This week’s North West appointments

Annie McIntyre, Jenny McParland and Janine McCarthy, BDB

Altrincham-based marketing communications agency BDB has welcomed three new faces to its growing team.

Annie McIntyre has joined the firm in the role of account executive. Having previously worked for marketing company The Little Big Voice, Annie has a degree in PR and experience spanning media relations, social media and copywriting.

At BDB, Annie will work with clients across the food and nutrition, construction and pharmaceuticals sectors.

Jenny McParland, also an account executive, was hired from marketing firm Notch Communications. Jenny studied neuroscience at university and gained communications and technical experience in the life sciences industry.

In her new role, Jenny will work with clients from the food and nutrition, technology and science sectors.

BDB’s third appointment, Janine McCarthy, has taken on the role of production executive. Janine, formerly of USP Creative, has a graphic arts and illustration degree and experience working in photography studios, marketing agencies and in freelancing.

Following her appointment, Janine will help BDB’s project managers and production team in placing, organising and progressing the company’s international creative campaigns.

BDB’s managing director said: “The level of growth at the agency is unprecedented with organic growth in our existing client base, coupled with some fantastic new business wins.

“This means we need to be perfectly poised to strike when we need to on-board fresh talent to the team.

“I’m so pleased with the level of talent we continue to attract and all three of the new hires are a perfect fit for BDB and our sophisticated client base.”

Peter Terry, Grant Thornton

Grant Thornton has appointed a new corporate finance partner within its North West advisory team.

Peter Terry has joined the business advisory firm from accounting company Mazars and has more than 20 years of experience in corporate finance.

He worked for seven years at Mazars’ Manchester office, three as a partner at BDO and more than 10 at KPMG.

Grant Thornton’s North West managing partner, Carl Williams (pictured above right), said: “I am absolutely thrilled that we have brought Peter Terry into the North West partnership.

“He has a great reputation as a deal-doer and I am really looking forward to working with him and seeing him achieve great things with the talented team here.”

He continued: “Peter has great contacts with the banks, with lawyers and private equity firms in the North West and I am sure he is looking forward to hitting the ground running.

“With the recent appointments of three new partners - Peter, Mick Frankish and Sarah O’Toole in the last four months - we have a strong, dynamic and ambitious North West team and we look forward to growing our business in the region and providing excellent advice to our clients during a period of both opportunity and uncertainty.”

Commenting on his appointment, Peter said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be joining Grant Thornton. I am excited to be part of a full service advisory team – together with Sarah O’Toole (Restructuring Services) and Philip Grindley (Transaction Advisory Services) we will have a really powerful offering for mid-market businesses.

“Given the strength of our brand nationally, and in the North West in particular, we have a real opportunity to take a dominant position in the mid-market.”

Bill Carr, Institute of Directors (Cheshire)

The managing director of Warrington-based digital agency Carpe Diem, Bill Carr, has been made the chair of the Institute of Directors’ (IoD) Cheshire branch.

Having been a member of the IoD’s branch committee for more than two years, Bill will now seek to give Cheshire businesses a voice on the IoD national stage, helping the organisation promote business growth across the county.

His remit includes the launch of the IoD Advance concept to Northern businesses in early 2017.

Bill founded Carpe Diem in 1999. Today, the business works with a number of international brands, including pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline and footwear brand New Balance.

Discussing his new role, Bill said: “The Cheshire branch of the IoD has always been a very proactive and engaging force within the local community so this is a great platform to bring my knowledge and experience to further improve our offering to Cheshire businesses. I am particularly excited about the opportunity to engage with local business startups and use my experience to encourage, support and mentor this growing community.

“In addition to its wide range of events and networking, the IoD provides, without doubt the best training and resources to support business leaders as they look to develop and grow.”

He continued: “As we continue what will be a challenging but exciting year, I look forward to taking up the role of chair and working with our members here in Cheshire to put forward our voice on both a regional and national level. I would also like to personally thank our former chair, Jeff Hardman, for his efforts and support during my time working with the Cheshire committee.”

Stephen Grayson, UHY Hacker Young

Accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young has appointed a new partner.

Stephen Grayson, a former partner at accountants Howard Worth, has joined the audit department at UHY’s office in Manchester.

Boasting more than 15 years’ experience in accounting with a focus on auditing and advising SMEs, at UHY Stephen will utilise his education sector expertise to complement the firm’s academy school offering.

Mike Wasinski, managing partner at UHY Manchester, commented: “Our ambitious growth in the North West requires further expansion of our leadership team.

“Stephen has an impressive track record and his expertise will be an asset to our clients, particularly to our academy schools, both locally and nationally.”

Stephen said of his appointment: “UHY has an impressive national offering based on core sector specialisms.

“Coupled with the firm’s local firm personal approach and invaluable global network, the decision to move to UHY was an easy one. I am very much looking forward to getting started.”

Nicky Leonard, HURST

HURST, the accountancy and business advisory firm, has added to its deal-making team with the appointment of Nicky Leonard.

As the head of deal origination and research for HURST Corporate Finance, Nicky will support the firm’s growth through research and deal origination, in addition to providing market and business research for clients on live deals.

Prior to her appointment, Nicky held senior posts with manufacturer McBride, food giant Princes and accountants Grant Thornton.

The head of HURST Corporate Finance, Nigel Barratt, said: “We work hard to identify strategic buyers for the businesses we are selling, and we need a strong research function to do this.

“Previously this was carried out by other members of the team, but it has become necessary to recruit an experienced specialist as our deals are becoming more complex in nature and our pipeline is strengthening.”

He continued: “Nicky is ideally-suited to this new senior post. She has an excellent background in the field and many years’ experience of analysing and presenting business intelligence on a range of sectors in the UK and overseas.

“We’re proud of our ability to attract such high-calibre staff and are delighted to welcome Nicky to the team.”

Nicky commented: “I’m delighted to join HURST Corporate Finance as I am working with like-minded people who are genuinely interested in supporting the aspirations of business owners.

“I’m proud to join such a highly-respected firm and look forward to playing a key role in developing opportunities to support the future growth of HURST Corporate Finance, as well as delivering a quality research service for our clients.”

Paul Daine, Altrincham & Sale Chamber of Commerce

The president of the Altrincham & Sale Chamber of Commerce, Paul Daine, is set to be inaugurated into his second term.

Paul is the managing director of Timperley-based debt collection and recovery firm Premium Collections, and has been a member of the Chamber for over 10 years.

He said: “I am very excited to be remaining as President for a second term.

“It gives me the opportunity to continue the work I have started with the board, the members and the wider business community.”

Discussing the last 12 months and his time so far as president of the Chamber, Paul explained: “There is so much I have enjoyed during my first year of presidency but perhaps the highlight was the business awards event in October.

“It is the Chamber’s flagship event of the year and recognises the hard work and achievements of so many of our members as well as non-member business in the area that are eager to enter the awards.”

He added: “In my second term I hope to strengthen the Chamber’s links with other business groups, with the council and with local education providers.”

Image L-R: Nicola Taylor, Niall Spence, Nici Hewitson, Laura Grey and PR executive Kate Skillen

Three appointments, One Little Bird Public Relations

Cumbrian PR company One Little Bird Public Relations has taken on three new members of staff.

The move, which more than doubles the firm’s size in less than a year, saw the Cockermouth-based business appoint Niall Spence to the role of PR assistant, Nicola Taylor as PA/PR assistant and Laura Grey as PR apprentice.

Niall’s background lies in journalism, while Nicola previously worked in administration and Laura as a teaching assistant.

Nici Hewitson, director at One Little Bird, said: “We are delighted to welcome Niall, Laura and Nicola to the team.

“Already they are helping significantly in achieving great results for our clients.”

She added: “It’s brilliant to have more pairs of hands and I’m excited about all they can help us to achieve for our clients in the future.”

Natalie Lanyon and Lizzie Horridge, Intelligent Conversation

PR, content and social agency Intelligent Conversation has hired two new senior consultants.

Natalie Lanyon and Lizzie Horridge have joined the Manchester-based agency’s now 14-strong team following a series of client wins, including Manchester Metropolitan University and national charity After Adoption.

Natalie, who has nine years of in-house experience working across the health and higher education sectors, worked for SKV Communications prior to her appointment.

Lizzie has worked in PR for seven years across the professional services, education and consumer goods sectors. She previously worked for boutique agency Candor Creative.

The newcomers will be based at Intelligent Conversation’s office at the Hive, in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, where they will work for clients across the business and industry, health and social care, and public information divisions.

Intelligent Conversation MD Libby Howard commented: “I’m delighted to welcome two new members of our team on the back of continuing business growth.

“In line with our senior team philosophy, each of the new recruits brings with them proven experience and skills that will add real value for our clients.”

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