Member Article

This week’s North East appointments

Newcastle-based Cavu Corporate Finance has strengthened its dealmaking team with the appointment of 34 year-old Rob Jones.

Rob has spent the last three years spearheading efforts to secure development capital or clients of FW Capital and prior to that was a memebr of PwC’s corporate finance team.

Shawn Bone, founder and director of Cavu Corporate Finance, said: “Rob is a key appointment for Cavu and strengthens our position in the North East market and further afield.

“His experience in helping clients secure equity funding for growth and development is a key skill at a time when many businesses are exploring ways to fund expansion plans using private equity and development capital. Rob’s appointment is a measure of confidence that both the deals markets and funding markets are improving rapidly.”

Jones joins Thomas Brunsnes, a former colleague of Bone’s, and Fiona Douglas and the team is supported by an advisory board which helps with the strategic positioning of the boutique.

North East law firm BHP Law has appointed two senior lawyers.

James McEwen has joined the firm’s Newcastle office as an associate and solicitor Rachel Fletcher has joined the firm’s Darlington and Teesside offices.

Both trained and qualified with London firms. James, who was born in Darlington and spent the first few years of his life in Great Lumley, near Durham before moving to London. He has been back in the North East for around ten years, working at firms on Teesside and Newcastle.

He said: “Commercial property is becoming more active as we emerge from the recession.

“There hasn’t been much enthusiasm over the last few years and that’s been problematic for developers and property owners, so it’s good news that the market is beginning to move.

Rachel, whose partner is a lecturer in maths at Durham University, worked in the property team of a London law firm for five years before spending a year in Albania where she specialised in new build development work.

She worked at Southampton University from 2009 in the research department focusing in the area of IT law, data protection, human rights and privacy.

Whilst working at the university, Rachel studied a masters degree in politics, receiving a distinction upon qualification in 2011.

BHP Law’s managing partner John Pratt said: “With the arrival of James and Rachel to our growing team of experienced lawyers we are uniquely placed to deal with any commercial property matter anywhere in the region.”

North Shields-based accountancy practice Blu Sky has recruited Elaine Spencer (left) as client account manager and Kirsten Brady (left) as management information specialist.

Elaine joins Blu Sky from a large independent and will be responsible for compliance management across a wide range of clients as well as tax and business planning.

She said: “Blu Sky is such an up and coming accountancy practice, they are very forward-thinking and I’m very excited for this opportunity to start a new chapter. It’s a great time to join the team when they are growing from strength to strength.”

Kirsten joins Blu Sky following three years at a national accountancy practice. Her role within the team includes the efficient production of management information and VAT returns.

She said: “I really enjoy the fact that there is such a variety of clients across so many sectors and together with the fact that Blu Sky is not your average, traditional accountancy practice makes this a great place to work.”

Ryecroft Glenton Chartered Accountants have appointed Peter Glenton (left) and Carl Swansbury (right) as partners in the firm.

Carl Swansbury, who heads Ryecroft Glenton’s growing Corporate Finance division, has an impressive track record for deal-making across the country.After qualifying as one of the UK’s youngest chartered accountants at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Newcastle in 2005, he moved to the RSM Tenon corporate finance team in Nottingham.

Since joining Ryecroft Glenton and establishing RGCF in May 2011, Carl Swansbury has been successful in developing the firm’s corporate finance division and has won a number of awards.

Carl said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as a partner in Ryecroft Glenton. At RGCF we’ve successfully advised on a number of transactions for many businesses across the country, helping owners and directors deliver their personal and business aspirations.”

Peter Glenton, having read law at Oxford University, qualified as a solicitor with the city firm of Allen & Overy in 2003 in its corporate finance department. Peter moved back to the North East in 2005, qualifying as a chartered accountant with Ryecroft Glenton and as a financial adviser with the firm’s wealth management division, Portland Financial Management Limited, which he heads up.

Peter’s multi-disciplinary experience and his knowledge of the detailed interface between legal, fiscal and financial matters is highly valued by clients and the firm, including Ryecroft Glenton Corporate Finance.

Newcastle based electro mechanical engineering specialist Houghton International has appointed Barry Goddard as finance director.

The company pioneers technical and commercial innovation in the repair, maintenance and life extension of rotating electrical machines servicing a broad range of sectors including power generation, renewables, industrial, water, oil and gas, marine and rail.

Operating through three divisions; Rail, Electro Mechanical Services and High Voltage Coils, it supplies a global customer base through its partnership and agent network.

Michael Mitten, CEO commented: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Barry to the team. His extensive experience and expertise and role in leading the Finance, HR and IT functions will be instrumental in enabling us to achieve our plans in these critical areas.”

Chartered surveyors firm Sanderson Weatherall has strengthened its North East Building Surveying team with three key appointments.

The appointments include chartered building surveyor Martin Smith, and the promotion of Victoria Bollands and Kenny Hiles to associate partner.

Partner, George Penrice said: “With these appointments we have a very strong and experienced team of chartered building surveyors covering all aspects of property.

“We are constantly reviewing the delivery of our service and Martin’s appointment brings a new dimension to how this is delivered and additional experience and technical competence in construction and property law matters.

“Kenny and Victoria’s appointment as Associate Partners is also testament to their continued hard work and dedication to providing excellent client service during their time with Sanderson Weatherall.”

BW Medical, a team of national medical accountancy specialists, has boosted its medical finance team with the appointment of Mark Dempsey, taking the number of employees at its offices in Newcastle to 13.

The niche firm, which currently works with a number of GPs and medical practices across the country, is building on recent growth and has recruited Mark to further expand its team of highly specialised practice experts.

Mark, a chartered accountant originally from Southport, brings over 30 years experience in the finance industry to his new role. As medical services accountant, Mark is responsible for managing the clients’ financial accounts, as well as providing strategic advice.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .