This week's North West appointments

Claire Smith, Jon Davies Accountants

Merseyside’s Jon Davies Accountants (JDA) has added a new client manager to its team.

Claire Smith has 23 years’ experience as a chartered accountant. She will work from JDA’s recently opened office in south Liverpool.

Claire’s career started in Glasgow with Scottish firm Coopers & Lybrand Deloitte.

Jon Davies, director at Jon Davies Accountants, said: “I’m delighted Claire has joined the team as her experience is key to growing the business.

“We pride ourselves on being a dynamic practice with a friendly team working closely with clients, and Claire is already proving a perfect fit.”

He continued: “It’s been a really encouraging start for JDA and we recently hosted a business development seminar for our clients to help their future growth and success.

“We are keen to show that there’s more to accountancy than filing annual tax returns and cash flow forecasts and Claire’s global experience and expertise will help us deliver on that promise.”

JDA launched last September and already has over 150 clients.

Paula Cole, TLT

TLT has expanded its Manchester office with the appointment of an employment law partner.

Paula Cole joined the Law firm from Squire Patton Boggs. She advises on all areas of contentious and non-contentious employment law, including large-scale restructuring and reorganisation projects, harassment cases and equal pay issues.

Her background includes helping set up Garrett Andersen Legal’s Manchester office and a leadership position within DAC Beachcroft’s national employment and pensions group.

TLT’s Manchester location head, Graeme Orchison, said: “Employment law is increasingly a board level, reputational issue for our clients based here in the North West and across the UK; whether that’s managing changes in working practices like the gig economy or dealing with regulatory requirements and reputational issues around gender pay, harassment or the national minimum wage.

“Paula’s experience and reputation in the region will add further weight to our growing team and the support we can offer our clients.”

Paula commented: “TLT’s ambition and real focus on delivering for clients is an attractive proposition. With over twenty years’ experience as an employment law partner, I hope to add further expertise to the firm’s large and growing team here in Manchester and its strong UK employment offer for clients at all stages in their lifecycle.”

Alison Carroll, Ask Real Estate

Manchester property firm Ask Real Estate has recruited Alison Carroll in the role of development project manager.

Joining the company from design and consultancy business Arcadis, Alison has experience in both the client and consultant sides of project management.

To date, she has been responsible for the delivery of projects with a total construction value of more than £1.2bn.

Alison will now manage the design and delivery of a range of the development projects in Ask’s mixed-use portfolio – among them the 624-unit PRS residential phase at First Street on behalf of PATRIZIA UK.

Felix Ko, Armstrong Craven

Hale-headquartered recruiter Armstrong Craven has taken on a new client partner in its financial services team.

Felix Ko was formerly a managing consultant within the banking and financial services division at recruitment company Hudson.

Prior to moving into recruitment, Felix worked as an associate at financial giant JP Morgan. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Armstrong Craven chief exec Tom Mason said: “Felix brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge, including expertise in some of the talent growth areas in the sector.

“He is one of a number of key sector appointments we are making across the business as we continue to scale in the UK and internationally.”

Felix commented: “Armstrong Craven is challenging the way executive hiring is done by encouraging a far more consultative and strategic approach through the services we offer. It is an exciting time to be joining the business.”

Jonathan Downing, KPMG

Professional services giant KPMG has appointed international tax director Jonathan Downing at its Manchester office.

Jonathan, joining from PwC, has over 17 years’ experience advising multinational clients on international tax matters and assisting inbound investors.

At KPMG, he will focus on working with large corporate clients.

Jonathan Downing, Director at KPMG, said: “Jon Meeten [head of tax in the North] is building a formidable tax team across the North that can offer the region’s businesses – both large and small – the advice they need.

“I look forward to supporting our multinational clients in meeting their international tax responsibilities, but also helping unlock investment in the region and supporting Northern growth ambitions overseas.”

KPMG partner Jon Meeten commented: “As Manchester and the North’s stature grows, there is increasing demand for quality advice for multinational businesses and those looking to invest in the region.

“Clients are looking to access locally-based advisory services with nationally-recognised expertise. Jonathan’s arrival adds even more experience to our team as we further establish ourselves as a major hub for our UK tax practice.”

Chithra Marsh, Women in Property

National organisation Women in Property has appointed a new North West chairman.

Chithra Marsh, associate director at architecture practice Buttress, takes on the role from 1st March for the 2018/19 year.

Chithra has been a member of Women in Property for five years. She is a qualified architect with more than 20 years’ post-grad experience in commercial practice.

She commented: “This year marks 100 years since women were given the right to vote. It is also the year in which Manchester has been named one of seven Centenary Cities, selected for its strong link to the suffragette movement.

“Against this backdrop, it is a privilege to take up the position as North West Chairman for 2018.”

She continued: “While we continue to make great progress in correcting the gender imbalance in the property and construction industry, challenges relating to diversity and inclusivity in the workforce still need to be overcome.

“The North West committee is made up of women from a range of disciplines, backgrounds and ethnicities, and I look forward to working with them to deliver a programme of events that champion diversity in the broadest sense of the word, helping us move towards a truly inclusive working culture.”

Buttress MD Gavin Sorby said: “We are proud to support Chithra as she takes up the role as chairman.

“Having been an active and dedicated member of Women in Property for a number of years, she is well placed to drive the North West branch forward, and we welcome the positive impact she will make over the forthcoming year.”

Four appointments, Assura

Assura, the Warrington-based healthcare property investor, has welcomed four new faces to its team.

Surveyors Lisa Grierson (pictured) and Nathalie McCann joined the company’s portfolio team from Manchester Airports Group and DB Symmetry respectively.

Joining the development team are chartered surveyors Jonathan Webb (above right) and Ashley Seymour (centre), who have both taken on senior development manager roles.

They are formerly director of Matrix Medical, a developer of medical centre buildings that has worked with Assura for years.

Assura’s head of development, Simon Gould, said: “Our partnership projects with Matrix Medical over the years have been some of the most rewarding, creating state-of-the-art infrastructure for practices who’ve waited many years for the space and facilities they need for primary care in the future.

“Bringing Jonathan and Ashley’s expertise on board completes the final stage of our ambitions to work together ever more closely and we look forward to some exciting results.”

Carl Johnson, Stephensons

Law firm Stephensons has chosen solicitor Carl Johnson, a partner in the firm, as its new head of regulatory law.

Carl has worked for Stephensons since 2010, becoming a partner in 2015.

Following his promotion, Carl will lead a 20-strong team that acts for commercial and professional clients on a variety of legal issues, including enforcement by the Care Quality Commission or Financial Conduct Authority, data protection and health and safety law.

He said: “The regulatory department has gone through a period of continuous expansion and evolution in recent years.

“Our current focus is on consolidating our existing core services, while at the same time expanding the range of services which we offer.”

Stephensons has seven offices in the North West and an eighth in London.

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