Member Article

This week’s North West appointments

Manchester-based digital marketing agency Tecmark has continued its expansion with 10 new recruits joining the company in the first three months of 2015.

The recruits, who bring a wealth of experience across a range of industries, bolster Tecmark’s offices in both Manchester and Liverpool.

Tecmark managing director Richard Heyes said: “These are exciting times for Tecmark and I’m sure our newest recruits will make a significant impact across the business – both for our clients and ourselves.

“We’re delighted to welcome each one of them to the Tecmark family and look forward to their skills and knowledge enhancing our offering across the north west.”

Stuart Baxter and Lee Chadwick take up roles as marketing executives, while Stephen Darwin joins as a trainee SEO executive after spending two years running his own business in artist management.

Front-end web developer David Thompson joins from Bath-based branding consultancy Hibbert Harwood and Michael Fasipe joins as a web developer from First Internet.

Alex Ashman brings experience of designing for digital, animation and print to her role of digital designer, while Neil Barraclough – a former journalist who has written for every UK national newspaper – takes up the post of brand communications manager.

Content coordinator Ruth Hartnoll will be based in the company’s Liverpool offices, having previously worked as a copywriter for Click Consult and Rippleffect.

Kate Madigan returns for her second stint at Tecmark, taking on the position of digital project manager.

Bethany Fearn, a finance assistant with several years’ experience in all-round accounts environments, completes the Tecmark 10.

Stephen Roberts, ECI Partners

ECI Partners (‘ECI’), the growth focused mid-market private equity firm, is pleased to announce it has expanded its team with the appointment of Stephen Roberts to its Manchester office.

Stephen joins as Investment Manager, having previously spent six months in the business on secondment from PwC.

ECI’s expanded team will continue to manage the firms existing funds as well as investing in new companies. ECI raised £500 million for their latest fund, ECI 10, which closed in September 2014.

John Hayhurst, ECI Partner, Manchester said: “We are delighted to welcome Stephen to the team and further strengthen our regional presence. He joins ECI at an exciting time as we have recently started the investment period for the new fund. ECI’s recent transactions- including salary sacrifice car provider Tusker and B2B digital IR communications specialist Investis, demonstrate that there continues to be exciting growth opportunities within the UK mid-market.”

Chris Cheap, Bilfinger GVA

Bilfinger GVA has promoted respected North West office advisor Chris Cheap to Senior Director, further underpinning his role as head of the firm’s five-strong North West Offices team.

Based in the Manchester Office, Chris has been operating at the forefront of the North West’s office markets for seventeen years and has been behind some of the region’s most important transactions including the leasing of 73,000 sq ft to KPMG at Argent/GMPVF’s One St Peters Square and in excess of 100,000 sq ft of space being taken at The Carlyle Group’s Piccadilly Place scheme in the past year.

Chris has built a strong reputation in the North West’s office leasing and development arena acting for clients such as MUSE, Orbit Developments, Miller Developments, Catalyst Capital, Standard Life, Nabarro LLP and Ardstone.

Mark Rawstron, Regional Senior Director, Bilfinger GVA Manchester office, added: “Chris thoroughly deserves this recognition for leading his strong office agency team, which has completed some of the region’s most significant office deals, and has established important, long-standing relationships.”

Jonie Little, Sarah Barnes, Napthens

Solicitor Jonie Little has joined the Commercial Property team at North West law firm Napthens.

Jonie joins from an Ipswich law firm, where she worked after training with Addleshaw Goddard in London.

She has advised clients across several industry sectors, including retail, transportation, leisure, health and education. During her time in London Jonie was part of a team which advised on the largest litigation battle in British legal history, involving the late Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky and Roman Abramovich.

At Napthens she will work closely with clients to support their business objectives, advising on the legal aspects of a wide range of commercial property matters.

Jonie, who has recently returned to her home town of Preston, said: “I’m joining a talented team of experts at Napthens, which has a solid commercial property reputation in the region, combined with a portfolio of high profile clients.”

Allan Sumner, head of Commercial Property at Napthens, said: “Jonie brings a wealth of knowledge to the team, having previously been involved in a number of complex, high value projects.

“Her experience in the property sector means she has a true understanding of the issues that matter to commercial agents, developers, landlords and tenants and will strengthen Napthens’ existing setup.”

Sarah Barnes, head of the Residential Property team at Napthens solicitors, has been promoted to partner.

Joining Napthens in 2009, Sarah became head of the department in 2011, and manages an experienced team of property lawyers.

Recently Sarah has led the department through a significant period of growth with a number of new appointments. This, together with the further development of the case management system over the last 12 months, has given the team a competitive edge and increased efficiency.

Craig Nemeth, Galliford Try plc

Housebuilding and construction group, Galliford Try plc, has strengthened its North West team with the appointment of new regeneration manager, Craig Nemeth.

Craig is overseeing a £100m PFI regeneration programme which is currently transforming the Brunswick area of East Manchester. Galliford Try forms part of the wider S4B Consortium which was appointed to deliver the 25-year scheme in 2013. The consortium also includes Equitix, Mears and Symphony Housing.

Craig is responsible for overseeing the infrastructure works on site as well as the development of commercial buildings, an extra care centre and over 500 new homes for private sale and rent. All of the new homes are being built by Galliford Try’s residential division, Linden Homes.

Craig has over 20 years’ experience in the housing and construction sector having previously held roles at Seddon and Kier Construction.

Craig said of his new role: “Galliford Try has an excellent reputation in the construction sector. This was a great opportunity for me to work with forward thinking company that has clear objectives for significant business growth. I am delighted to take on the regeneration manager role at this exciting time for the business. The Brunswick regeneration programme will leave an important legacy on the area for years to come, so I am very proud to have joined the team.”

Mike Jackson, HURST

Accountancy firm and business adviser HURST has promoted Mike Jackson to partner in its business services team.

The 35-year-old joined the firm from Deloitte in 2004 as an audit senior. He became an associate partner in 2010.

Mike provides audit and assurance advice to owner-managed businesses and companies which trade internationally.

He also has a business development role at HURST and has helped the firm to win a string of notable clients over the past 12 months, including Manchester-based school wear business David Luke and Stockport wholesaler Alan Howard, which supplies products to hairdressing and beauty salons.

Mike also led the roll-out of a paperless document management system across the firm three years ago. This will soon be expanded to include an interactive client portal.

HURST chief executive Tim Potter said: “Mike has worked exceptionally hard to support the firm’s growth.

“He has brought in some superb new clients and has led on projects that have materially changed the way the firm does business.

“We are delighted to be in a position to reward him with this well-deserved promotion.”

Vicky Pemberton, adept4

IT services company adept4 has bolstered its customer experience team with the appointment of a new Client Relationship Manager.

Client engagement specialist Vicky Pemberton has over 19 years’ experience in telecoms. She has joined the business from a role as Head of Customer Experience at IT services provider GCI, where she was part of the senior management team.

Her new role will see her restructure and streamline adept4’s customer service processes and protocols; implementing and overseeing best-practice procedures which will improve and enhance the overall client experience.

Peter Birkett, adept4 CEO, said: “Vicky is a highly skilled, incredibly impressive operator and we’re delighted to welcome her to the team. Although she has only been with us for a matter of weeks, we are already feeling the positive impact of her knowledge on the business’ client-side operations.

“Her expertise and commitment to creating the best possible experience for clients is perfectly in line with adept4’s unwavering focus on offering an unrivalled service to our customers. It will help us to continue to refine and improve this key element of the business as we continue to grow and expand.”

John Killen, Asons Solicitors

Solicitor John Killen has joined Asons Solicitors as an Assistant Solicitor for the Clinical Negligence department. John comes to the expanding Greater Manchester firm to assist in the continued development of the team.

As a former member of CILEX (the professional association for Chartered Legal Executives), John brings 26 years of experience gained in various practices across the North West where he has worked on a wide range of civil litigation, personal injury and clinical negligence cases.

John arrives at Asons after working as a locum solicitor and in a short term role at another firm in Lancashire. He describes his new role as “very exciting”, and a, “great opportunity to work with exceptionally friendly and talented people in a firm that is clearly going places”.

Sam Holmes, DTZ

DTZ announced the appointment of Sam Holmes as Surveyor in to its Manchester-based Project and Building Consultancy team.

Sam will specialise in core building surveying for our broad range of clients. He is currently acting on behalf of tenants NHS Property Services Ltd and Home Group in relation to two separate dilapidation claims in Stockport and Warrington.

Previously a Building Surveyor with AECOM, Sam was responsible for the contract administration for London university halls of residence refurbishments alongside working with clients on industrial unit refurbishments in Birmingham. He was also responsible for numerous surveys as part of large scale stock condition survey commissions in the West Midlands, Norwich and North Somerset. Prior to this Sam worked at Network Rail.

Eric Roberts, Director, Project and Building Consultancy team at DTZ in Manchester comments: “I am delighted that Sam has chosen to join us at DTZ. As activity levels and opportunities increase in the sector, Sam’s appointment will add additional breadth to the existing team and help us with our ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional service to our growing client base.”

David MacDonald, Darragh Lee, Richard Hatchett, Natasha Copitch, MERJE

Recruitment agency, MERJE, has strengthened its team with four new appointments, following substantial growth in the first quarter of 2015.

Joining MERJE as principal consultant, Richard Hatchett, 39, will be responsible for the recruitment of mid to senior-level candidates for clients in the accountancy and finance sector. Having previously worked as a senior financial consultant at WWB Recruitment and Badenoch & Clark, Richard’s extensive knowledge will aide MERJE’s continued growth in the market.

Joining Richard as a principal consultant is Ramsbottom-based David MacDonald. 31-year-old David will be focusing on placing candidates in the public practice arena, an area in which he has four years’ experience.

Additionally, Darragh Lee will be joining the customer contact team as senior consultant, whilst Natasha Copitch joins as a resourcer. Together with the rest of the customer contact team, 34-year-old Darragh, from Cheadle Hulme, and 22-year-old Natasha, from Whitefield, will generate networks of candidates across the telecoms, utilities, financial services and communications arenas.

Jonathan Abelson, director of MERJE, said: “In the first quarter of this year, we’ve experienced strong growth, as predicted in January. The appointment of key team members, such as David and Richard, alongside Darragh and Natasha, reflects how passionate we are about bringing the best people on board. We’re confident that all team members will solidify the knowledge and experience we have, which enables us to make successful placements across our areas of expertise.”

David Hunt, Liverpool Community Renewables

Hyperion’s David Hunt appointed director of Liverpool Community Renewables

A leading figure in the green energy sector has been appointed a director of Liverpool Community Renewables.

The organisation has brought on board David Hunt, Managing Partner of Liverpool-based Hyperion Executive Search, a specialist renewables recruitment company. David was also previously a director of one of the UK’s leading renewable energy installers.

LCR is a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) registered Society for the Benefit of the Community whose purpose is to develop, own and manage renewable energy schemes on its own or in partnership with other organisations.

LCR is in the middle of a fundraising round with an initial target of £80,000 to enable it to seed-fund solar PV projects around the city.

Investors into the fund – known as a Pioneer Share Offer – are likely to be eligible for income tax relief under the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS). The share offer is already over 50% subscribed and remains open until May 15.

Businesses and organisations with suitable roof space for the installations will be able to benefit from dramatically reduced energy costs, while money from the Government’s Feed-in-Tariff scheme will help to fund community projects in the Liverpool City Region.

David Hunt said: “I am delighted to have joined the board of Liverpool Community Renewables. LCR has big ambitions including playing its part in the transition of Merseyside’s energy system from fossil fuels to renewable energy.”

Ed Gommon, founder and fellow director of LCR, said: “David is a highly respected figure in the Merseyside and UK renewables industry with excellent contacts and in-depth knowledge of commercial solar PV installations.

“LCR is part of a wider community energy movement in the UK and Europe seeking to bring ownership of the generation and distribution of energy back under the local and democratic control of those who consume it.”

Also joining the board is Steve Pimlott, a Senior Consultant with Arup Energy Consulting.

Simon Stern, Fluent Money

Bolton-based Fluent Money, the UK’s leading secured loan broker, has appointed Simon Stern to its team as a non-executive director. Stern joins from Prestige Finance, part of the One Savings Bank Group, a long-term lending partner of Fluent Money, where he worked for 30 years. In his role as director at Prestige, Simon oversaw all aspects of new business and broker relations. Tim Wheeldon, joint managing director at Fluent Money, said: “Simon has been a valued friend within the industry for many years, and we’re delighted to be welcoming him to the company as a non-executive director. “With a wealth of broker knowledge and insight, Simon will bring added value to the Fluent Money service as we continue to build on our recent successes. We’re looking forward to welcoming him to the board and working together on garnering the best results for our business.”

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