This week’s North West appointments

Olivia Hewitt, Cushman & Wakefield

Commercial real estate agency Cushman & Wakefield has expanded its Manchester planning team.

Olivia Hewitt, who joined the company as a graduate town planning consultant, studied on an RTPI- and RICS-accredited programme at Newcastle University, where she gained a Master of Planning (MPlan) degree.

At Cushman & Wakefield, she will directly support the Manchester town planning team in preparing and submitting planning applications and appraisals, development plans and planning application representations.

Andy Teage, partner and head of town planning at the Manchester office, said: “Olivia’s appointment is a clear sign of the success that the Cushman & Wakefield town planning team in Manchester is enjoying, and the commitment of the wider business to the growth of the national town planning skill line.

“We are delighted Olivia has joined the team, she has an invaluable year’s consultancy experience which has allowed her to make an immediate and positive contribution to the team and wider office.”

Image L-R: AEW board members Andrew Rainford, Andrew Critchlow, Colin Savage and Nigel Machin

Colin Savage, AEW Architects

Manchester firm AEW Architects has promoted Colin Savage to its board of directors

Colin joined AEW with his six-strong specialist housing team in May 2017.

Andy Critchlow, the company’s managing director, said: “Colin and his team have made a seamless transition into AEW since joining us and are a perfect fit for our culture and values.

“Our accommodation sector now includes apartments, hotels, hospital accommodation, volume housing, social housing and private housing, and feedback from our clients has been extremely positive. As an experienced Director in other businesses, we welcome Colin’s strengths to our board.”

Colin commented: “Combining the team’s specialism and experience to AEWs renowned architecture skills, technological advances and resources, has enabled us to develop a unique offering in the accommodation sector.

“We are already working with a number of providers to deliver several new projects and I am very much looking forward to what the next twelve months will bring us.”

Lisa Wood, Now Healthcare Group

MediaCityUK-based digital healthcare provider Now Healthcare Group (NHG) has appointed Lisa Wood as its new head of communications.

Lisa most recently worked as a freelance communications consultant and before that spent eight years delivering creative communications and marketing for property giant Peel Group on its MediaCityUK development.

Commenting on her new role, Lisa said: “Technology has completely changed the way we live and is continually revolutionising our lives.

“The digital health industry is of huge importance to improving our physical and mental health and I am thrilled to be working in such a pioneering business and sector.”

She added: “The vision and plans for the NHG are radical and I look forward to helping them build their brand and share their ground-breaking stories.”

Lee Dentith, CEO and founder of Now Healthcare Group, said: “It is such a pivotal time for NHG as we continue to develop ground-breaking technologies to enhance the health of our growing population.

“We recently launched our free app Now Patient, which has today, been announced as the No1 download in the App Store - so it is a perfect time for Lisa to join our business, to help share our stories and build our brand over the coming months.”

Image L-R: Joe Sulivan, Paul Williams, Graham Gordon and Ginni Cooper

Ginni Cooper, Joe Sullivan and Paul Williams, MHA Moore and Smalley

MHA Moore and Smalley, the North West accountancy firm, has promoted three to partner.

Ginni Cooper, Joe Sullivan and Paul Williams were all previously corporate services directors.

Ginni joined the company in 1995 as an accounts junior. Today, she provides accountancy, audit and business support services responsible for a portfolio of medium-sized and larger, owner-managed businesses.

Joe, meanwhile, has worked with MHA Moore and Smalley since 2005 and became a chartered accountant in 2008.

Paul likewise joined the firm in 2005 and also qualified as an accountant in 2008.

MHA Moore and Smalley’s managing partner, Graham Gordon, said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Ginni, Joe and Paul to the partnership.

“This firm has been successful throughout its long history by continually investing in and developing its people and many of our current partners started out with us as trainees.”

He added: “It’s great to reward that kind of loyalty and hard work. Making these promotions is all part of our plan for ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of the firm.”

Damien Druce, Assetz Capital

Assetz Capital has appointed Damien Druce as director and head of intermediary sales.

With Assetz, Damien will create and implement the company’s intermediary strategy while also taking ownership of relationships with distributors and key trade bodies.

Damien will work from the firm’s new head office at Manchester Airport, where he will also help to raise the profiles of bridging, commercial and development loan opportunities.

Rob Pailin, managing director of Assetz, said: “A key area of focus for Assetz is the intermediary space.

“We’re keen to seek out and offer our services to the major players across the country, and with Damien on board, we are in a strong position to do so. He not only brings a wealth of experience to the business, but also a real passion for delivery, and we are confident that he will make a huge difference to the business.”

Damien commented: “I am delighted to be joining Assetz Capital at such an exciting time for the company.

“With a new head office at Manchester Airport and a growing reputation in the market, everything is in place for exponential growth from people to products. I look forward to working with the team and bringing my expertise to Assetz.”

Michelle Lin, K7 Media

Northern Quarter-based media consultancy K7 Media has taken on Michelle Lin as an Asia-Pacific researcher.

K7 appointed Michelle, a Mandarin speaker, after expanding into the Chinese market with its first client win in the country, Beijing-based production firm Houghton Street Media.

In her new role, Michelle will analyse TV content in China and Asia Pacific to deliver TV intelligence and trends on the latest developments in the territories.

K7 has also appointed Rosie Halsall as a researcher and John Brown as a video archive assistant.

Michelle said: “‘I am thrilled to be joining the talented team at K7 Media. Coming on board at this time of growth is hugely exciting and I’m looking forward to using my language skills and knowledge of the TV market in China and the wider Asia Pacific region to assist K7’s global client base.”

K7 Media’s managing director, Keri Lewis Brown, commented: “With new business coming in and our team expanding and developing, I am pleased to welcome Michelle to the company.

“The recent growth in our team corresponds with a key period for our business with ambitious international expansion plans.”

Chris Spencer, Catapult Ventures

Investment firm Catapult Ventures has appointed Chris Spencer as a venture partner with its GM&C Life Sciences Fund.

As the Fund’s fourth venture partner, Chris will work to assess investment opportunities and help the Fund’s smaller investments to assist growing businesses.

Chris was, until recently, CEO of healthcare software giant EMIS Group plc. He has close to 40 years’ experience of management, leadership, law and digital development across the healthcare, legal and education sectors.

Catapult CEO Nick Wright said: “I am delighted to welcome Chris to Catapult as a Venture Partner specialising in digital health.

“Chris has been working with Catapult as our Digital Health Advisor for several months and his insights were invaluable during our investment in Gendius in September this year.”

He added: “Digital convergence in healthcare is an area Catapult is particularly excited about and having someone of Chris’s calibre in the team will help us make even better, more informed investment decisions.”

Chris commented: “I am delighted to be expanding my role with Catapult Ventures and the GM&C Life Sciences Fund helping to advance not only digital health generally but also with a particular link to the North of England.”

Paul Biggins, theEword

Lifestyle and leisure agency theEword has appointed a non-executive director.

Paul Biggins will work alongside other board members, including MD Daniel Nolan and directors Kleon West and Aisha Riaz, to support the team in bringing its growth ambitions to fruition.

With more than 15 years’ experience in leadership roles, Paul has knowledge of starting up and leading agencies of all sizes. Firms he has previously been involved with include Momentum Worldwide, TBWA\Tequila and DLKW Dialogue.

Paul said: “There are many facets to a successful agency business, but delivering growth is at the heart of everything and it’s something I pride myself on.

“Structuring a company to grow, developing existing relationships and creating fruitful new ones are where the core of my skills lie and I look forward to contributing to theEword’s success – and, of course, having some fun along the way!”

He continued: “theEword’s reputation precedes it – it has a great track record and is an active participant across the Manchester marketing community. It’s an exciting time to join one of the North West’s top independent agencies as it continues on its growth journey.”

Managing director Daniel Nolan commented: “This appointment signals a new era for theEword – we want to lead in the leisure and lifestyle sectors and know that Paul can truly support in those objectives and accelerate the business even further.”

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