Member Article

This week’s North West appointments

Chester-based architectural, building surveying and planning consultancy, Cassidy+ Ashton, has made two additions to its team in response to growing demand for its town planning services.

Planning consultant, Andrew Hale, has relocated to the firm’s Chester office to bring extra resource to the Chester team, which is currently progressing planning applications for more than 50 projects across the UK.

The firm has also appointed planning consultant, Amy Aspinall, to its Preston office. With more than nine years’ specialist experience, Amy is a graduate of Liverpool John Moores University and has held previous roles as council planning officer at St Helen’s Council, Fylde Council and Cheshire East Council.

Guy Evans, chartered town planner at Cassidy + Ashton, said: “In addition to huge demand for residential schemes, we’ve seen growth in the number of commercial projects that are coming to fruition.

“Amy and Andrew are real assets to the business and will add to our already extensive experience and we now have a five-strong planning team which will enable us to continue growing and providing expert advice to our expanding client portfolio.”

Changes in the planning team follow the recent appointment of senior architect, Susan McBain, who has bolstered the multi-disciplinary practice with more than 12 years’ experience.

Fiona Halliwell, CBRE

The Manchester office of CBRE has appointed Fiona Halliwell as Director of Lease Consultancy for its North West team.

Previously a partner at Gerald Eve, Fiona has over eighteen years’ experience and specialist knowledge in dealing with rent reviews, lease renewals and regears on all types of commercial property. Fiona acts for both landlords and tenants with clients including funds, private landlords, retailers and occupiers.

Additionally, Fiona is an expert witness and is on the RICS panel of independent experts appointed to deal with rent review disputes on property in the North West as well as being an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Fiona said: “Joining CBRE presents a fantastic opportunity and I am looking forward to working with a company that provides access to a huge and varied client base. The well established lease consultancy team provides an excellent platform on which to build upon, and I am excited about its potential growth going forward.”

Heather Stockton, Champion Accountants

Chester-based business advice specialist, Champion Accountants, has appointed Heather Stockton as audit and accounts senior to support the firm during a strong period of growth.

The group, which employs more than 100 staff in five offices across the North West, has brought Heather on-board to expand its business services team at its Chester office following an influx of client wins.

Heather brings fourteen years’ experience and joins the firm from a leading chartered accountancy practice where she spent seven years in a variety of roles including management accounting, audit and payroll.

Director at Champion Chester, Sue Harris, said: “Heather’s breadth of experience, as well as her friendly and supportive approach, complement the Champion culture perfectly. She will be a valuable asset to our Chester office and further enhance the depth and scope of our client offering.”

Tim Austin, Chris Hughes, Matthews & Goodman

National commercial property advisors Matthews & Goodman has bolstered its Northern Management team with two new senior appointments.

Tim Austin and Chris Hughes join the firm from Lambert Smith Hampton as head of management and senior associate respectively. They join an eight-strong team, based across Matthews & Goodman’s Manchester and Liverpool city centre offices.

Tim has over 15 years’ extensive experience in Property and Asset Management Consultancy, working for a range of clients in the private and public sector. He specialises in lease advisory, agency, rent reviews, and re-gear opportunities.

Chris has over 20 years’ senior management experience, delivering facilities management services to industrial estates, business parks, retail parks, offices and mixed use buildings.

The appointments reflect an increase in management activity over the past 12 months and support the firm’s ambitious plans for 2015; the year which sees Matthews & Goodman celebrate its 150th anniversary.

Property Management partner Richard Beaumont commented, “We are delighted to welcome Tim and Chris to the firm. Their skills and experience will prove to be invaluable at this crucial time for Matthews & Goodman, as we enter a phase of growth.”

Ian Johnson, Biofortuna

UK based molecular diagnostics company Biofortuna has appointed a new chairman to lead the next phase of growth.

Life sciences expert Ian Johnson will take on the role at Biofortuna with previous chairman Mark Hurley remaining on the board as a non-executive director.

Biofortuna, based in the Wirral, specialises in proprietary freeze dried diagnostics and contract services. It recently announced a £1.5m funding round for the company to further develop its diagnostic assays and invest in its freeze drying production capability.

Former chairman Hurley said: “Over the years I have thoroughly enjoyed being chairman and seeing the company grow and mature. I would like to welcome Ian Johnson as our new chairman who has relevant significant experience and will lead the company into its next phase of growth.”

David Mosley, Nisyst

Bolton-based Electronic point of sale (EPoS) software specialist, Nisyst, is continuing to recruit in preparation for further growth with the appointment of David Mosley as a technical help desk support engineer.

The appointment brings the number of help desk engineers at Nisyst to 11, demonstrating the company’s impressive expansion, particularly in the charity sector where its CHARiot EPoS system has quickly become a market leader.

David is the latest in a number of new recruits to join Nisyst following a series of new contract wins, including Cat’s Protection, St Luke’s Hospice, Wirral St John’s Hospice and Queenscourt Hospice.

Bob Chunilal, managing director at Nisyst, added: “As we continue to expand our customer base, building our team is critical to maintaining the excellent service that lies at the heart of our success.

“We’re delighted to welcome David to the team and look forward to announcing more new appointments soon.”

Julie Mogan, Excello Law

Excello Law, the fast-growing commercial law firm, has appointed leading Liverpool corporate lawyer, Julie Mogan to spearhead its growth in the City and the North West region.

Liverpool born and bred, Julie studied at Liverpool University and the College of Law in Chester and qualified with Chaffe Street, now Brabners, before joining Walker Smith Way in Chester, where she spent 17 years, latterly as commercial group head.

Excello Law is growing its presence across the UK and internationally. Its deliberately lighter technology-driven infrastructure offers a more cost-effective way for businesses to access highly experienced lawyers.

The firm‟s managing director, George Bisnought, said: “It‟s testament to what we are building in Liverpool, and across the UK, that a lawyer of Julie‟s renown has opted to join us. It‟s clear to see that she shares our entrepreneurial vision to create a firm that gives businesses real access to some of the UK‟s most accomplished lawyers at far greater value than many traditional law firms, while still delivering real freedom for lawyers to practise. I expect further experienced hires of Julie‟s calibre to join us throughout 2015.”

Sharon Mars, Andrew Baird and Bryan Garvie, The BIG Partnership

Head of the North West division, Sharon Mars, has been appointed as a director to the firm’s board, as it eyes further expansion into England, as well as increased investment in digital services.

Sharon has been promoted along with Scotland-based Andrew Baird and Bryan Garvie, joining founders Alex Barr and Neil Gibson, as well as existing directors Zoe Ogilvie, Allan Barr, Graham Leitch and Marjorie Calder.

Liverpool is home to BIG’s English headquarters, from which the company acts on behalf of clients in Manchester, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Teesside and London.

The Liverpool office continues to expand since its launch three years ago, winning significant new business in the area and securing several new appointments.

Alex Barr said: “We have a very stable core of senior people and the latest additions to the board have each played key roles in our continuing growth. In the case of Sharon and Bryan who both joined us at a junior level several years ago, these appointments to the board also underline the tangible opportunities we provide for long-term career progression.

“We’re also accelerating the expansion of digital capabilities across the business and, combined with our long track record in delivering compelling editorial content, we’re helping clients reach and influence online audiences more effectively than ever.

“It’s been our best-ever start to the year and we feel the market is definitely moving in our direction, with increasing synergies between content, digital and SEO/PPC opening up real opportunities for clients.”

Tony Heague, Duncan Shimmin, Sheila Rodgers, Pavis Financial Management

Pavis Financial Management has made several additions to its team in a matter of weeks as the Liverpool-based firm continues its impressive growth.

Chartered insurance practitioner Tony Heague has joined as a consultant and brings with him more than 40 years’ experience in the financial services sector, including 20 years running his own practice.

Sheila Rodgers has also joined the firm in the role of adviser support following a career in financial services spanning more than 20 years.

Their arrival comes just weeks after Pavis appointed former Touche Ross advisor and SG Hambros private banker Duncan Shimmin as a director.

The raft of appointments is in response to a period of unprecedented growth which has seen client funds under management double in 18 months to almost £150m and led the firm to relocate to larger offices in Water Street.

Pavis managing director Bob Newton said: “We have enjoyed an incredible spell of growth, with client income and the size of our team both doubling since 2013.

“We relocated to our new offices less than a year ago with the express aim of supporting our development strategy. We are already looking to expand our footprint here, which speaks volumes for what the team continues to achieve.

“What’s even more satisfying is that our clients clearly trust us to serve their best interests and word of mouth is very positive.

“These three appointments add further to the rich seam of skills and experience we have within our team, which is now unrivalled in all but a few firms across the UK.

“That ability is matched only by our shared determination to keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible for the firm and achieving even greater outcomes on behalf of our clients.”

Sean Mitchell, BDO North West

Accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO LLP, has welcomed Sean Mitchell as a Tax Director to its growing North West team.

Sean joins BDO after 17 years with Grant Thornton in Manchester. He specialises in advising entrepreneurs and mid-market firms on UK and international corporate tax matters, with specific expertise in the real estate and construction sector.

Ian Bingham, partner and head of tax at BDO in the North West, said: “The entrepreneurial mid-market is thriving. We’re witnessing an increasing demand for strategic tax advice from clients thathave set their sights on growth in both domestic and international markets.

“Sean’s appointment further reinforces our commitment to attracting top talent following significant growth and new client wins. We’re delighted to have him on board.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .