Member Article

This month’s South East appointments

Mark Schmull, Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners (NLP)

Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners (NLP), which recently opened a new Thames Valley office, has made a new senior appointment as it hits the ground running.

Mark Schmull, a chartered town planner with over 10 years of experience, has joined the town planning consultancy’s Reading based as an associate director.

He had previously worked for Hives Planning in Reading before it was taken over by national consultancy Smiths Gore in February 2014.

NLP opened its Thames Valley office in January this year and is currently involved in bringing forward a number of major housing and mixed-use developments, most recently helping brewing chain Marston secure planning permission for a new pub-cum-restaurant in Newbury.

Senior director Daniel Lampard, who heads up the Thames Valley office, said: “We have been very busy since opening in January and are now delighted to add Mark to the team.

“Mark’s local knowledge will be of great benefit to the office. He has extensive experience with both private and public sector clients on projects ranging from large scale urban extensions, turbine and solar farms to a variety of rural promotion schemes.

“Mark has also taken a leading role in community participation and stakeholder groups in the promotion of development.”

Mr Schmull, who began his career at as a planning officer at Chiltern District Council in 2004, said: “I am delighted to be joining NLP and in particular the new Thames Valley Office. It is well placed to serve the region and I am excited by the challenge of growing a new office in this important location”.

As well as the Thames Valley office NLP will be opening a new Edinburgh office in April, its first in Scotland. The Reading office now has six staff.

James Marler & Debbie Mead, Lloyds Bank

Lloyds Bank has appointed two new Directors of Business Development in London and the South, as it strengthens its support to mid-market businesses in the region.

A chartered accountant, James Marler joins Lloyds Bank’s Commercial Finance team from the Bank of London & The Middle East, with expertise in delivering tailored asset based lending and invoice discounting facilities to businesses looking for flexible funding solutions to help accelerate their growth plans.

James will use his advisory skills to work with mid-sized businesses in the region to deliver new lending solutions that may not have previously been explored.

He is joined by Debbie Mead, who moves from RBS Invoice Finance and has over 30 years’ experience in trade and invoice finance. She specialises in structuring end to end tailor made solutions maximising cash availability and minimising risk to customers, often in tight timeframes.

The appointments bolster the Commercial Finance team to 20 people working across the region, increasing its presence as the economy continues to grow and firms look to embark on the next stage of their expansion strategies.

James Marler (pictured right), director of business development at Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance, said: “Many firms aren’t fully aware of the fluidity and the working capital boost that facilities like invoice discounting and asset based lending can provide, and I’m looking forward to exploring these funding avenues with both new and existing clients.

“Lloyds Bank is a leading provider of these funding solutions, and I’ll be working closely with the team to help mid-sized and private equity backed businesses in London and the South expand and enjoy continued success.”

Andrew Bowker, Atlas Cloud

Newcastle-based cloud computing company Atlas Cloud has appointed a specialist in niche hosted desktop solutions as its new Head of 3D at the company’s London office.

Andrew Bowker joins the company following more than 20 years’ experience and success in cloud managed services and e-business, including senior roles at blue-chip companies including Cable & Wireless and Cisco. He also will lead Atlas Cloud’s new London office.

Altas Cloud, which also has offices in Leeds and Sheffield, designs, builds and manages tailored hosted desktop solutions offering flexible working with banking level security.

Andrew has forged a considerable track record of aligning new and transformative technology with business objectives and has held key roles in the start-up, strategic planning and consul

tative sales development of technology-driven businesses.

He has been given a remit to specifically target the construction, Building Information Modelling (BIM) and franchise sectors alongside Atlas Cloud’s core markets.

Andrew, who lives in Wimbledon, said: “Atlas Cloud has established itself as a leading player in the sector and I am looking forward to playing a key part in helping such a go-ahead, focused firmexpand its customer base and sector focus.”

Polly Smalley, Green Square

Ascot-based Green Square has appointed Polly Smalley as operations manager.

The renewable energy store has recruited Polly to help lead all aspects of franchising of the brand from the day to day enquiries to helping existing franchisees achieve their full potential.

She was chosen for the role as her experience as a national manager has included owning and running her own franchise for seven years as well as being employed direct by franchisors for nearly five years.

Within this short time Polly helped to build the brand and almost double the franchise network.

Polly joins Green Square at a very exciting time as the BFA recognised company has already granted two franchise licences in under two years of start-up. Polly commented: “I have worked on both sides of franchising so have a true understanding on how to keep franchisees excited, motivated and feel valued as their businesses grow. It’s great to be included from the early stages and be actively injecting my knowledge and experience into such a progressive organisation.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .