Member Article

This week’s North West appointments

Sinead McCracken , Georgina Tither, Rebecca Wilson, Linder Myers Solicitors

Linder Myers Solicitors has further strengthened its medical negligence team with the appointment of two solicitors and a paralegal in Manchester.

Rebecca Wilson joins the firm from Stephensons Solicitors, Georgina Tither has been appointed from Express Solicitors and joining as a paralegal, Sinead McCracken completes the trio of recent recruits joining from Thompsons Solicitors.

Trevor Ward, head of medical negligence at Linder Myers Solicitors, commented: “Our new recruits join a well-established team of experts in this complex, and highly specialised, area of law. Demonstrating both an eagerness to learn from more senior members of the team, and a passion for securing justice for significantly injured patients, we’re pleased to continue attracting new talent to the firm.”

Linder Myers’ medical negligence team represents clients significantly injured as a result of negligence by hospital medical staff, GPs or pharmacists. Alongside legal experts, the department also comprises a number of nurses.

The teams’ recent notable cases include winning a claim against Tottenham Hotspur, which was found to have failed in its duty of care to a young player who was left brain damaged as a result, and securing £5 million for another client who was left mostly blind and with significant mobility problems as a result of negligence at his local hospital.

Pam Wadcock, PHX Training

North West-based training provider PHX Training has expanded its senior management team with the appointment of new quality manager Pam Wadcock.

Pam will oversee the co-ordination of policies and procedures across all 10 of PHX’s training centres in Lancashire and Cumbria, to ensure the company’s services meet external and internal requirements while retaining consistency across the group.

Shirley Williams, development director at PHX Training said: “As the company continues to grow, it’s important to ensure standards are maintained across the board and that PHX keeps up to speed with the latest developments and trends.

“Pam brings with her a great deal of experience in the industry and will provide a strong source of support for staff and learners while improving the performance of the business and allowing us to maintain the highest level of service to our customers.”

PHX Training offers a wide range of courses across the North West, combining online resources with face-to-face facilities, at centres in Preston, Barrow-in-Furness, Blackpool, Kendal, Millom, Morecambe, Penrith, Southport, Carlisle and Workington.

One of the key contracts operated by PHX is the government’s learndirect programme, which helps to give unemployed people the skills they need to find jobs, from which the company has a 93 per cent success rate.

Richard Savage, CBRE

Richard Savage has joined CBRE’s Manchester Specialist Markets team as Associate Director. Richard joins from GVA where he was part of the national healthcare team based out of Manchester.

Richard has extensive experience in the healthcare sector having previously providing valuation and consultancy services to corporate, third sector and private clients on a national basis.

He has advised on a wide spectrum of care businesses including residential and nursing homes, specialist units, supported housing units and development sites.

Joanna Jandula , Hillyer McKeown LLP

Hillyer McKeown is pleased to welcome Polish solicitor Joanna Jandula to its Family Law team. Joanna, who is fluent in English and Polish, specialises in all aspects of relationship breakdown including divorce, division of finances, residence and contact arrangements for children. After obtaining a Master’s Degree in Law and Administration in Poland, Joanna went on to complete a second degree at the University of Central Lancashire and qualified as a solicitor in 2014. Lindsay Yateman, Partner and Head of Family Law at Hillyer McKeown said: “We are delighted to welcome Joanna to our Family team. Along with a sound knowledge of family law, Joanna can offer legal services to both our UK and Polish client base, bridging the language barrier and allowing us to further expand our offering.”

Sir Eric Peacock, iPro Sport

Isotonic sports drink brand, iPro Sport, has appointed Sir Eric Peacock CMG DL who joins the company board as non-executive chairman.

Sir Eric holds an illustrious career having previously chaired Babygro Plc which he took to a full stock listing and grew from 200 to 2,500 people in four years. He was also chairman of Hospitality Plus Ltd and Achieve Global Ltd.

Sir Eric is currently non-executive director of UK Export Finance as well as chairman for Boxford Group Holding Plc, Just Loans Plc, Stevenage Packaging Ltd, Buckley Jewellery Ltd and Halo International.

Commenting on the appointment, Sir Eric Peacock said: “I am delighted to be invited as non-executive chairman of iPro Sport as it is an exciting new brand and first of its kind on the sport scene.

“The combination of a great brand, comprehensive distribution and a wonderful tasting product bode well for accelerated growth and development of the company.”

Lisa Marraffa, Marketing Director at iPro Sport, said: “The appointment signals exciting times for our brand, its continued development and presence within the sporting arena.

“We are delighted to have Sir Eric on board with us and look forward to our working partnership.”

Sir Eric was given a knighthood in 2003 for his services to international trade. He also founded and chairs charity The Peacock Foundation which focuses on under privileged young people and supports other social enterprises on a criterion of social impact.

Charlotte Houghton, Jennifer Higgs, North West Cancer Research (NWCR)

North West Cancer Research (NWCR) has appointed Charlotte Houghton and Jennifer Higgs, who will be based at the charity’s headquarters at the University of Liverpool.

Charlotte joins as marketing executive and will work closely with the team to develop, enhance and promote the NWCR brand, its online presence and its digital communication channels. She brings experience of managing traditional and digital marketing campaigns from her time as communications officer at the Science and Technology Facilities Council.

Jennifer joins as trusts and legacies fundraiser and will have the responsibility of increasing the level of trusts and legacy donations to NWCR. She has previously worked as a trusts and grants development officer at Henshaws Society for Blind People and as public sector and trusts officer at Tate.

The appointments follow a period of significant growth for the charity which has seen it merge with Clatterbridge Cancer Research in 2013 and move its headquarters to the new North West Cancer Research Centre at the University of Liverpool, bringing NWCR closer to the world-class research it supports.

Last year NWCR invested a record £2.2million worth of funding for cancer research projects at the University of Liverpool, Lancaster University and Bangor University. This year so far it has announced an extra £1.4million worth of funding support.

Chief Executive of NWCR Anne Jackson said: “Charlotte and Jennifer are experienced in their fields and add to an already talented and dedicated team. Their skills and passion will help spread the word about NWCR and the research we fund into the detection, treatment and prevention of cancer, allowing us to continue growing and benefit the community we serve.

“They join us at an exciting time. We have made a huge amount of progress over the past three years. Increasing the charity’s profile and fundraising income will be central in allowing us to continue achieving our objectives and increase funding for potentially lifesaving research.”

Since its inception NWCR has funded more than £28million worth of cancer research projects at the University of Liverpool, University of Lancaster and Bangor University.

Alex MacDonald, Secure Trust Bank

AIM-listed challenger bank, Secure Trust Bank, is increasing its lending capacity for SMEs in Merseyside following the appointment of Alex MacDonald as Regional Sales Manager.

Alex has seven years’ experience in invoice finance and joined from Royal Bank of Scotland Invoice Finance where he was Business Development Manager. In his new role, Alex will be based in Secure Trust Bank’s Liverpool office working specifically with SMEs and their advisors in and around the Merseyside area.

Alex commented: “Secure Trust Bank’s Commercial Finance business has been expanding rapidly in the past few months, and the launch into Merseyside recognises significant opportunity in the area. I’m really looking forward to working alongside such a high-calibre team and supporting more SMEs across the North West.”

Sean Powell, Regional Director for the North at Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance, added: “Since our launch last September, we have completed a number of successful deals and we’ve seen particularly strong potential from businesses in Merseyside.We’re really pleased to have Alex in the business as we look to help SMEs in the area achieve their growth objectives.”

Marie Hitchen, The Loop

The Loop, Manchester’s dedicated fibre network, has appointed Marie Hitchen, 37, as sales and business development manager.

Marie will be responsible for building the direct internet and telephony business in Manchester which utilises The Loop’s unique fibre network. Part of Gamma Communications PLC, The Loop provides dedicated fibre networks, point to point private networks, flexible high-capacity internet access and business grade IP Telephony.

Marie has 12 years’ experience in the telecoms industry having previously worked for BT, Thus, Cable & Wireless and NTL, with one of her most recent roles being UK Business Development Manager for the Partner Channel at Chess Ltd.

Ashley Griffiths, managing director of The Loop commenting on Marie Hitchen’s appointment said: “Marie comes with a solid sales background, understands the telecoms market and is very familiar with Manchester. She has an excellent track record in the sector, a strong contact base and enormous energy and enthusiasm. Marie will be a valuable asset and a great addition to the team.”

Andrew Ashley Taylor, Irwin Mitchell LLP

The Manchester office of leading law firm Irwin Mitchell has appointed DWF’s North West Head of Pensions, Andrew Ashley Taylor, as it continues to invest in building its Business Legal Services (BLS) team.

Joining as Partner, Andrew has over 30 years of Pensions law experience and specialises in advising employers, professional trustees and not-for-profit organisations on the full range of pension issues. These include dispute resolution, mergers, restructuring, regulatory matters and debt management.

Commenting on the latest arrival, Roy Beckett, Real Estate partner and Head of BLS in Manchester, said: “Andrew is an authoritative voice on Pensions law and someone who will add breadth to and boost Irwin Mitchell’s business offering across the North West. We are excited about the growth opportunities in the Manchester market place and as we grow our existing teams, we also look forward to making further recruitment announcements in the near future.”

Richard Bell , Deloitte

Deloitte has appointed Richard Bell to the role of Managing Partner, Regional Markets.

As Managing Partner, Richard will lead all of Deloitte’s regional practice senior partners outside of London in focusing on achieving market leadership across the country, working with some of the UK’s largest and most influential organisations. In addition, Richard will focus on creating an inspiring culture within Deloitte for staff to develop and grow; both key components of the firm’s national strategy. Richard will continue in his current role as North West Practice Senior Partner alongside his new responsibilities.

Richard takes over the position from Manchester-based Sharon Thorne, who has been appointed to the role of Managing Partner, Global on the UK Executive Group. In addition, former North West Practice Senior Partner, Patrick Loftus, has been appointed to the role of Vice Chair. They will both maintain a presence in the North West region.

Hollie Bryant, Alice Routledge, Matthew Claxton, Richard Walters, Bilfinger GVA

Bilfinger GVA has made four key appointments to its Manchester team to strengthen and expand its already market leading Planning, Development and Regeneration (PDR) advisory division in the North of England.

Richard Walters MRICS, currently partner and head of planning at Knight Frank in Manchester, will join Bilfinger GVA as a director in July to help lead an enhanced multidisciplinary PDR team covering the North.

Matthew Claxton MRICS and Alice Routledge MRICS also join from Knight Frank in the coming weeks, one as an associate, the other as a graduate planner respectively.

In addition, a fourth member of the expanded team, Hollie Bryant MRICS is joining as a senior planner from planning specialist Pegasus.

Nicola Rigby, director in the Manchester PDR team at Bilfinger GVA, said: “These are exciting moves for the team that clearly show our intent in the market to be providing the highest quality advice to our existing clients, public and private sector, alongside expanding our business. This is a new era for the team, and this announcement is the first step in a much wider growth agenda. We will continue to invest in the highest calibre professionals to add to our strengthened offer in line with our business aspirations. It is our intention to really focus on ensuring that we are positioned as the leading planning, development and regeneration advisor within the North West.”

David Hodge, CMC Markets

CMC Markets announces the appointment of David Hodge, who has joined the team as Chief Commercial Officer.

David was previously Group Marketing Director at IG Group, before becoming CMO at Alpari UK Limited, where he was then promoted to COO and finally CEO. Prior to these roles David worked at Cadbury, Scottish Courage and bmibaby. David has a wealth of experience running strategic, commercial, marketing and digital operations across global markets.

Peter Cruddas, Chief Executive at CMC Markets, commented on the appointment: “Building on the strong team we already have at CMC Markets is essential to drive forward our growth ambitions. David’s extensive strategic and commercial experience in various industries, and most importantly our own, makes him a superb addition to the leadership team. 2015 looks set to be a standout year and David will bring an invaluable perspective to how we accelerate growth.”

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