This week’s Yorkshire appointments

Hull-based Williamsons Solicitors has strengthened its board of directors with a raft of new promotions.

Company secretary Brian Cook and solicitors Jane Cousins, Jim Suthers and Nick Gray have joined existing directors Bill Waddington and Sarah Clubley on the board.

Mr Waddington said: “We have put in place a structure designed to oversee our continued progress and to assist with our plans for the future.

“The appointments will allow sharing of responsibilities as the business continues to grow and will enable us to move on with our plans more quickly.

“The four new Board members bring with them a wealth of experience, not only in their respective fields of expertise, but also in their management skills.”

Mr Cook is the longest serving of the new board members after becoming practice manager in 1996 and then company secretary in 2010.

Mr Suthers, who is a senior solicitor in the firm’s personal injury department, qualified through the firm’s trainee solicitor programme.

Jane Cousins heads the residential conveyancing and wills and probate departments and she too qualified through the same process.

Mr Gray, who sits on the Law Society’s Clinical Negligence Panel, represents a department that is pursuing an increasing number of high value cases.

The last 10 years have been a period of expansion for Williamsons, which recently concluded its 125th anniversary celebrations. The company marked its 10th anniversary in Driffield by transferring to bigger offices in Times House, Mill Street, at the start of 2016.

Andrew Hartley, The Sheffield College

A business development director has been appointed at The Sheffield College.

Andrew Hartley has just joined the College to develop partnerships with organisations for apprenticeship and workforce development provision to match regional employers’ skills needs and support economic growth.

Andrew joins the College from System Training, a training provider for the logistics industry, where he led the company’s preparation for the introduction of the government’s apprenticeship reforms.

Andrew also secured new training partnership agreements with employers and other training providers.

Prior to that, Andrew worked at the University of Derby for ten years and led their business development activity including the management of the University’s work based learning and business-to-business operating arm.

Paul Corcoran, chief executive of The Sheffield College, said: “The Sheffield City Region has great economic growth potential and we want to play our part by helping the region’s businesses succeed - which is why I am delighted that Andrew has joined us as our new Business Development Director.”

He added: “This is an important appointment and Andrew’s experience will help us further develop our already strong employer relationships across the city and the region.

“Andrew will be leading the development of strategic relationships with the region’s employers based on an understanding of their individual business needs for skills development, education and training.”

Bob McNaughton, Harris Construction Management Ltd

Harris Construction Management Ltd has appointed financial expert and business advisor Bob McNaughton, as a non-executive director.

Bob brings a wealth of experience to the firm, which includes Harris CM and HCM Interiors and employs a 60 strong team from its Wakefield headquarters.

He was previously Northern Regional Chairman and a member of the national board at PKF.

Bob worked across an extensive portfolio of clients across Yorkshire and further afield during his 29 years as a partner at PKF and latterly BDO where he was a senior partner after the merger of the two firms. Bob retired from BDO almost two years ago.

Jason Adlam, chief executive of Harris Construction Management, commented: “I am very pleased to welcome Bob onto the Board to further strengthen our team.

“His experience and advice can help take the business to the next level at what is a very exciting time for the company. We’ve enjoyed a year of continued growth and have already secured more than 60% of our turnover for 2017 with a range of notable new business wins.

“These include projects from our existing valued customers such as Asda, Britvic, Nando’s and Coca Cola, as well as a number of contract wins from new clients including Henry Boot Developments, Gregory Property Group, Safestyle UK and several projects in the education sector.”

Helen Wardley, AKA PR

AKA PR, the Aire Valley-based public relations consultancy, has appointed Helen Wardley to support its growing client base, bringing the total number of employees up to 11.

Helen, a former journalist, joins AKA as an account manager, bringing six years of public relations and marketing experience with her.

She will be working on a range of B2B and B2C accounts including Foam Comforts, The Sleep Council and National Bed Federation.

Jan Turner, director of AKA PR, said: “We’re delighted with our recent appointment and would like to welcome Helen into the team.

“She brings a wealth of experience and specialist skills to the company that will help us in the near future.”

AKA PR has been based in High Corn Mill, Skipton’s medieval mill, for more than 20 years, specialising in home furnishings and interiors. AKA handles PR for clients on both national and local levels.

Erica Topham, Wilkinson Woodward

Wilkinson Woodward, Halifax-based law firm, has appointed criminal law specialist Erica Topham.

Erica brings with her more than a decade’s experience in criminal defence work on cases ranging from criminal damage to murder and theft to conspiracy.

After graduating from the University of Huddersfield, Erica worked within the Prosecutions Team at Calderdale Council before moving on to gain specialist criminal defence experience at several West Yorkshire law firms.

Erica is able to represent clients at police stations, magistrates’ courts and crown courts for all types of offence.

She specialises in the defence of serious and general crime, drugs fraud and confiscation, historic sexual offences, rape, kidnap, grievous bodily harm, fraud and money laundering.

Maureen Cawthorn, managing director, said: “Wilkinson Woodward continues to attract legal professionals of the highest calibre and Erica’s appointment will strengthen our busy Criminal Representation department.”

Matt Bartle, Leeds Building Society

Leeds Building Society has appointed Matt Bartle as Head of Products & Pricing.

Matt has experience in managing mortgage and savings portfolios across multiple channels and for multiple brands, including the £90bn savings book at the UK’s leading savings provider.

Jaedon Green, Leeds Building Society’s director of product and distribution, said: “I am delighted to make this appointment and welcome Matt to Leeds Building Society’s Product team.

“Our ability to attract talented individuals, such as Matt, is testament to the pace of growth and transformation at Leeds Building Society. It also illustrates the ambition which remains.”

Matt said: “I am really excited to be joining the Society at a time of such rapid change both within and external to the business.”

Fraser Shurer-Lewis, GDA Creative Marketing

Barnsley-based GDA Creative Marketing has appointed a new addition to its team.

Fraser Shurer-Lewis has joined the creative and digital agency as account executive, following his graduation in Politics and History from The University of Sheffield.

Alistair Farrant, managing director at GDA, commented: “We were keen to take on someone straight from University as we find it’s great to utilise the enthusiasm and fresh approach that graduates bring.

“Fraser is multi-talented, so he’s an outstanding guy to have on board”.

Fraser has joined just as the agency underwent a rebrand, launched a new website and was named the number one agency in the UK for client satisfaction.

Alistair continued: “This year has been incredible and shows no sign of letting up. The company has been going for nearly 30 years but we’re not standing still – we are currently working on another huge development for the business that will really cement our future.”

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