This week's Yorkshire appointments

Leeds Bradford Airport has appointed David Laws as its new chief executive in succession to John Parkin who is retiring.

The airport now operates to over 70 destinations in 25 countries and has grown passenger numbers by 6% over the last 12 months to 3.7 million passengers.

John Parkin will continue as a non executive director.

David Laws was previously chief executive of Newcastle Airport for 10 years and has 39 years’ experience in the airport sector.

He began his career as a trainee fireman at Newcastle Airport in April 1979 and went onto become fire officer, subsequently becoming the Airport’s safety advisor.

David held a number of roles in airport operations, before becoming commercial director responsible for the development of the airline and retail business and then chief executive.

David Laws, Chief Executive of Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “My passion is for airport development and ensuring that the customer journey is a truly great experience.

“I am excited about joining Leeds Bradford Airport to further improve, expand and develop the business and look forward to working with the team at Leeds Bradford Airport and all those involved from the airlines, stakeholders and partners to develop the next phase of the airport’s growth.”

Liam Brooke, Clarion

Liam Brooke has joined Clarion’s expanding contentious private client team in Leeds as an associate solicitor.

Liam joins from Irwin Mitchell LLP in Leeds where he worked within the contentious probate team having undertaken a three year training contract with the firm.

He graduated from the University of Lancaster with an LLB Law degree before completing his Legal Practise Course and qualifying with a distinction.

Liam has experience of dealing with disputes over the validity of wills, disputed inheritance cases and contentious trust matters.

Lynsey Harrison, head of Clarion’s contentious private client team, said: “Having specialised in contentious probate for the last 13 years, I’ve seen a marked increase in demand from clients needing expert advice on navigating this complex field of law and, as a result, we’re growing the team.

“Liam comes to us with a solid grounding in contentious probate and will be a welcome addition to the team.”

Liam added: “This is a great opportunity to join a renowned contentious private client practice with a strong reputation for its technical knowledge and empathy with clients.

“These types of disputes are often a stressful and emotional experience for clients and I find it hugely satisfying to use my legal knowledge to guide clients through these difficult times towards a strong and successful outcome.”

Anne Cook and Helen Needham, Gibson Booth Ltd

Barnsley-based Gibson Booth Ltd has strengthened its accountancy and tax departments with two new appointments.

Helen Needham has joined Gibson Booth as accounts senior from a Sheffield-based accountancy firm, and Anne Cook has been appointed as a tax senior, after working at an accountancy practice in West Yorkshire.

Helen holds a degree in mathematics and finance and is working towards the ACCA qualification to become a chartered accountant. In her new role, she will prepare accounts for Gibson Booth’s sole traders, partnerships and limited companies.

Anne will be responsible for looking after a portfolio of personal tax clients, bringing a wealth of experience to help them proactively manage their tax affairs.

Robert Watson, managing director of Gibson Booth, said: “I am delighted to welcome Helen and Anne to the team who both bring with them a wealth of experience and I’m sure will be fantastic additions to our growing team.”

Helen Needham added: “I was impressed by the firm’s high levels of client service and the close relationships it has built over the years.

“The directors have a clear vision and direction for Gibson Booth and it is clear that the team shares the same passion for developing the business. I’m really looking forward to being part of that.”

Gibson Booth, based on Victoria Road in Barnsley town centre, offers accounts, audit, tax planning; together with specialisms including VAT, payroll, capital taxes, research and development advice, corporate finance and wealth management.

Paul Noon, JCT600

Paul Noon has joined Bradford-headquartered motor group JCT600 as the new head of fleet for its Volkswagen division.

Paul joins JCT600 from RMB Automotive in Stockton where he worked as corporate sales manager having previously spent 11 years at Benfield Motor Group for eleven years, latterly as group corporate sales manager.

Prior to that, Paul worked as purchasing manager for JCT600 Contracts for 10 years.

In his new role, Paul will be based at JCT600’s fleet hub at Volkswagen Bradford, but will be responsible for fleet operations at all of the group’s Volkswagen sites including overseeing the sales and sales support teams and supporting the local business development managers in winning new clients as well as managing existing accounts.

Neill Richards, group fleet sales director for JCT600, said: “It’s great to have Paul back at JCT600. With his extensive experience in the sector, he will be a valuable addition to the team as we continue to grow our fleet division.”

Michael Goodare, Knight Frank

The Leeds office of property consultancy Knight Frank has strengthened its residential and commercial valuation team with the appointment of Michael Goodare as a senior surveyor.

Michael joins from GVA in Leeds, where he spent three years in its valuation consultancy division. He has also previously worked for Leeds City Council.

Michael was educated at Northumbria University, where he gained a first class degree in Estate Management.

He commented: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to join Knight Frank and am eager to further develop my career with a world-renowned valuation practice.

’The department is well-regarded across the Yorkshire region and I am excited to contribute to its continued success.

“I look forward to meeting the team’s existing clients and to developing new contacts to further expand Knight Frank’s presence in the region.’

During the past 12 months, the Knight Frank Yorkshire Valuations team, comprising both Leeds and Sheffield offices, has valued over £1bn worth of assets.

Paul Hallam, head of the Valuations team in Leeds, said: “Michael is a valuable addition to our team. His expertise and experience will help with the expansion of the department.”

Hayley Morris, Dacre, Son & Hartley

A sales adviser has joined Dacre, Son & Hartley’s Thirsk branch from national firm Countrywide.

Hayley Morris, who previously worked in the Northampton area for three years, joins a team of four at the Castlegate office in the heart of the market town of Thirsk.

Hayley said: “I have always had a keen interest in property and thoroughly enjoy helping people to find their dream home.

“Having worked for a larger corporate organisation, I wanted to join a business like Dacres, which has a national reach, but is renowned for its local expertise.

“The Thirsk branch opened just over two years ago and has incredibly successful sales and lettings divisions that effectively market a wide range of homes, so it’s great to join the friendly team.”

Chris O’Mahony, area manager, added: “Hayley will support our sales experts Andrew Skelton and Andrea McGivern in her new role, helping to market the wide range of homes which currently range in price from £120k to over £700k.

“Hayley is a very capable adviser who has a proven track-record for delivering high levels of customer service, and she will help us to continue growing our business in Thirsk and all of its surrounding villages.”

Ryan McGovern, Xpand

Bradford-based Xpand has announced the addition of a new web developer.

The full-service marketing agency has added Ryan McGovern to the team to fill the role of web developer.

Ryan’s role will focus on the delivery of custom-made websites to clients. He brings a wealth of knowledge in creating user experiences online.

Jag Panesar, director of Xpand, said: “We’re thrilled to have added Ryan to the team. There has been an increased demand for websites from our clients, not just in Bradford, but also from London and across the UK.

“A third of our turnover is already coming from outside West Yorkshire, from clients such as Lindt and a dental practice in the prestigious Harley Street area.

“Strengthening our expertise in user experience will allow us to better compete for business nationally, while retaining and growing our client-base locally. “Ryan will be applying his wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to a number of exciting and challenging on-going projects.”

Ryan has previously worked as a freelance web developer for a variety of international clients.

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