultant.
She has worked on a wide range of planning applications across a number of sectors including, residential, agricultural and commercial schemes.
The team has also recently recruited graduate Alex Wylie following completion of his masters degree in Planning at the University of Manchester.
Realm Recruit
Altrincham-based legal recruitment consultancy Realm Recruit has bolstered its specialist team with the appointment of two new members.
Sarah Cortez has joined the team as a junior consultant. She will be working closely alongside principal consultant Kelly Reid within Realm’s private client division.
The firm has also welcomed Chloe Whittaker as a junior PA. She previously worked in an administrative role within the NHS and will be working within Realm’s support division.
Managing director Duane Cormell said: "Sarah and Chloe join Realm at a very exciting time, following award wins at the Investing in Talent Awards, Greater Manchester Business Awards and Made in Manchester Awards – achievements that will further bolster our growth plans."
BDO
Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP has appointed senior tax specialist Ed Gibson as international tax partner.
Mr Gibson, who will be based in the North West, has nearly 20 years’ experience of handling the overseas tax affairs for businesses across the region. At
BDO, he will be responsible for advising mid-sized firms on a variety of international tax issues, including overseas expansion, cross-border transactions and international restructuring.
He said: "The world of international tax has been through a period of unprecedented change culminating in the recently announced global tax deal that will fundamentally change the way that many international businesses are taxed.
"Even those that are not directly affected by these changes must still navigate an increasingly complex and ever-changing international tax environment to balance the opportunities from international expansion against the potential pitfalls and risks."
Exchange Chambers
Barristers’ set Exchange Chambers has welcomed a QC as a new member in Manchester.
Anesta Weekes joins Exchange from 33 Bedford Row Chambers. She was called to the Bar in 1981 and took silk in 1999.
Chief executive Jonathan I’Anson said: "We are thrilled to welcome Anesta to Exchange.
"A distinguished QC with an outstanding reputation, Anesta is a great addition to Chambers."
Open ECX
Manchester-based Open ECX is celebrating its 10th year in business with a series of promotions.
The senior leadership team has welcomed the internal promotions of Stuart Costello, Amy Dickinson and Andrew Froude, who have been promoted to sales director, marketing director and chief technology officer, from head of sales, head of marketing and product director, respectively.
Further senior leadership promotions include Chris Mottram, who has been promoted from head of support to head of operations and delivery, as well as Nick Hearn, who has been promoted from account manager to head of business development.
Amy Chouvin has been promoted from sales development representative to sales development manager, Adam Cattermole, from sales development representative to business development manager, and finally, Matthew Gibbons, from clientsSuccess representative to account manager.
Wealth at Work
Liverpool-based financial wellbeing and retirement specialist Wealth at Work has hired Jerome Gudgeon as its new chief information technology officer.
He said: "I am thrilled to be joining the team to build on the existing services and launch new state-of-the art digital experiences for clients.
"It is fantastic to be able to innovate and make technological advancements with a leading player in financial wellbeing."
CEO David Cassidy added: "We are by definition a Fintech business, although we prefer to refer to ourselves as digitally enabled professionals.
"Our use of state of the art technology to provide our financial wellbeing services to millions of employees has been increasing rapidly in recent years and we intend to remain at the forefront in delivering these services to companies and occupational pension schemes alike. Jerome’s appointment is significant in helping us increase that momentum."
Weightmans
Law firm Weightmans has hired a new partner at its Manchester office.
Michael Balmer joins as part of the regulatory team, specialising in business and financial crime.
Formerly of Cartwright King, where he headed up their business crime and cybercrime teams, he has represented individuals and corporate bodies against the Serious Fraud Office, HMRC, NCA and CPS facing charges such as fraud, bribery and corruption, and money laundering.
