This week’s Yorkshire appointments

Five new staff have been appointed at Leeds-based City Living Specialist Morgans.

Mark Nowoslawski, Ben Murphy and Victoria Hague join as sales negotiators and Amy Wright and Trina Higgins as sales coordinators.

Emma Eastwood, who has worked for the property company for 17 years, has been promoted to rentals and sales manager. She previously managed the rentals team, but will now also be responsible for the sales team, who are all based at the firm’s Dock Street office.

Morgans now employs a team of 44 people.

Jonathan Morgan, managing director, said: “Last year we took on nine new starters in response to a strong increase in business across both the sales and rental divisions.

“As the residential property market continues to gain momentum, we have enjoyed our best quarter for 10 years in terms of apartment sales, so it’s important that we attract talented new team members to the division.

“We are also delighted to promote Emma to manage the sales team, she thoroughly deserves this promotion as she is loyal and talented and a true professional with great industry knowledge and the ability to manage a team really successfully.”

Morgans manages the largest rentals portfolio of apartments in the City which range in price from £500 to over £2,500 per calendar month.

The firm also has a dedicated corporate arm, dealing with businesses relocating staff to Leeds, and a sales division which is currently marketing a range of city centre homes suitable for owner occupiers, corporate organisations and investors that range in price from £95,000 to over £700,000.

Andrew Salkeld, Harrison Spinks

Harrison Spinks, the Leeds -based bed makers, Harrison Spinks, has appointed a finance and business expert as head of business change.

Andrew Salkeld has joined Harrison Spinks with more than 10 years’ experience in finance and business management, allowing him to bring a wealth of knowledge in corporate strategy, financial management and business intelligence to his new role.

Appointed into the newly-developed position, Andrew will work closely with the Harrison Spinks executive team to realise its aim of doubling the company’s annual turnover over the next five years.

After receiving a master’s degree in financial mathematics at the University of Leeds, Andrew originally trained as an accountant with PwC in Leeds, specialising in corporate finance working closely with business owners, management teams and private equity houses to help drive growth and create shareholder value.

Since then Andrew has worked with a number of organisations, including another local Yorkshire business Symingtons, where he led the team in developing and implementing a business intelligence system to provide the executive team with timely and accurate information, allowing them to make more informed strategic and commercial decisions.

Simon Spinks, managing director at Harrison Spinks, commented: “Andrew’s vast and varied business experience means he’s developed a skills set that will be extremely valuable to us in developing and growing Harrison Spinks over the months and years to come.

“It’s our vision to double the company’s turnover during the next five years, and with Andrew’s support, ideas and guidance, we feel we’ll be able to develop a business model that will enable us to meet this objective.”

Christian Dente and Emily Hoyland, Golley Slater

Golley Slater’s Leeds PR office has appointed Christian Dente and Emily Hoyland to its northern team.

Christian joins the senior team from Aberfield Communications, and Emily has converted her student internship at the agency into a graduate role.

Christian Dente has been appointed in a senior account manager role, bringing with him national and regional experience working at London and Leeds agencies brand campaigns for clients such as Diageo, Pringles, Heinz, Visit Leeds and Leeds Bid.

Emily Hoyland, a journalism graduate from Leeds Beckett University, joins the Golley team after impressing the agency during her internship taken during her degree. Emily had also undertaken a placement at Mazda and Auto Express before graduating.

Eileen Stretton, managing director of Golley Slater, said: “I’m delighted to be able to welcome new talent to an already successful team.

“Christian’s passion for working with great consumer clients bolsters our already strong offering to brands looking for creative approaches to both national and more local briefs.

“Emily is the third fresh graduate from Leeds Beckett we’ve hired in the last two years and I am delighted to have such a wealth of talent from the Beckett courses on our doorstep!”

Golley’s Northern PR team have won a stream of new business wins in the last eighteen months including beating off six agencies to launch the new John Lewis flagship branch in Leeds coming this October.

Daniel Matters, Frenchgate Shopping Centre

Daniel Matters has joined the team at Doncaster’s Frenchgate Shopping Centre as commercialisation manager.

Daniel brings with him more than a decade of experience in both commercial and sales positions, where he has played key roles in business development.

Daniel’s key duties at Frenchgate will include capitalising on the Centre’s retail opportunities, along with offering commercial space for established and new business start-ups to assist them in raising awareness of their products and services.

He said: “I want to help position the centre as a destination for business and attractions to host industry events, as well as further develop the leisure, arts and cultural activities we can offer.

“I am keen to continue the development of Frenchgate as more than a shopping destination.”

Paddy Mellon, Frenchgate centre manager, added: “Commercialisation is one of Frenchgate’s growth opportunities within our retail offer.

“Daniel brings with him skills developed in a variety of industries as well as a genuine interest in Business Development and Management – a combination which I’m sure will help us to further enhance our offering.”

Simon Cobb, Filplastic Ltd

Filplastic Ltd, the East Yorkshire-based racking supplier, has strengthened its senior team with the appointment of Simon Cobb.

Simon, who has many years’ experience in the builders’ merchant industry with Grafton Group and Travis Perkins, joined the company as national project manager this month.

He will oversee Filplastic’s larger national projects from proposal stage through to design, fit out and completion, ensuring jobs run smoothly and to time.

As an experienced designer, Simon will also provide input on creating modern, functional layouts for builders’ merchants and associated sectors.

Simon commented: “A lot of my career has been spent at large companies. So it is fantastic to join a smaller business like Filplastic where you can really make a difference.

“Filplastic has got a fantastic reputation in the builders’ merchant sector for their design and fit out work and the vast range of racking and storage products they supply.

“My role will see us build on that. The builders’ merchant sector is modernising and looking at more efficient layouts for their yards, warehouses and trade counters to create an improved customer experience. That is where we come in, starting from the ground up we can help them achieve those aims.”

Paul Taylor, managing director of Filplastic, said: “Simon has the rare combination of a full understanding of builders’ merchants and a thorough working knowledge of the racking industry as well.

“He will enable Filplastic to offer an even better standard of design and service.

“Simon has the ability to draw in 3D and this will enable Filplastic customers to get a clearer visualising of their projects. As he is based in Milton Keynes, he is also perfectly placed to extend Filplastic’s national coverage and work with clients across the entire country.”

Wayne Topley, QHotels

QHotels has appointed hotelier, Wayne Topley, as general manager of the group’s Leeds city centre hotel, The Queens.

With over 20 years’ experience - graduating in Hotel Management and going on to manage hotels for Marriott, De Vere, Barcelo, Intercontinental Hotel Group and Redefine BDL Hotels - Wayne brings a wealth of knowledge to The Queens.

Wayne will oversee the hotel’s conference and events business, with 16 conference, meeting and events spaces, as well as 215 bedrooms and The Queens’ QClub with 18 luxury bedrooms on the top floor of the hotel with exclusive access to a lounge and terrace area.

Wayne will also implement significant investments throughout 2016, including meeting room refurbishment, ongoing bedroom upgrading and enhancements to facilities, such as complimentary, high speed Wi-Fi access for both corporate events and leisure guests.

Michael Purtill, managing director at QHotels, said: “Wayne’s outstanding track record and experience make him a fantastic addition to the QHotels management team but importantly, his passion and understanding of the region, The Queens and its guests, means he has exactly what’s required to lead the hotel forwards, enhancing the experience for our guests.

“Wayne’s move back to Yorkshire is testament to the reputation that The Queens holds across the region and that the QHotels group has built within the industry.”

Mark Wood, RSM

RSM, the audit, tax and consulting firm, has appointed Mark Wood as an associate director in the consulting practice.

Based in Leeds, Mark joins RSM from PwC where he worked as a senior manager within the risk assurance team for nearly 13 years. He previously worked at Deloitte specialising in the public and financial services sectors.

Mark has also worked within the NHS, including high profile engagements, such as the Keogh review and the capability and capacity assessments of Clinical Commissioning Groups for NHS England.

Mark is a qualified accountant and has extensive experience in risk assurance, risk management and governance, including internal audit, financial due diligence and programme assurance.

In addition, Mark brings a range of specialist expertise in the health, charities, central government, education and social housing sectors, as well as the financial services sector.

In his new role, Mark will enhance the Governance and Risk Consulting Service Group at RSM and will focus on strengthening the service offering to support more clients in the North. Mark will also provide governance and risk advice to a large portfolio of clients.

Matthew Humphrey, RSM partner and head of Governance and Risk Consulting Service Group in the UK, said: “Mark is a real asset to the team, and we’re excited to have him on board. He brings an extensive range of governance and risk management experience that will strengthen our offering and help our growing portfolio of clients across the North.

“Our consulting team is one of the fastest growing practices in the UK, so Mark joins us at an exciting time and we look forward to building on this investment over the next 12 months and beyond.”

Mark Wood, commenting on his appointment, added: “I am absolutely delighted to join RSM. I’ve specialised in risk assurance services throughout my career, predominantly within the not-for-profit sector. I’m looking forward to drawing on this experience and supporting RSM in providing a client focussed consulting and advisory service to a variety of clients in these challenging and uncertain times.”

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