This week's Yorkshire appointments

Diva Creative, the Sheffield-based marketing agency, has announced six new appointments.

Diva has hired UX designer Matt Furness, web developers Ben Fell and Jordan Cranmer, animator Finn Wilson, digital account manager Helen Wilkins, and apprentice Kasim Usman.

The recruitment follows the agency’s recent three-year contract wins with both Sheffield City Council and North East Lincolnshire Council and its selection to the NHS Commercial Solutions social marketing framework.

Helen Wilkins joins Diva with a social media and influencer marketing background, having previously worked with clients including Mercedes-Benz.

Spanish graduate Matt Furness is already using his conceptual web design skills in Diva’s projects with Nottingham City Council and ITM Power, and Kasim Usman is working towards his NVQ in Social Media Digital Marketing from Chesterfield College while working full time at the company.

Meanwhile, developers Ben Fell and Jordan Cranmer bring additional agency experience to Diva and are now working on website projects with clients such as Leicestershire County Council and the Department for Work and Pensions respectively.

Cambridge School of Art alumnus Finn Wilson has also joined the company as an animator after relocating to his home city from a similar role at a film studio in Brighton.

Amanda Pearce, director at Diva Creative, said: “These recent appointments are a result of our success in securing repeat business with longstanding clients as well as commissions in new areas for us.

“Matt, Ben, Jordan, Finn, Helen and Kasim each bring something different to the company and their skillsets and experiences have strengthened our digital capability and widened the range of services we are able to offer to clients.”

Matt Tice, KCP

Matt Tice has joined the team at Leeds-headquartered private equity house Key Capital Partners (KCP) as investment manager.

A corporate finance adviser with a strong track record of advising businesses in the mid-market, Matt joins from Deloitte in Leeds where he worked as a manager in the corporate finance team.

Previously, he spent two years with BHP Corporate Finance in the role of corporate finance manager, having also been with Mazars for six years, latterly as a corporate finance executive.

KCP partner James Hall said: “With his strong track record in corporate finance, advising SMEs and working closely with management teams, Matt will be a valuable addition to the team.

“Like us, he believes in getting close to businesses and working with them to achieve their ambitions.

“2017 was a busy year for KCP in which we completed four deals – a record for the firm. We continue to see a strong flow of attractive opportunities, and, with £140m of funds currently under management, we are actively looking to invest in dynamic growing businesses across the UK.”

Matt added: “KCP has established a fantastic reputation in the smaller end of the buy-out market. I’m really excited to be joining an experienced, well respected team which focuses not only on providing much-needed expansion capital to profitable, dynamic businesses, but also in working with their management teams to find ways to add value and help them fulfil their growth potential.”

Vicky Hall, Myddleton Croft

Myddleton Croft, the Leeds-based boutique investment firm, has announced the recruitment of Vicky Hall as a trainee investment manager.

Vicky graduated from Durham University with a Mjur in Copyright Law. She went on to gain qualifications in Investment Compliance and in Project Management and has worked as a compliance consultant for the last three years.

Vicky will work within Myddleton Croft’s investment team led by Patrick Toes which manages around 400 client portfolios. She will also be supported by the firm as she embarks on studying for her CFA/CISI professional wealth management qualifications.

Patrick Toes, investment director of Myddleton Croft, said: “We know Vicky well as we’ve worked with her for the last three years in her role as a compliance consultant, so we are really pleased that she has decided to move into wealth management and join our team.

“We are a small, boutique firm with our own unique culture, built around our commitment to providing a bespoke service to our clients, whether individuals or IFAs.

“Having successfully completed the training of another member of the team last year, we are keen to continue to develop young talent in-house. We believe that Vicky has huge potential and will be a welcome boost to the investment desk as the firm continues to grow.”

Vicky commented: “Having worked within the compliance sector, I have a solid understanding of wealth management and a real passion to join the profession.

“This is a really exciting opportunity to work within a small, dynamic investment firm and learn from an extremely experienced team.”

Justin Garnett, The Ogden Group of Companies

Justin Garnett has been appointed as the managing director of property developer and investor, The Ogden Group of Companies.

Justin succeeds his father Tim, who is stepping down after 48 years with the Harrogate-based company. Although Tim is retiring as managing director, he will remain on the board.

Justin joined The Ogden Group from Jones Lang LaSalle in 2006.

Justin said: “This is a tremendously exciting opportunity and challenge for me. Having been with the Ogden Group for nearly 12 years, I know the company, our ethos and our developments extremely well”.

“Despite fears that Brexit would disrupt the property market, the sector is proving remarkably resilient. We will continue to look at investment and development opportunities across Yorkshire and the north of England.

“We also have a presence in London’s Docklands and the City and are looking at other opportunities in these markets.”

Chairman Sir Robert Ogden, commented: “The baton has now passed on to the younger generation. Justin is highly experienced with an extensive knowledge of the commercial and residential property market in Yorkshire and the North of England. We have every confidence that he will make a great success of his new role.”

Katie Fletcher, Howarths People and Safety Management

Howarths People and Safety Management, the West Yorkshire HR and employment law firm, has announced the appointment of Katie Fletcher as HR advisor.

Fletcher joins the company having previously held HR roles with national brands, including head of HR at national high street footwear retailer, Moda in Pelle.

She will be responsible for leading the Howarths HR team, while delivering HR strategy on behalf of clients to improve organisational performance through effective staff management.

Her work will involve projects around employee engagement, performance management and recruitment and retention. She will also lead on internal investigations and disciplinary procedures on behalf of clients.

Gavin Howarth, managing director at Howarths People and Safety Management, said: “Katie brings a wealth of experience to this role, having previously worked in HR roles for major high street brands and as a chartered fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development.

“As we continue to grow our HR team and offering, her skillset and knowledge will prove invaluable to our clients, ensuring their HR issues and projects are dealt with in the most effective and efficient way possible.”

Ms Fletcher added: “I’m delighted to be joining the team at Howarths at what is a very exciting time in its growth.

“The business secured no less than 20 new contracts in the final quarter of 2017, readying it for what is forecast to be one if it’s most successful years to date. I’m very much looking forward to being a part of that success.”

Elisabeth Scull, Dacres Commercial

Elisabeth Scull has been promoted to director level at Dacres Commercial and will now head up the company’s commercial property management department.

In her new role, Elisabeth will lead a team that offers facilities management services, deals with tenant enquiries, and handles lease negotiations for a wide range of properties including health centres, business parks, retail premises and office buildings, located throughout England and Wales.

The department also manages a wide range of residential apartment blocks across West and North Yorkshire that vary in size from four to fifty units.

Elisabeth has been with Dacre, Son & Hartley for more than 20 years, qualifying as a Chartered Surveyor in 1992.

Elisabeth has worked across a wide range of the firm’s departments including residential sales and land development, before moving into property management.

Elisabeth said: “I’m delighted to receive this promotion and I’m looking forward to further enhancing the high standards of service that both our landlords and tenants have come to expect from the team.”

David Ogilvie of Dacres Commercial added: “Elisabeth thoroughly deserves this promotion. She has been an important and highly respected member of our team for many years, she’s very popular with clients and has a vast amount of experience across all areas of property management.

“The department has expanded rapidly in recent years, with several notable business wins, and there’s no doubt that Elisabeth is the ideal person to oversee its ongoing growth.”

Scott Wilson, Oscrete Construction Products

Oscrete Construction Products, a division of Christeyns, has announced the appointment of Scott Wilson as operations director.

Oscrete is oa Bradford-based specialist construction chemical supplier, manufacturing a comprehensive range of concrete admixtures for the pre-cast and ready-mix markets.

Scott has worked with building materials manufacturers across the UK and most recently was regional sales director for Interface.

In his new role, Scott will be responsible for the sales and operations of the Oscrete portfolio nationally and also in Ireland, overseeing a team of sales managers and technicians.

Scott said: “There are exciting times ahead and I am delighted to have the opportunity to shape the company’s future development and growth.

“Oscrete has an enviable market position providing quality, innovative products but there are always new challenges. I look forward to embracing this privileged role and to achieving significant divisional growth over the next five years.”

Scott holds a MA (Hons) in Business Organisation from Heriot Watt University and recently completed the Sales Director programme at Cranfield School of Management.

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