This week's North East appointments

Welcome to your latest roundup of appointments from across the region.

Kelly Jordan, Muckle LLP

Following a string of restructuring and insolvency successes in the region, Kelly Jordan has been promoted to partner at the independent law firm for businesses, Muckle LLP.

Kelly, who has 10 years of experience in restructuring and insolvency matters, recently played an influential role in the sale of Marsden Quarry, which saved 30 regional jobs when the former Owen Pugh site was acquired by O’Brien Aggregate Marsden Limited.

Kelly has worked with the major UK clearing banks, insolvency practitioners, LPA Receivers and corporate entities on a regional and national basis. Her work has covered a wide range of insolvency and restructuring issues, including a secondment to The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC’s Global Restructuring Group.

Kelly said: “Despite proposed changes to the insolvency framework, restructuring via an insolvency process remains an important tool for rescuing businesses, protecting employment and maximising value for creditors.

“We’re pleased to have been involved in a number successful transactions for both administrators and buyers over the last 12 months to achieve successful outcomes, often in very tight timeframes where a measured yet practical approach is required.”

Lisa Stronach, Latimer Hinks

Latimer Hinks, a regional law firm, has appointed a top conveyancer to its residential property team.

The Legal 500 and Chambers UK listed solicitors has welcomed Lisa Stronach as a conveyancing executive.

Lisa, who brings with her more than 30 years’ experience with regional law firms, will be responsible for advising clients on all aspects of conveyancing including sales, purchases, re-mortgages and property transfers.

Nicola Neilson, head of commercial and agricultural property, said: “This key appointment boosts our already strong residential property team.

“Lisa has a proven track record of conveyancing, for some top firms, and her experience will enhance the expertise in the department. In its 125th year in 2017, Latimer Hinks grew considerably, and this was down to our strong performance in all departments, which everyone can be proud of.”

Charlie Fielding, Square One Law

Commercial law firm, Square One Law has announced the promotion of corporate lawyer Charlie Fielding to partner.

He joined Square One Law as a senior associate two years ago, and has been involved in a number of high-profile transactions including px Group’s acquisition from BP of the Saltend Chemical Park in Hull and NVM’s recent investment in Dale Power Solutions.

Charlie has also acted on a number of complex group reorganisations, private equity investments and management buy outs..

Originally from the North West, Charlie spent five years in London with Eversheds before relocating to the North East in 2011.

Charlie said: “Since joining Square One Law, I have had the opportunity to support corporate transactions for major regional brands as well as undertaking succession planning and restructuring exercises for large family businesses.

“I look forward to supporting Square One Law’s growing activity levels in the corporate market.”

John Cridland, Home Group

Home Group, one of the UK’s largest providers of new homes for sale and affordable rent and a national provider of integrated housing, health and care, is appointing John Cridland CBE, as chair from July 19, 2018.

The appointment will see Cridland - who has led significant policy reform at a national level - take the helm to support Home Group in driving forward plans to build 10,000 new homes and become market leaders in new models of care.

Cridland, whose CV holds several roles including; chairman with Transport for the North, pro chancellor at Brunel University and director general of the UK’s premier business organisation, the CBI, is responsible for the success of many significant initiatives across multiple sectors.

The appointment will follow six successful years’ leadership under outgoing chair, Bob Davies, who played an integral role in Home Group’s sustained growth since 2013.

Home Group CEO, Mark Henderson, said: “Bob has played a significant role in Home Group’s development into what it is today.

“Bob’s leadership and vision has helped to guide us through some incredibly challenging times for the sector, taking measured risks to drive innovation.”

Andrew Mills, NOF Energy

NOF Energy, a Durham-based development organisation for the oil, gas, power and offshore renewables sectors, has announced energy industry professional Andrew Mills as chairman.

Andrew, who is managing director of Servelec Controls, succeeds Paul Charlton, who continues as a board member of the firm.

Experienced in the oil, gas and nuclear industries, Andrew is a technology specialist leading a growing business in the delivery of system integration within the energy and infrastructure markets.

Specifically supporting clients in the oil, gas, power including nuclear and infrastructure sectors, Servelec Controls is the UK’s leading independent system integrator, developing turnkey solutions throughout the full project life-cycle.

Andrew Mills said: “I am very honoured to become chairman of NOF Energy. It is an exceptionally effective organisation with a deep and diverse network that supports members with their business development, and assists proactive companies win new business.”

Professor David Burn, Newcastle University

The Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) has appointed Professor David Burn, pro-vice-chancellor of the faculty of medical sciences at Newcastle University, as its new chair-elect.

Professor Burn has an international reputation for his work in movement disorders, and in particular dementia associated with Parkinson’s. Prior to his appointment as pro vice-chancellor at Newcastle, he was director of the faculty’s institute of neuroscience.

The NHSA is an alliance of the top Northern research universities, research-intensive NHS teaching hospitals and four Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs).

Professor Burn said: “I am delighted and honoured to have been elected as chair of the Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) board and look forward to taking up the baton from Ian Greer.

“Ian has done a remarkable job over the past five years, along with NHSA CEO Dr Hakim Yadi, in putting the North of England and NHSA on the national and international political and economic map.

“I firmly believe that what you get out of something is directly related to what you put in. For the NHSA to work most effectively we need all partners to be sat around the table on a regular basis.

“My aim is to work closely with all 20 organisations and develop the NHSA even further to benefit the health and wealth of the people of the North of England.”

Andrew Broumley, Phusion IM

Phusion IM, an information management firm, has expanded its leadership team with the appointment of a new head of marketing.

Andrew Broumley, previously marketing manager of cloud infrastructure firm, Pulsant (formally Onyx Group), brings with him 15 years of senior marketing experience, a tenure during which time he was instrumental in developing a regional tech firm, in an intensively competitive market, into an award-winning national brand.

Working closely with executive chairman Steve Pearson, Andrew’s focus will be to develop and execute strategic plans to support Phusion’s innovative approach of making business information powerful.

This will include the roll out of a new product roadmap which will include ground-breaking uses of Phusion’s content library - considered to be the world’s largest collection of specialist engineering data.

Steve said: “We are pleased to welcome Andrew at such an exciting and busy time for Phusion. Our people are a massive part of the business, so building the right team is an integral part of moving us in the right direction for the future.

“We are working with clients across the globe, and Andrew’s experience of multiple stakeholder engagement, along with the knowledge he brings with him will be a significant addition.”

Elaine Magnani and Jack Birks, Hay & Kilner

North East law firm, Hay & Kilner has added two sector experts to its marketing team as part of its ongoing commercial development strategy.

Elaine Magnani and Jack Birks have joined the Newcastle-headquartered practice as its new head of business development and marketing, and marketing manager respectively.

Elaine has over three decades of marketing experience, working in senior positions for firms including PwC, Ringtons, Reg Vardy plc and Ward Hadaway.

She holds both a masters degree in social research methods and the Chartered Institute of Marketing’s Chartered Marketer accreditation, and is now responsible for developing and delivering Hay & Kilner’s marketing and business development strategy across all practice areas.

Jack has over a decade’s legal sector experience with a number of North East practices, having begun his career as a paralegal before choosing to specialise in marketing, event management and business development.

His new role covers all aspects of the firm’s marketing activities, with a particular emphasis on online marketing, event organisation and digital media.

Jonathan Waters, managing partner at Hay & Kilner Law Firm, said: “Our aim is to ensure that the comprehensive breadth of services provided by Hay & Kilner’s 120-strong team is fully understood by current and potential clients, our fellow intermediaries and the wider North East business community.

“Elaine and Jack possess the marketing experience and expertise to help drive this process forward, and to ensure that the huge range of support and advice that our teams provide to North East firms of all sizes is as widely recognised as possible.”

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