This week's Yorkshire appointments

Ramsdens Solicitors, the West Yorkshire law firm, has announced associate promotions across its corporate, commercial property, private client, family and conveyancing teams.

Jodie Wielgus, a wills, probate and Lasting Powers of Attorney specialist, has been promoted to the position of associate within Ramsdens Private Client department.

Also promoted to the position of associate is corporate law expert Adam Cockroft and Rachel Straughan and Suresh Nadkarni both from Ramsdens Residential Conveyancing team.

Meanwhile, Natalie Lang from Ramsdens Court of Protection team, Sarah Ward from the Family team and Kirsty Jackson from the Commercial Property team were all promoted to Senior Associates.

Paul Joyce, managing partner at Ramsdens, added: “I am delighted to announce these promotions. I am particularly proud that those promoted have been with Ramsdens for a large part of their professional careers.

“Recognising the talent we have at Ramsdens and giving people the chance to develop their careers is key to the firms continued growth and development.”

Also promoted is Jonathan Cornes to Director of Risk and Compliance.

Ramsdens Solicitors has 25 partners and employs 250 people across 12 offices in West Yorkshire.

Jack Redman, Olga Grebenikove and Duncan Kirkbride, Ewe

Ewe, the Leeds-based customer experience agency, has made three new appointments.

The team is strengthened with the hiring of graphic designers Duncan Kirkbride and Olga Grebenikove, and Jack Redman who joins as an account executive.

Steve Moncrieff, client strategy director at Ewe, said: “We have just enjoyed our best year of robust and organic growth. The appointment of Duncan, Olga and Jack means we are in a position to manage that growth and to continue developing new client opportunities.

“Our success has come from our ability to deliver targeted and integrated campaigns which build a strong customer experience and engagement for a company’s brand, products and services.”

Ewe, previously known as PCD, has been established for more than 25 years. Clients include insurance and financial services companies Aviva, Congregational, LEBC and Morses Club; Nutribullet; and Travis Perkins, the builders’ merchant.

Steve added: “Our approach with any project is to be ‘channel agnostic’ and seek to understand how a target market engages within today’s multi-channel environment.

“From this we create and manage holistic campaigns, covering digital and social media to direct mail, advertising and email engagement strategies.

“This is proving to be extremely popular with businesses and brands as they recognise the value of working with a single multi-skilled agency. All of this is leading to Ewe’s continued growth and means that 2017 is turning out to be just as exciting as last year.”

Neil Kelly, MD Law

MD Law, the Sheffield-based law firm, has announced the appointment of Neil Kelly as partner.

The specialist business practice, which was formed two years ago by insolvency lawyers Matthew Dixon, has now incorporated to become an LLP.

Neil joined MD Law at the outset, having worked with Matthew at hlw in Sheffield since qualifying as a solicitor in 2008.

Neil has experience in insolvency matters including acting for the administrators of Yeomans Outdoors, Norking Aluminium, and Darlington Football, representing creditors of HMV and the Caterham Formula One team and recovery actions for insolvency practitioners.

Neil also assists and advises businesses on a range of contentious and non-contentious commercial issues including business and share sales, commercial contracts and disputes.

MD Law is a specialist business law practice with particular expertise in business recovery and insolvency, dispute resolution and company/commercial matters.

Matthew Dixon said: “We could not have wished for a better start – from the work we have coming in to the support from clients and the regional business community.

“I am delighted that Neil has now become a part-owner and partner. It is a clear sign of the progression of the practice and we are currently looking to expand the team further.”

Danielle Vollentine, Watson Buckle

Watson Buckle, the Bradford-based accountancy firm, has appointed Danielle Vollentine as a new business services manager.

Danielle will support the firm’s growing business client base of sole traders, partnerships, limited companies and more with a range of expert business and tax planning services.

She has worked in accountancy since 2005 and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT).

Danielle will also offer training and support to the firm’s clients in relation to online and cloud-based accounting.

Danielle Vollentine, business services manager at Watson Buckle, said: “It gives me great pleasure to join a forward-thinking accountancy firm like Watson Buckle and I am looking forward to supporting businesses of all shapes and sizes in Bradford, West Yorkshire and further afield.”

Susan Sedgwick, managing director at Watson Buckle, added: “I am delighted to welcome Danielle to our team and I am sure that her cloud accounting and other specialisms will quickly prove popular with our business clients.”

Barry Rankin, Deans Computer Services

Boston Spa-based Deans Computer Services (DCS) has appointed Barry Rankin as sales director.

Barry started out as an IT support engineer before moving into customer service, consultancy and sales management roles with various companies, including Action Data Systems, the Milk Marketing Board and Hamilton Data Imaging.

He joined the DCS sales team in 2000 and was soon promoted to sales manager.

Patrick Clayton, DCS managing director, said: “We are delighted to welcome Barry to the board of directors. His commitment has always been exemplary and we value his dedication, tenacity and attention to detail.

“Barry’s ability to simplify the most complex of solutions is second to none and over the years he has amassed a substantial client base, many of whom are our biggest customers.

“Their loyalty has been established through their trust in our high standard of project management and advice on infrastructure and business-critical applications. Barry is looking forward to the challenges his new role will bring. His knowledge, determination and vision will be vital in driving our business forward.”

Formed in 1982, DCS delivers software solutions to small and medium sized businesses.

James Nuttall, Kate Roodt and Andre Hughes, It Works Media Ltd

It Works Media Ltd, the Leeds-based digital agency, has added a trio of new starters to its agency roster.

Over the past six months, the digital agency has appointed Kate Roodt as client services manager, James Nuttall as content and outreach specialist as well as Andre Hughes as SEO executive.

Kate has over seven years agency experience at Leeds agency, ilk, in both traditional PR as well as creative account management working with B2B and B2C clients including Wienerberger, the provider of bricks, blocks, roof tiles and pavers.

In addition, James joins the team with two years’ in-house experience, as well as his ongoing freelance music journalism contribution to the Yorkshire Post.

Andre completes the team of new starters with five years’ agency experience at Leeds-based Stickyeyes working with clients such as Tesco Bank and Pharmacy2U.

Steve Pritchard, founder and managing director, commented: “What was important in these appointments was finding talented individuals which I felt could really add value to a small, yet emerging, business.

“We are at a stage of business growth and with that, we need to bring together a team that will further strengthen our offering as a digital growth specialist.”

“Each of these individuals harnesses a series of qualities that when integrated can really deliver results to our clients.

“With digital marketing channels constantly evolving it’s important we stay abreast if not challenge these developments and with these new starters we can well and truly keep our finger on the pulse.”

Paul Varley, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking

Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking has strengthened its support for the Yorkshire real estate sector with the appointment of a new head of property for the region.

Paul Varley will lead one of Lloyds Bank’s largest regional real estate teams and has considerable experience in the commercial banking sector, having been with the group for nearly 30 years.

He will lead a team of relationship directors, who are based across the region, in developing new opportunities to support clients in buying, refinancing and developing commercial and residential investment properties.

Leigh Taylor, regional director, SME banking in Yorkshire, said: “This latest appointment will serve to strengthen our team in Yorkshire and add depth to our real estate expertise.

“With the real estate sector being a significant contributor to the Yorkshire economy, Paul and his team will play a pivotal role in supporting our real estate clients across the region, providing the kind of specialist expertise they need to achieve their long-term growth plans.”

Annabel Gargett, DSW Bridge Houghton Forensic

DSW Bridge Houghton Forensic, part of the Dow Schofield Watts group, has expanded its forensics team with the appointment of Annabel Gargett as an executive.

Annabel will be based in Leeds but will work across the Leeds and Daresbury offices.

Annabel joins DSW Bridge Houghton Forensic from KPMG, where she worked within the financial services audit department for over four years.

After graduating from Newcastle University with a 1st Class degree in Mathematics and Accounting, Annabel joined the KPMG graduate scheme and undertook her ACA qualification.

Whilst at KPMG Annabel gained both audit and forensic experience, working on listed and private companies across the financial services industry.

At DSW Bridge Houghton Forensic, she will support the team in the delivery of a wide range of forensic services to clients across the UK.

David Houghton, partner at DSW Bridge Houghton Forensic, said: “Annabel’s appointment brings some great expertise into the team.

“It represents a key element of our growth plans and demonstrates our commitment to our clients and the continued development of the forensic services offering.”

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