Member Article

This week’s Yorkshire appointments

Clarion (Leeds) Fiona Kendall

Leeds law firm Clarion is continuing to build on the success of its family practice with the appointment of Fiona Kendall as partner.

With 17 years’ experience in family law, Fiona joins from Jones Myers where she worked for seven years, latterly as partner. Dual qualified in English and Scots law, she regularly advises individuals and firms on cross-border aspects of family law and matters with an international element.

Justine Osmotherley, partner and head of Clarion’s private client services team, comments, “Fiona is one of the region’s best-known collaborative family lawyers and will be a real asset to the team as we continue to expand.

“As a strong advocate of non-contentious approaches wherever appropriate, her approach fits well with our ethos and we are confident that she will make a valuable contribution.”

Fiona adds: “I am really excited about working in such a positive environment. Clarion’s family team has an excellent reputation as lawyers who really empathise with their clients and are passionate about their work.”

Knight Frank, Richard Hunter

The Leeds office of global property consultancy Knight Frank has strengthened its valuation team with the appointment of Richard Hunter.

Richard, aged 29, joins from DTZ in Leeds, where he spent two years in their Valuation Services division. He has also worked for Yorkshire chartered surveyors Grice and Hunter.

Richard was educated at Worksop College, Nottinghamshire, and Sheffield Hallam University, where he gained a degree in Urban Land Economics.

Richard commented: “I moved to Knight Frank because they are such a well-regarded firm both locally and nationally. This was an excellent chance to join their strong Yorkshire valuation team and I look forward to contributing to the team’s success.”

Beattie Communications, Kat Wirth

PR, social media and digital marketing agency Beattie Communications has expanded its Leeds team with the appointment of account manager Kat Wirth.

The appointment comes hot on the heels of group chairman, Gordon Beattie announcing his intention to invest £1million over the next six months in new recruits across the agency’s national network of eight offices.

Beattie Communications’ client list within its Leeds office includes Specsavers, the Federation of Small Businesses and Sky Betting and Gaming. The team has recently bolstered its client portfolio by adding Flybe and Iceland to its remit.

Danielle Tingey, head of the Leeds team, said: “I’m really pleased to welcome Kat to Beattie Communications. She has a solid background and her ability to blend on and offline engagement and dialogue will be of huge benefit to our clients.

“She is passionate about expanding her skill set so she is ideally placed within Beattie’s nurturing culture where she’ll be developed and offered great career prospects. Beattie is a happy place to work and that’s underlined by the fact we now have 17 people who have spent at least ten years with the agency.

“As far as growth is concerned, we are ambitiously striding forward with an expansion plan both in terms of new business and recruits, expect more news to follow.”

Beattie Communications has eight offices in the UK including London, Manchester and Glasgow. In addition, the company has an international network spanning 40 countries. Its specialist teams cover 14 industry sectors includingretail, property and health.

Mailway Packaging Solutions, Peter Hutchinson

Mailway Packaging Solutions, the independent co-packer, has expanded its team with the appointment of Peter Hutchinson as Logistics and Health & Safety Manager.

Peter will be responsible for the management of logistics within the warehouse and shop floor as well as the health and safety of staff and visitors at Mailway’s Bradford and Melton Mowbray sites.

Peter comments: “I have always enjoyed working in logistics but felt I needed a new challenge within my role, in a more fast-paced environment, and the packaging industry offers exactly that.”

Managing Director, Tim Lees comments: “We are pleased to welcome Peter to the team and look forward to working with him to further improve and enhance our existing logistics and health and safety systems.”

Mailway Packaging Solutions are recognised as one of the UK’s leading contract packers, and are the preferred partner for leading and aspirational brands in a range of sectors, specifically confectionery, beverage and food. Mailway’s services include flow wrapping, bag filling, cartoning, hand packing and shrink sleeving.

Jumpstart, Robert Cope

R&D tax relief specialist Jumpstart has secured the services of a highly-rated and hugely experienced business expert to further enhance its industry-beating business analysis capability.

It has appointed Robert Cope, veteran of PwC, IBM, DEC and Omnicom to head its business analysis push into the exciting new technology clusters growing out of the rust-belt areas from North-East England to Yorkshire and the Humber.

He will help bring Jumpstart’s unparalleled success in helping companies claim for R&D tax relief to the many process industry enterprises emerging from areas formerly known for heavy engineering.

Robert, said: “There are significant opportunities in the North-East. I have joined Jumpstart because of its proven ability to practically assist companies which are making a major contribution to the commercial future of UK plc.”

Harrogate-based Robert, a Cambridge graduate in engineering and management studies, has a remarkable business track record in senior positions with major global corporations, in disciplines ranging from leasing and financing to strategic sales and procurement.

Brian Williamson, managing director at Jumpstart, said: “We are enormously gratified to have been able to attract someone of Robert’s undoubted business experience and expertise. He has an enviable track record and his remarkable talents will bring tangible benefits to existing and new Jumpstart clients.”

DTZ (Leeds) Paul Mack, Carl Howarth, Richard Brooke, Victoria Hogg, Chris Skipp, Naomi Young

Paul Mack, head of DTZ’s Industrial agency team has been promoted to director alongside Carl Howarth in retail asset management, whilst Richard Brooke (investment agency), Victoria Hogg (public sector advisory) and Chris Skipp (project and building consultancy) have been promoted to senior surveyor level. Naomi Young (practice management) has been promoted to surveyor level.

Tim Cameron-Jones, senior director and head of DTZ’s Leeds office, commented: “Throughout the downturn, DTZ continued to invest in our people and offer career progression.

“As the market becomes more favourable we have adopted an ambitious growth agenda and I am delighted to announce the promotion of these future leaders of our business. “

In total, 158 promotions were announced across DTZ’s EMEA business, including three International Directors, DTZ’s most senior grade.

John Forrester, chief executive for DTZ in EMEA, added: “The progression of our colleagues, in their careers and client relationships, reflects our firm’s progress.

“We recognise that our success depends on our people and as we embark on a significant period of growth, it is the calibre of our staff, celebrated in these promotions, that will help to carry our business forwards.”

Dacre, Son & Hartley, Tim Mather

Dacre, Son & Hartley has appointed property lettings and portfolio management expert Tim Mather as Deputy Head of Residential Lettings, as the company further enhances its offering to residential landlords who own multiple properties throughout West and North Yorkshire.

Tim, who lives in Eldwick, explains: “Portfolio management is a rapidly growing market as an increasing number of landlords, who have previously managed their own portfolios, recognise the benefits of using a professional managing agent.

“A managed portfolio will often achieve higher rents, experience shorter void periods and lower expenditure. In addition to this faster resolution of problems is achieved, assistance with maintenance issues offered and proper professional advice available in an increasingly regulated market, which makes this role an exciting prospect.”

John Shaw, head of Dacre Son & Hartley’s Lettings Division says: “Our lettings business has grown phenomenally in recent years as tenant demand continues to outstrip supply and low interest rates encourage increasing numbers of people to invest in buy to let properties.

“Tim is hugely experienced in this field and there’s no doubt he’ll be a valuable addition to the team as we increase our market share in this sector of the market.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .