This week's Yorkshire appointments

Jon Clark, Saleslevers

Sales management consultancy Saleslevers has appointed Jon Clark as director of sales compensation.

Jon has over 20 years of experience designing sales compensation schemes, having held senior roles as director of strategic reward at Deloitte, and most recently, director strategic services - EMEA at sales performance management specialist OpenSymmetry.

Jon has worked globally to support senior decision-makers with the design of sales performance and reward solutions across a range of sectors, from financial services to technology and pharmaceuticals.

Commenting on his new role, Jon said: “I’m excited about the holistic approach that Saleslevers takes to sales effectiveness.

“In a changing sales world, you need a compensation methodology that’s fit for purpose, and we are well-positioned to help companies develop and maintain their competitiveness.

“How we develop the sales incentives to reward the behaviours and performance that aligns with business strategy has never been more important.”

Richard Higham, managing director of Saleslevers Group, added: “Sales compensation is a specialised field. Sales generalists often miss the critical technical understanding, while reward generalists don’t always see the very sales-specific issues.

“Jon’s expertise is very focused on sales and compensation, and we are delighted that he will be helping our clients flourish in a changing world.”

Abduss Patel and Mae Salem, Squire Patton Boggs

Law firm Squire Patton Boggs has promoted Abduss Patel and Mae Salem to partners.

Abduss Patel (Real Estate) and Mae Salem (Corporate) comprise this year’s Leeds-based cohort of newly promoted partners, part of a global promotional round in which a total of 23 lawyers have been promoted as partners within the firm.

Real estate lawyer Abduss’s knowledge covers a range of commercial real estate matters, particularly investments, roadside developments and hospitality and leisure.

Abduss acts for corporate occupiers within the retail and hospitality sectors, as well as overseas high net worth individuals and investment trust funds.

Mae has experience in advising on private company acquisitions and disposals, in particular in the private equity space.

Most recently, Mae advised Endless on its investment in Amscan International and advised the shareholders of the IDHL Group on their sale to Bridgepoint Development Capital.

In addition, Mae is shortlisted for the Emerging Dealmaker Award at the 2020 Insider Yorkshire Dealmakers Awards.

Commenting on the promotions, John Alderton, managing partner of Squire Patton Boggs in Leeds, said: “I would like to congratulate Abduss and Mae on their well-deserved promotions.

“Abduss and Mae are exceptionally talented lawyers who have established a name for themselves in the Yorkshire market and indeed wider afield.

“They have played a major role in the success of this office and the growth of our Real Estate and Corporate practices, and their promotions underline the scale of ambition we share for growing our business in Yorkshire and providing the highest-quality service to our clients.”

Nina Barker, Town Centre Securities (TCS)

Property investor and car parking operator Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS), has appointed Nina Barker as head of residential.

Nina Barker, who has 20 years of residential experience working with a number of businesses across Leeds and Manchester, joins TCS from her previous role as head of Northern residential sales and marketing at CBRE.

In her new role, Nina will implement a new residential development strategy in conjunction with newly appointed development director Craig Burrow, as well as reviewing and implementing the necessary management and leasing structure for existing residential assets and supporting residential refurbishment schemes.

Craig Burrow, development director at TCS, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Nina who brings a wealth of experience to her new role managing our residential property portfolio.

“TCS’s first private rented sector project in Manchester’s Piccadilly Basin, Burlington House, has been a huge success and we are looking at further opportunities across our extensive development portfolio in Manchester and Leeds.

“Nina’s experience will further strengthen our experienced team as we prepare for future growth.”

Nina added: “I’m excited to be joining the team at TCS at a time when the residential portfolio is looking to further expand.

“The residential market has proved its resilience during the pandemic and I’m looking forward to being a part of the business’s ambitions across the residential sector.”

Siobhan Dexter, Andrew Noble and Charlotte Hudson, Clarion

Clarion has made three new appointments to its specialist construction team within its real estate practice.

Siobhan Dexter has joined the team as an associate, Andrew Noble has come onboard after being engaged as in-house counsel and Charlotte Hudson joins the team as a paralegal.

Siobhan has spent three years as a construction lawyer, with her experience including advising on a range of construction contracts, negotiating appointments and collateral warranties with consultants as well as preparing reports on construction documents for financial institutions or purchasers.

Siobhan’s contentious experience includes assisting with high-value adjudications and multi-party disputes in the technology and construction court. She brings experience of working across the energy, hospitality and retail sectors.

Siobhan commented: “I really enjoy the wide range of matters that I get involved with in the Construction team, and share Clarion’s ethos of building good working relationships with clients and providing a high quality service.”

Andrew completed an undergraduate degree in civil engineering and qualified as a solicitor in 2018.

During his time in private practice as a construction and engineering solicitor, Andrew has gained experience working for employers, contractors and funders, advising on building contracts, warranties, letters of intent, letters of reliance, performance bonds, parent company guarantees, novation and assignment agreements and procurement options.

Andrew said: “I am joining Clarion because of the wealth of experience within the team and its continued growth, as well as the great list of clients that the firm serves which, together, should make for an extremely interesting, challenging and fulfilling career.”

Charlotte will assist the team in drafting documentation and liaising with other parties’ solicitors. She will also help to put clients positions forward in disputes in adjudications and court work.

Charlotte is involved in both the contentious and non-contentious sides of the team. As well as working in the construction team, she is currently studying for her LPC MSc part time.

Phil Morrison, partner and head of Clarion’s construction team, added: “Since joining Clarion three years ago to set up a specialist construction offering within the firm’s successful real estate practice, demand for our services has grown enormously.

“As a result, we need to continue investing in growing the team by recruiting experienced construction lawyers to join us on the journey.

“Siobhan, Andrew and Charlotte will give the team a further boost – it’s genuinely an exciting time to be joining our 33-strong real estate practice, and they’re a great fit with Clarion’s values.”

Mark Hewitt and Steve Bulliment, Victory Leisure Homes

Holiday homes manufacturer Victory Leisure Homes has appointed Mark Hewitt as operations director and Steve Bulliment as research and innovation director

Together, Mark and Steve bring with them almost 50 years’ combined experience in the holiday home industry.

Gary Corlyon, managing director at Victory, commented: “This is a very exciting time to join Victory. The staycation boom has helped our growth, enabling us to continue with our expansion plans and roll out of our ambitious, strategic expansion.

“We have always valued and invested in the very best people and both Mark and Steve have the experience, skillsets and attitude that will help drive forward the company plans. I know they will have an instant impact on the business.”

Commenting on his appointment, Mark said: “There is just so much opportunity at Victory. I have over 20 years of experience in holiday home manufacturing and coming into the business, I see my main job as ensuring that we produce the highest quality build, maximise outputs from each facility and ensure our workforce remains safe.

“I’ll be looking at how we make the production lines as efficient as possible through rigorous production planning, introducing gate systems for the handover of information and working within the right timescales for materials to make sure we meet and exceed customers’ expectations.

“In terms of culture, it’s great to see how the senior management team listen and empower all levels of staff members. I’m very much looking forward to my future at Victory.”

Steve added: “Often, the holiday home and caravan market can be viewed - inaccurately - as being behind the times in terms of product innovation. Victory is intent on disrupting the market with new products and better ways of working.

“Joining Victory at this stage of its growth is a really exciting opportunity and I’m delighted to have the authority to improve and introduce new products for our customers.

“For me, this means relentlessly developing a far superior product range, reducing our carbon footprint through the introduction of sustainable materials, investing in state-of-the-art technology, simplifying the design and manufacturing processes for automation and continuing to increase product consistency and quality.”

Stephen Hopwood, McCormicks Solicitors

McCormicks Solicitors has appointed Stephen Hopwood as managing partner.

Stephen is a partner and head of the family department at McCormicks, and first joined the practice in 2013.

Stephen specialises in all aspects of family work, with a focus on finance and children. He is equally specialist in resolving normal family breakdowns and those with complex elements such as trusts and international elements. He is a member of Resolution and treasurer of the Harrogate and District Law Society, of which he is a past president.

Stephen commented: “I am delighted to be expanding my role with the practice and look forward to working even more closely with the great team we have here to ensure we continue to offer the best possible service to our clients.”

Stephen takes over the role from Peter McCormick OBE, who will remain senior partner of the practice.

Peter added: “As a result of both the Covid-19 lockdown and of my increased commitments since I was appointed interim chairman of the FA in November, Stephen has taken a lot of responsibility for the day-to-day management of the business so this is a logical transition of duties for the future.

“I remain senior partner and will continue to play a very active role in the business of the firm alongside my commitments to the Premier League and the FA.”

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