This week’s North West appointments

Malika Ilyas, Asons Solicitors

Bolton’s Asons Solicitors has welcomed Malika Ilyas to its Road Traffic Accident Litigation department.

Solicitor Malika has joined the company from Blackburn-based Lance Mason Solicitors, where she was worked for two years as a litigator. Malika’s legal education took place in the North West, as she studied law at UCLAN, Preston.

Malika said: “I have settled in really well and everyone has made me feel very welcome. I am pleased to join an expanding business that is going places.”

Cyrus Ardalan, OakNorth

OakNorth Bank, a new lender targeting entrepreneurs based in Manchester, has welcomed Cyrus Ardalan on board as an independent chairman.

Cyrus, who was formerly the vice chairman of Barclays, has been taken on to replace Ratan Engineer, who died in April. The hire completes a non-executive board that includes Adair, Lord Turner, Baron Turner of Ecchinswell, who is senior independent director; and non-executive director Robert Burgess.

Having led Barclay’s engagement with key stakeholders in the government between 2011 and June this year. Cyrus then worked for 12 years as vice chairman of investment banking. He has more than 40 years’ experinece in the banking sector, leading teams at organisations like Paribas, The World Bank and Chemical Bank.

Cyrus Ardalan commented: “OakNorth Bank has a unique business model to support the needs of small and medium sized growth companies and entrepreneurs.

“These companies are the backbone of growth and employment creation in the UK with requirements which I believe can be best met through OakNorth’s specialised expertise. I am delighted to be joining this important new initiative in banking.”

James Hitti, BCL Legal

Manchester’s BCL Legal has bolstered its team of consultants in the city with a new appointment.

James Hitti, who has joined the firm as a senior associate, will help with recruiting corporate and real estate lawyers in Manchester.

James said: “BCL Legal has a great reputation in the legal and recruitment sectors so I’m delighted to now be part of the team. Real estate and corporate are two exciting areas of the law so I’m looking forward to helping further cement BCL Legal’s presence in them.”

In addition to his BSc in Business, James has 10 years of experience in the recruitment sector and has previously worked for Sacco Mann and Hudson.

James Batt, BCL Legal’s MD, said: “2015 is shaping up to be a very strong year for us with both real estate and corporate law being particularly buoyant. James’s appointment reflects that demand so the focus for him is now firmly on working with - and adding value to - our clients and candidates in Manchester.”

Rory Underwood, Alcumus

Former international rugby star Rory Underwood has joined Alcumus, the provider of compliance risk management and certification services.

The ex-England player has come on board with Alcumus, which has an office in the Greater Manchester town of Stretford, as the firm’s new development director.

While he is known for his time on the rugby scene, having achieved 85 caps and 49 tries for the England team, Rory also spent 18 years as an RAF pilot and human factors trainer. In the latter role, he handled quality and risk management initiatives, for

CEO Martin Smith said: “In his role as development director, Rory will facilitate senior level introductions, and work with our Sales Director, Grant Strelling to build on the success Alcumus has achieved in these core sectors.

“In addition, Rory, via his consultancy company Wingman, will explore board level risk management and behavioural safety leadership opportunities with Alcumus and support the growth of this service offering to our key clients.”

Alcumus’ client portfolio includes Transport for London, John Lewis Partnership and Sainsbury’s.

Rory said of his new role: “I am delighted to be joining the Alcumus team and look forward to supporting the company’s risk management, compliance and certification service growth.”

Callum Sellar, Dow Schofield Watts

Specialist professional advisory and equity finance company Dow Schofield Watts (DSW) has grown its Cheshire base by appointing Callum Sellar as its newest corporate finance executive.

Callum, who joins the firm after working at KPMG for five years, will help DSW’s corporate finance team with its clients across the North.

Callum said: “This is a superb business for me to join. I am keen to develop a corporate finance career and DSW provides me with a unique opportunity to work closely with probably the most experienced team in the North of England. DSW has a formidable reputation, this was an opportunity that doesn’t come along for many people.”

After achieving a First in his Finance, Accounting & Management degree at Nottingham University, Callum obtained his ACA qualification at KPMG

Dow Schofield Watts’ founding partner, James Dow, said: “We continue to welcome people from “big four” firms, who are attracted to working in an experienced and flourishing independent firm.

“Callum’s appointment will support the anticipated further growth within our corporate finance advisory business and our private equity investment business. I am confident that his skills will make him an integral part of the team.”

Robert Kirkhope, Becky Laurie, Sharon Hitchcock and Julie Rickers Durrant, Avalon

Funeral plan provider Avalon has implemented changes within its marketing team, in a bid to improve its services and grow in new territories.

Robert Kirkhope, who previously worked as Avalon’s marketing manager, is now the head of marketing for the firm’s European operations. The role will see him focusing on developing Avalon’s activities in Portugal and Spain.

Meanwhile Becky Laurie, the firm’s former marketing supervisor for Costa Blanca South, Murcia and Almeria, is now the marketing manager for Eastern Spain. Further, Sharon Hitchcock, who formerly worked as the company’s marketing supervisor of Costa del Sol, is now its marketing manager for Western Spain. Elsewhere, former assistant marketing supervisor Julie Rickers Durrant has taken on the role of marketing supervisor for Almeria.

Jason Gardner, Avalon’s head of Europe, said: “At Avalon we have ambitious growth plans. We’re also committed to progressing the careers of the highly talented people we have across our business.

“Marketing is vital to Avalon and this restructure supports our commitment to engaging with our potential and existing customers. We congratulate Robert, Becky, Sharon and Julie and look forward to further successes across Spain and Portugal.”

Helen Clayton, PM+M

Accountancy firm PM+M, which is headquartered in Blackburn, has bolstered its Corporate Services team by appointing Helen Clayton as a partner.

Since qualifying in the late ’90s, Helen has specialised in advisory and audit work. She has joined PM+M from the Entrepreneurial Business team at Deloitte, where she worked for the last 10 years and served as its director since 2012.

Helen said: “I’m thrilled to join PM+M as it’s such a dynamic and well respected firm. I was particularly impressed with its plans for growth, and I see it as a great opportunity for me to work with a management team that is clearly focused on the future.”

Her new role will see her focusing on expanding the company’s legal client base, in addition to enhancing its profile across the North West.

PM+M’s managing partner, Jane Parry, said: “We are delighted that Helen is now part of the PM+M team. She is one of the region’s best corporate advisers so is a great addition to our existing talent.

“I’m sure she will use her experience and wide network of contacts to really add value to both the firm and our clients.”

Anna Varley Jones and Heather Blundell, Weber Shandwick Manchester

Weber Shandwick Manchester has brought Heather Blundell into its senior management team in the position of associate director, in a bid to strengthen its corporate offering.

Reporting to Deputy MD Andy Poole, Heather will lead the agency’s international corporate accounts and take charge of new business and people development.

Andy Poole commented: “Heather joins the team at an extremely pivotal time, as we enter new and emerging markets. She has run multi-national accounts in London and has opted to move to Manchester to develop her career.

“It’s a real coup for us and reaffirms the North West as a leader in the creative industry.”

Meanwhile, Weber Shandwick Manchester has also promoted the lead of its consumer team. Anna Varley Jones is now a director, in the wake of a six-figure client win and the expansion of national accounts.

Andy Poole said: “Anna will continue to grow our consumer marketing offering with integrated campaigns that have creativity at the heart.”

Andrew Palmer, North of England Excellence

A director at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has become the new chief executive of business support organisation North of England Excellence (NoEE), which is based in Warrington.

Andrew Palmer will be taking up the new position this October. The man who holds the position currently, David Teale, will be standing down after eight years in the role.

Commenting on his new position, Andrew said: “North of England Excellence is a great organisation and I am looking forward to working with a wonderful team to help achieve our goals.

“Our members and partners are among the best businesses and organisations in the country, and I am determined to showcase their ambition, world-leading collaborations and the quality of their workforces, and to ensure they are ready to make the most of the opportunities which lie ahead.”

Before joining the CBI in 1999, Andrew was a business reporter and also managed a lab at the National Blood Authority.

The NoEE chairman, Paul Evans, commented: “We interviewed an incredibly strong shortlist of candidates but Andrew came through as the outstanding person to take NoEE to the next stage of its development.

“I am very much looking forward to working with him to continue NoEE’s work of improving business performance and the competitiveness and productivity of the northern economy.

He added: “Through this, I know NoEE will make an increasingly important contribution to the development of the Northern Powerhouse.”