This week’s North West appointments

Andy Booth and Chris MacCafferty, SAS Daniels

SAS Daniels, the North West law firm, has appointed two of its partners as joint heads of its office in Stockport.

Andy Booth and Chris MacCafferty will now jointly run the company’s HQ to lead local business development and accelerate growth.

Andy Booth is SAS Daniels’ head of music and media, while Chris MacCafferty is the firm’s head of dispute resolution.

Commenting on the changes to his role, Andy said: “Stockport has a thriving business community and there are currently a lot of projects underway to regenerate the town centre.

“Chris and I are both delighted to be given the opportunity to drive the Stockport office forward and to maintain and develop our established position in the business community by continuing our partnership with Marketing Stockport, supporting the Stockport BID plan and supporting local businesses.”

He added: “We have a great team of 46 legal advisers, including 14 partners working from our offices in Greek Street offering legal expertise on a range of specialist practice areas.”

Chris commented: “SAS Daniels’ Stockport team has some of the best legal advisers I’ve ever worked with resulting in us continuing to increase our market share not only in Stockport, but in the North West.”

Jonathan Whittaker, a senior partner at SAS Daniels, hailed Andy and Chris as “highly respected legal practitioners” in their fields, both of whom he said are “very well connected” locally.

Speaking further, Jonathan said: “I am delighted that they have agreed to work together to head up our Stockport practice and drive forward the growth of our business.”

Peter Ball, Together

Lending firm Together has announced the appointment of Peter Ball, the former CEO of Harrods Bank.

Peter, the new chief executive of Together’s retail division, brings almost 30 years of experience in financial services to the role.

Before his post at Harrods Bank, Prior served as a product and commercial director with Virgin Money Group and, before that, senior vice president of MBNA/Bank of America.

Commenting on his appointment, Peter said: “Together is a unique business which has affirmed its position as a leader in the specialist finance sector over more than four decades of successful trading; providing finance to niche markets that are largely underserved by the mainstream UK lenders.

“The business has a great energy and a really positive business culture, with its colleagues and customers at its core, and I’m very excited to be joining Together at this time, as it continues to reshape what we think of as traditional financial services.”

Together chairman Mike McTighe said: “We are delighted to have Peter on board. His wealth of experience in the financial services industry perfectly complements the skills and expertise we have built up within our core retail division.

“This is another high profile hire for the business and highlights our commitment to investing in a leadership team that can help drive our ongoing development, as we seek to make Together a household name across the UK.”

Laura Wilbourn and Dominic Pozzoni, Colliers International

Real estate advisory firm Colliers International has made two appointments in its North West team.

Laura Wilbourn (pictured) has joined company’s Manchester-based industrial and logistics team in the role of senior surveyor. With Colliers, Laura will work alongside director Julien Kenny-Levick and consultant Chris Evans.

Laura, who holds a BA (Hons) in public services and politics and a master’s degree in urban regeneration, has previously undertaken work experience with various commercial property agencies in the region, including Colliers and a number of property developers

She commented: “Working with the industrial and logistics team at Colliers International, I will be based from the Manchester office but working nationwide with clients.

“Several years’ experience working client side and within environmental surveying leaves me able to appreciate clients’ interests: reducing voids, ensuring good covenant strength and maximising the value potential.”

Laura added: “In addition, I will be working closely with our investment team to acquire new industrial sites, and cross communicating with other departments to ensure we offer a range of services to our clients.”

Elsewhere, Colliers International has welcomed Dominic Pozzoni (above) to its national office agency team in Manchester

The former commercial director of Property Alliance Group (PAG), Dominic will serve as a director within Colliers’ seven-strong National Offices team. In his new role, he will work closely with directors Michael Hawkins and Peter Gallagher.

Colliers’ head of the North West, Andrew McFarlane, said: “The appointment of Dominic complements this model perfectly; he isn’t just an agent but a proven business advisor and problem solver, something which is invaluable to our growing client base.”

Dominic first joined PAG in 2004, prior to which he worked as a partner at Manchester-based surveyors Edwards & Co for 11 years.

Colliers International’s UK & Ireland CEO, Tony Horrell, said: “Dominic is acknowledged as a best in class real estate advisor with particular track record in letting high value office schemes in the North West and across the UK.

“Our Manchester office agency team is a fusion of high level expertise alongside some of the region’s very best young talent.”

He added: “With the addition of Dominic, we’ve created a potent force which I believe will be of the greatest value to our client base in the North West.”

Anthony Collier, FRP Advisory

Business services company FRP Advisory LLP has hired Anthony Collier as a new partner at its office in Manchester.

Joining from professional services firm KPMG, Anthony brings with him 15 years of experience in restructuring. His appointment forms part of FRP Advisory’s ongoing expansion efforts across Liverpool, Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire and North Wales.

FRP Advisory’s Manchester-based partner, Ben Woolrych, said: “We are delighted that Anthony has agreed to join the team and his arrival is timely as demand for our services continues to grow from both management teams as well as key stakeholder groups who seek innovative solutions to drive value from their operations and investments.”

In his new role Anthony will utilise his existing contact base, which includes asset based lenders, banks, alternative investors and other financial organisations.

Anthony commented: “I am equally delighted to be joining FRP Advisory at a time when the firm is seeing such strong demand for its services across all regions including the North West.

“The market is seeing businesses of all sizes facing operational and financial change and FRP Advisory has differentiated itself in the market through consistent delivery of sustainable solutions for clients.”

He added: “I look forward to contributing to FRP Advisory’s ongoing success.”

David Smith, Dow Schofield Watts

Professional advisory and equity finance company Dow Schofield Watts has appointed David Smith to the role of corporate finance director at its office in Daresbury.

Qualified as a chartered accountant, David has 25 years of experience in equity investing, corporate finance, private equity and venture capital with companies such as KPMG and 3i.

Most recently, David worked as the investment director at the North West Fund for Digital & Creative.

James Dow, founding partner of Dow Schofield Watts, said of the appointment: “David will bring a wealth of valuable knowledge and experience to our business and we look forward to welcoming him to DSW Corporate Finance and in due course to PHD.

“He has a truly exceptional range of skills and experience and his appointment continues to differentiate DSW as probably the leading provider of experienced corporate finance advice outside of London.”

James added: “He is a great addition to an already outstanding team.”

Pictured L-R: Dean Gallagher, Amy Hopkinson and Lianne Hunter

Amy Hopkinson, Weber Shandwick Manchester

Weber Shandwick Manchester, the communications agency, has hired Amy Hopkinson in the role of senior account director.

Previously the head of PR firm Remarkable Engagement’s office in Manchester, Amy has joined Weber Shandwick’s growing corporate team.

With Weber Shandwick, Amy will use her PR experience and knowledge of the North’s property scene to help strengthen the team’s offer this area.

Heather Blundell, Weber Shandwick Manchester’s acting managing director, said: “Following a year of big successes, we are delighted to have brought Amy into our ever-growing team and look forward to setting her to work on some of our largest client accounts, as well as working with her to help build on our northern public affairs offering.

“This appointment follows a series of promotions within the Manchester Corporate team, which has seen Dean Gallagher and Lianne Hunter promoted to Account Directors. Lianne will be focusing on heading up our technology team.”

Heather continued: “These are exciting times for Weber Shandwick, and we look forward to continued growth and expansion within the region, as well as on a national and global scale.”

Steph Salusbury and Laura Thomas, Businesscomparison.com

Businesscomparison.com, a Chester-headquartered comparison site for SMEs and startups, has announced two appointments.

Steph Salusbury has taken on the position of channel manager for insurance and energy, while Laura Thomas is the fintech firm’s new channel manager for business finance.

Steph began her career in 2008 with an energy sales role at comparison firm MoneySupermarket.com, where she worked for three years before going on to work in operations for a further four years.

She commented: “I predominantly have an energy background however I understand the benefits of using a comparison service to obtain the best deals for all types of enquiries from home and car insurance to energy, without the need of going direct.

“My ambition for Businesscomparison.com is to continue its success, being crowned SME Website of the Year 2016, offering more scope to compare products from business insurance to van insurance.”

She added: “I look forward to maintaining existing relationships and developing new opportunities. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Meanwhile, as channel manager for business finance, fellow newcomer Laura oversee the firm’s commercial finance strategy, working to strengthen affinity partnerships and boosting Businesscomparison.com’s share of the online comparison market.

Laura, who previously worked as a regional development director with lender Together Money, has 20 years’ experience in business development and operational management.

She said: “I am delighted to take up this appointment, Businesscomparison.com is an innovative young company with a very focussed vision and expertise in the digital lead and broking sector.

“I am looking to build on the current successes of the company and be part of their bright, exciting future.”

Businesscomparison.com boss Philip Brennan commented: “We’re confident that both Steph and Laura will use their experience and expertise to help us to go from strength to strength and enable us to offer financial, energy and insurance solutions to even more businesses.

“I am really excited by the product knowledge and digital experience Laura and Steph are adding to the team.”

He continued: “The next six months will be very exciting and I expect our growth trajectory to continue on the same line it has for the past 12 months.”

Adam Caplan, Freedman Frankl & Taylor

Freedman Frankl & Taylor (fft), the Manchester-based chartered accountancy and business advisory company, has promoted Adam Caplan to partner.

Adam joined fft in August 2007 as a trainee, going on to qualify in 2010 and secure a managerial promotion in 2013. He leads the department that provides payroll services and auto enrolment pensions advice to a UK-wide client base.

Commenting on his promotion, Adam said: “I’m delighted to be promoted to partner at fft and look forward to playing my part in ensuring we continue to grow the practice in the coming years.”

Adam is fft’s fourth partner, alongside Robert Frankl, Ian Sluckis and Andrew Cohen.

Robert Frankl said: “Adam is an extremely talented individual with great technical expertise, a common sense approach and a determination to provide the highest level of service to clients.

“These qualities have given rise to his promotions, culminating in this appointment. We are all delighted that he has continued his progression in the practice and has achieved partner status.”

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