This week’s Yorkshire appointments

Leeds-based Intermarketing Agency has appointed Nickii Gray as managing director.

With Jamie Allan and Steve Sowden’s strategy for continued global growth of the agency, Gray will oversee the UK business, enabling the Group Managing Partners to concentrate on developing their overseas operations.

James Henry has also been appointed to the Board of Directors.

Over the last few years, the agency has been strengthening its team with key appointments and additional staff at all levels, to support business growth while retaining loyal clients. Gray and Henry are still very much ‘hands-on’ and confident that they are maintaining the high levels of service that the agency is renowned for, proven by further award wins for delivery in all areas of the business this year.

The pair have been with the UK business for nine years, appointed to the management team at the time of the MBO in 2011, as Head of Client Services (Gray) and Head of Retail (Henry), they have been accountable for the agency’s sustained growth and share the ambition of Sowden and Allan for the future of the business.

Steve Sowden, Intermarketing Agency’s Group Managing Partner, said: “Nickii and James are passionate about the agency and share our dedication to its continued growth and success. They have proved their commitment, supporting Jamie and I all the way through our buyout and the subsequent expansion of the agency, it was a logical step for them to become Board Directors. They will ensure that our UK operations continue to thrive while the Group focuses on global expansion.”

Gray added: “I’m thrilled to be stepping into the role of MD for the UK business and leading the agency to further success. We’ve had an amazing few years, going from strength to strength in terms of client growth and new business wins, and with a stronger team than ever I don’t think there’s a better place to be right now. We have big ambitions and that’s exciting to be part of for all involved, bring it on!”

Matt Lowe, LNT Group

LNT Group has announced that Matt Lowe will take the post of Chief Executive.

Matt Lowe has been Commercial Director at LNT for over three years. During his time at LNT, Matt has secured sector leading deals for LNT and been integral to the continued growth of all businesses within the Group.

Following the completion of the care home deal with Anchor, which was valued well in excess of £100m, Matt was a prime candidate for the top position. LNT is owned by serial entrepreneur Lawrence Tomlinson.

Lawrence said: “I’m really pleased to have Matt take the helm of the business. He has been an important part of LNT for many years and I know he will continue to develop the businesses in line with my vision. My role will now be more strategic and forward planning, in line with a traditional Chairman’s position.”

Matt added: “It was a great compliment be asked by Lawrence to take the position of Chief Executive. The role feels like a very natural progression for me but I’ve clearly got some big boots to fill.”

Since the sale to Anchor, Matt has already taken a more prominent role in the care home part of the business, Ideal Carehomes and will now be reviewing business plans across the Group.

Rob Limbert, Eddisons

Rob Limbert has been promoted to director at property consultant Eddisons.

Limbert, who has worked at Eddisons since 2004, now heads the northern operations of the firm’s 12-strong property auctions team, which organises 20 auctions a year in Leeds, Manchester and London.

Limber said: “At Eddisons we’re seeing a marked increase in the number of quality properties, both residential and commercial, that we are being appointed to sell at auction, particularly as the economy picks up speed again.

“In 2014 alone, over 800 lots were included in our catalogues, over £57m of property was sold with us through our auctions and we achieved an average success rate of 75 per cent for our clients. It’s an exciting time for the firm and we believe there is huge potential in the market as auction becomes the sales option of choice for increasing numbers of vendors.”

Richard Goldsack, Grant Thornton

Richard Goldsack has been appointed as a Leeds-based partner in Grant Thornton’s Northern growing corporate finance advisory practice.

With 17 years’ experience in financial services, Richard joined Grant Thornton in July 2014 having worked for EY in Australia as a partner in its M&A team in Sydney, prior to that he was based in the Leeds office for five years.

Over the last year working with Grant Thornton, Richard has focussed on the Yorkshire and North East deals market as well as supporting the firm’s wider audit, tax and advisory services across the North of England. He specialises in advising entrepreneurs, management teams, corporates and private equity on all corporate finance matters, and has expertise in both sell-side and buy-side work and deal origination.

Andy Wood, senior practice leader for Grant Thornton in Leeds, said: “Richard has done terrifically well since joining us just over a year ago. With his extensive experience and strong track record, he has made a vital contribution to the continued success of our Yorkshire-based advisory practice.

“The team recently celebrated an incredibly busy period, completing four deals in four days, and there’s no doubt that Richard was a driving force behind this. His richly deserved promotion is another example of our commitment to enabling our people to grow with us as well as continuing to invest in bringing new talent into the firm.”

As part of Grant Thornton’s eight-strong corporate finance advisory team in Yorkshire and the North East, Richard works closely with colleagues in the North West, operating as an integrated Northern corporate finance advisory team.

James Teagle, Tom Moyes and Chris Waddingham, Blacks Solicitors

Leeds-based law firm, Blacks Solicitors LLP, has announced that three members of its experienced legal team have been promoted to become Partners.

James Teagle is now a Partner in the Commercial Dispute Resolution (Litigation) team, and Tom Moyes is a Partner in the Employment team. Finally, Chris Waddingham, who specialises in residential work, is now a Partner in the Commercial Property team.

All three dedicated employees were required to demonstrate their commitment to the Firm with the completion of targets and objectives, laid out earlier this year.

Chris Allen, Managing Partner at Blacks Solicitors LLP, said: “These latest promotions support our ongoing development plans, and help to ensure that we retain talent within the Firm. Congratulations to James, Tom and Chris #BestStaffinLeeds.”

Natasha Fathers, Hawsons Wealth Management

Hawsons Wealth Management has announced that Natasha Fathers has joined the firm as an Independent Financial Adviser.

Natasha is an experienced financial adviser having worked in financial services throughout her career, both across Yorkshire and at a major national firm. Natasha joins the Hawsons Wealth Management adviser team and will provide independent financial advice to individuals and corporate clients, focusing largely on the firm’s growing number of group pensions and auto enrolment schemes.

Hawsons Wealth Management, which was originally set up to provide financial services to the clients of Hawsons Chartered Accountants, has now grown from a team of two to a team of six in just three years. Natasha joins Nigel Smith and Erica Dietsch on the adviser team.

Nigel Smith, Director of Hawsons Wealth Management, said: “We are pleased to welcome Natasha as an Independent Financial Adviser to the firm. Over the last two years Hawsons Wealth Management has continued to grow…so much so that we have had to move to a bigger office within Pegasus House! Natasha brings a wealth of experience in providing financial advice and has a track record of delivering the best possible solutions to both personal and corporate clients.”

Andrew Parker, Moda Living

Moda Living, the UK’s largest regional Private Rented Sector (PRS) portfolio, has appointed a new Director of Projects as it looks to further grow its assets and enhance its already much-celebrated product.

Andrew Parker joined the company’s Harrogate office on 1 September 2015 and will be responsible for the management of all Moda Living projects from the point of acquisition. His first major project will be Manchester’s Angel Gardens, which received the green light from Manchester City Council in March 2015, and is expected to set the new standard for luxury, contemporary living in the city.

Andrew brings 18 years’ experience of private sector development to the team, having held Director positions at both Select Property Group and Manchester-based Ask Property Developments, in which he oversaw a wide range of mixed use, high quality developments such as First Street, Manchester, Sheffield’s luxury food and drink quarter, Leopold Square, and Townside Fields, Bury and a large number of residential projects across the UK.

Tony Brooks, director at Moda Living said: “At Moda we are striving to deliver a best-in-class product that offers a lifestyle choice not currently available outside of London. We’re looking to deliver future focussed, interactive communities, with a range of top-spec social and leisure facilities coupled with hotel style service.

“The breadth of Andrew’s experience across the hospitality, leisure, retail and residential sectors places him in a fantastic position to drive our developments and achieve the quality we are looking for across the board.”

Moda Living is a joint venture between Caddick Developments and Generate Land, with Apache Capital Partners on board to provide funding.

Jonathan Robson, Rachel Sharp and Laura Jones, Emsleys Solicitors

Leeds-based Emsleys Solicitors has offered both of its trainees NQ positions after qualifying earlier this month, and appointed another trainee to its expanding team.

Jonathan Robson, who qualified as a solicitor earlier this month, joins the firm’s Commercial team, whilst newly-qualified Rachel Sharp joins the Personal Injury team. Rachel said: “We’re delighted to have qualified; even more so now that we’ve both been offered NQ positions. It’s great knowing that all our hard work has finally paid off.”

Emsleys also welcomes Laura Jones, who joins the team as a trainee solicitor. Laura brings with her a wealth of knowledge after graduating with a law degree from Northumbria University and completing five years at Plexus Law as a legal assistant.

The firm will also see an addition to its Residential Conveyancing team later this month through the Leeds Legal Apprentice Scheme; which provides alternative opportunities to those who would like to pursue a career in law without using the traditional route through university, developing their legal knowledge and business skills.

Emsleys’ Director and Head of Personal Injury, Andrew Greenwood, said: “These latest appointments demonstrate our ongoing commitment to train and retain our recruits, and it’s through the continuous growth and development of our business that is enabling us to do this.”

Alistair McKinlay, Director and Head of Conveyancing, added: “We’re certainly seeing an increase in confidence within the property market, so it’s great to be able to reap the benefits of that by providing further employment opportunities.”

Paul Richardson, Lupton Fawcett Denison Till

Lupton Fawcett Denison Till, the Sheffield, Leeds and York-based commercial law firm, has strengthened its team of specialist solicitors in the family team with the appointment of senior solicitor Paul Richardson, who will be based in the firm’s Sheffield office.

Paul joins the firm from a Leicester firm and has over ten years of working in the field of family law and specialises in divorce, financial settlements, children issues and cohabitation and property disputes between unmarried couples.

Paul is also a trained Family Mediator, a member of the Family Law Panel and a member of Resolution.

Andrea Dyer, Head of Family & Divorce, commented: “Paul played a key role in establishing the family department at his previous firm and as such we look forward to welcoming Paul into the fold and establishing our Sheffield family team as one of the key players in the region. Paul shares our passion for high standards of client care.”

Paul Richardson added: “I’m thrilled to join and become part of the Lupton Fawcett Denison Till team. The calibre of their clients, the full provision of services they offer and their reputation in the market were my key deciding factors. They already have a great team of experts working in the family team and I look forward to the challenge of growing our reputation as the mid-market law firm of choice.”

Richard Parkin, Landwood Group

Landwood Group, the northern chartered surveyors, asset managers and auctioneers have appointed Richard Parkin as Business Development Director.

Richard, who joins Landwood Group from Cerberus Asset Management, will focus on building business in Leeds, Yorkshire and the North East, whilst also playing a key role in Landwood’s business development activities nationally.

He will be based at Landwood’s Leeds office in Queen Street.

Richard has more than twenty years’ experience in the recovery sector. Over the last three years he established a successful office in Leeds, building the team and business relationships. Clients included a range of insolvency practices, asset-based lenders, brokers and lawyers from across the region.

He will work across the Landwood Group disciplines of Machinery and Business Assets, Asset-Based Lending, Property and Property Asset Management.

Richard Parkinson, director at the Landwood Group added; “We are delighted that someone of Richard’s calibre is joining us, bringing his sector experience and leadership to our business development activities. He shares our philosophy of focussing on the client at all times and is passionate about building a successful business from our Leeds base.”

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