This week’s North West appointments

Tim Meers, Liam Prescott and Sean Devlin, ABH Law

ABH Law, the Wigan-based law firm, has appointed three new solicitors to strengthen its probate, litigation and conveyancing divisions.

Tim Meers has over 30 years’ experience in the property sector with firms such as Nabarro, Dechert and Speechlys. More recently, he worked for law firm DAC Beachcroft.

Liam Prescott, meanwhile, has joined ABH Law from Countrywide Property Lawyers Ltd, while Sean Devlin has joined the firm’s wills and probate division from North West-based Mark Reynolds Solicitors.

ABH Law’s joint managing partner, Keith Whitehead, said: “We’re proud of our straightforward approach which our clients tell us is refreshing in an industry many find confusing.

“It’s been an exciting time for all seven partners with the firm enjoying an extremely positive first year-and-a-half. The business is set to grow even further as we continue expanding our existing relationships and building new ones.”

The business, which has a team of around 50 employees, was formed last year following a merger between Wigan law firms Alker & Ball and Healds Solicitors.

David Ancell, Select Property Group

Property investment company Select Property Group has hired David Ancell as its new head of digital.

The appointment was made as the firm, which has offices in Manchester and London, launches Affinity Living, a private rented sector brand, as well as expanding its existing Vita Student and CitySuites property brands.

As part of his new role, David will work to maximise online engagement with Select’s customer base, which predominantly consists of students and young professionals.

With more than 10 years’ experience covering website and app development, SEO, PPC and social media management, David has worked with a number of global brands, including technology company Dyson, automaker Lexus and games publisher EA Games.

David said: “Select is revolutionising the sector with dynamic brands that focus completely on the customer experience.

“There is a huge opportunity to put digital at the very core of the customer journey, both at the purchasing stage, and by integrating digital into the living experience in every Select property.”

Select is currently in a joint venture partnership to create the residential aspect of the £750m development on the former BBC site in Manchester.

The firm’s CEO, Mark Stott, commented: “Often, our websites are the first introduction investors and customers have of our brands, so ensuring the user journey online is seamless and impactful will be a key part of David’s role.

“His appointment demonstrates the commitment we have to placing digital innovation at the very heart of the business.”

Mark added: “Our aim is to build on our global marketing approach, as well as add real value in terms of how we integrate further customer-focussed digital propositions into our properties.”

Duncan Hope, Irwin Mitchell

Law firm Irwin Mitchell has appointed Duncan Hope to the role of commercial litigation partner at its Manchester office.

Joining from Manchester-headquartered commercial law firm DWF, Duncan’s role will see him serving a range of clients, including private firms, banks and both central and local government departments.

Duncan has experience advising on a number of issues, such as contractual disputes, professional negligence, shareholder disagreements, fraud, arbitration and pension disputes.

Irwin Mitchell’s real estate partner, Roy Beckett, who heads up the firm’s Manchester-based business legal services team, commented: “Duncan is another important appointment for Irwin Mitchell in Manchester, particularly as his arrival broadens the range of services that we can offer to our business clients.

“We are excited about the growth opportunities that exist across the North West and remain committed to building on our recent investment with further recruitment announcements in the near future.”

Sue Hutchinson, Beever and Struthers

Accountancy and business advisory firm Beever and Struthers has promoted Sue Hutchinson to the position of partner.

Sue, who joined the firm 12 months ago, specialises in providing audit services to clients across the education, not-for-profit and social housing sectors.

With 15 years’ experience behind her, Sue’s new role makes her responsible for developing Beever and Struthers’ audit team, keeping members up to date with sector news affecting the firm’s clients.

Chris Porritt, a senior partner and head of social housing with Beever and Struthers, said: “Sue was a major strategic hire for us and brought with her a wealth of invaluable experience to give fresh impetus to our on-going drive to further heighten our hard earned and widely respected profile and reputation in social housing, not-for-profit and education nationwide.

“Her promotion to partner is richly deserved following a year in which she has excelled by succeeding for herself, the firm and most importantly of all, its valued clients.”

Beever and Struthers has 21 partners and over 170 employees across offices in Manchester, Blackburn and London.

Sue said of her new role: “I’m genuinely honoured to be promoted to partner and look forward to continuing to help my colleagues to develop our already major presence in the key sectors of social housing, not-for-profit and education.

“At Beever and Struthers we offer national experience and capability in these sectors and provides our clients with the support and reassurance they need in an ever-changing regulatory and accounting environment.”

Mark Metcalf, Toscafund Asset Management LLP

Investment firm Toscafund Asset Management LLP has hired a new head of credit management and deal underwriting for Tosca Debt Capital Fund (TDCF), its new Manchester-based regional debt fund.

Mark Metcalf has joined the company after spending over 10 year as a credit risk director with Wells Fargo Capital Finance’s Manchester office.

With close to 30 years of lending experience, 18 of which were spent in asset-based lending, Mark has held senior positions in several organisations.

In his new role with TDCF, Mark will work to expand the organisation’s Manchester office to support businesses across the North.

He said: “This move is an exciting new challenge for me. SMEs are currently under-serviced in private debt financing and my role will be crucial in facilitating the execution of deals and sanctioning of credit in short timescales to help businesses enter the next phase of growth.

“Having helped to launch new regional offices for lending institutions before, I’m looking forward to putting my skills to use for TDCF, especially as we believe that it’s the first debt fund to be originated out of the North West with a clear strategy to support regional SMEs.”

The TDCF, which focuses on offering debt capital to SMEs in the North of England, is aiming to raise £110m by early 2016.

TDCF partner Gary Davison commented: “Mark is a first-class hire for us, bringing with him many years of broad credit management and deal underwriting experience.

“In particular, his professional network of contacts is a key asset for us as a regional lender.”

He added: “His expertise in managing risk exposure, structuring deals and driving transactions will be invaluable for us as we look to establish ourselves as the lender of choice for UK regional SMEs seeking flexible debt capital.”

Pictured: EY director Chris Marks (right) alongside North West senior partner Simon Allport

Six hires, Ernst & Young

Proffessional services firm Ernst & Young (EY) has appointed six new faces at its forensic technology lab in Manchester.

The lab, which opened last year, provides ‘eDiscovery’ services by collecting and analysing data for regulatory investigations and legal disputes all over the UK.

The new recruits to the forensic technology and discovery services (FTDS) team include associates Jade Farrell, Tom Sothcott and Matt Baines.

Elsewhere, associate Ashish Kumar Kungulwar has joined the Manchester lab from EY’s FTDS practice in Hyderabad, India, while executive Pawan Venkat has also moved to Manchester from Hyderabad, where he worked for another ‘big four’ company.

Lucy Myers, meanwhile, has joined the FTDS team on an industry placement from the University of Central Lancashire, with which the Manchester lab maintains a partnership.

The six new appointments will support the lab’s core operations and work to develop its mobile eDiscovery rig offering, which allows clients to analyse data that, for legal reasons, cannot physically leave the premises or be transmitted to third-parties for analysis.

EY’s FTDS practice has also made a number of promotions. Team head Chris Marks has taken on the role of director, while Mark Tanner and Chris Henderson are now executive and assistant manager respectively.

Commenting on the changes, Chris Marks said: “We’re building an outstanding team here in Manchester, which is working on cutting edge national and international eDiscovery projects. The North West’s exceptional education institutions and thriving technology sector underpin a strong talent pool, and are helping us to bring in people with the right skills.

“Not only will the enlarged team help to address the complex eDiscovery needs of our clients, but they will also be central to the development and deployment of our cutting edge eDiscovery rigs.”

He added: “We’re seeing huge appetite from our clients for these and we expect demand to continue to grow over the coming years.”

Rudi Kidd, Davis Blank Furniss

Davis Blank Furniss has appointed Rudi Kidd as its newest consultant solicitor.

In his new role at the law firm, which has offices in Manchester and Glossop, Rudi will specialise in entertainment, media, sports and intellectual property law.

Davis Blank Furniss made the appointment to grow its presence in the film, music, television, fashion, sports and IT industries.

Joining from IPS Law LLP, where he represented clubs from the Premier and Championship leagues, Rudi said: “I’m really excited to be joining Davis Blank Furniss. It’s a well-established firm with a very good reputation.

“There’s a real drive to expand both the services it offers and the kinds of clients it works with. This was a big draw for me and really fits with my own ambitions.”

He added: “I’m now looking forward to growing the firm’s presence in my specialist areas as well as adding value to our existing client base.”

Rudi, who qualified in 1994 and went on to work with music industry clients such as British funk band Jamiroquai and American singer-songwriter Moby, is a member of the US-based Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association.

Kate Oldfield, a managing partner at Davis Blank Furniss, commented: “We’ve been thinking about ramping up our presence in the entertainment, media and sports sectors for a while but we wanted to make sure we had the right talent in place.

“Rudi’s appointment is the first step in that process and we are all delighted that he is now part of the Davis Blank Furniss team.”

Karen Shotliff, Christina McEvoy and Cheryl Green, Silverback

Blackburn-based executive leadership and management company Silverback has expanded its team with three senior appointments.

Cheryl Green, who has joined the firm as head of learning and development innovation, will work to develop Silverback’s relationships with international blue chip businesses. Previously, she worked in talent development for companies such as skincare product manufacturer Estée Lauder and multi-brand online retailer Shop Direct Group.

Meanwhile, Christina McEvoy and Karen Shotliff have been hired as business development managers, increasing Silverback’s presence in the North and South respectively.

Christina spent two years delivering internal training and development at Chase Templeton, the independent insurance intermediary, while Karen formerly worked as an innovations specialist at Pera Training, where she headed a team that provided training to SMEs across the UK.

Silverback director Neil Gutteridge said: “Our new employees bring with them a wealth of expertise and we’re delighted to welcome them on board.

“They join the business at an exciting and vital time and will be essential in driving forward the new brand.”

He added: “I’m really pleased that our success allows us to recruit genuine specialists drawn from industry and I can’t wait to see where we go from here.”

Peter Collins, Manchester & Cheshire Construction

North West construction firm Manchester & Cheshire Construction has appointed its first ever chairman in a bid to drive its expansion plans.

Peter Collins has joined the the company’s board in a non-executive capacity as it seeks to more than double its annual revenues between now and 2018.

The Salford-based firm, which achieved revenues of £8.5m in the year to September 30, 2014, is hoping to increase its turnover to £20m in the next three years.

Peter, who lives near Preston, is a main board adviser for 30 North West companies and holds a number of non-executive posts in the region.

Commenting on his appointment, Peter said: “With a strong trading history, robust balance sheet, highly-reputable project portfolio and repeat client list, Manchester & Cheshire Construction is ripe for increased momentum and I am looking forward to using my experience and skills to help the company realise its growth plans.”

Peter co-founded Manchester-based Fast Forward Growth, an organisation that advises businesses on their expansion and funding strategies.

Manchester & Cheshire Construction MD David Lowe said: “We have been working with Peter in a less formal capacity for some time and we have found his input to be invaluable.

“His appointment as our first ever chairman brings his skills further into the mix. He points us in the right direction, challenges our traditional way of thinking and provides a sounding board for new ideas.”

David added: “Peter is the ideal person to help us meet our goals. He has a wealth of experience in dealing with high-growth companies and, as chairman, he will be able to help us build new relationships and act as an ambassador for the business.”

Alex Jessup, Cestrian

Print manufacturer and installer Cestrian has appointed Alex Jessup FCA as its finance director.

Alex has joined the Cheshire firm from Practice Plan Limited, a dental membership plan company. Working in the newly created finance director position, Alex will be responsible for driving Cestrian’s strategic development and enhancing its financial performance.

He said of his new role: “I’m very pleased to be joining Cestrian at such an exciting and progressive time. This is a fantastic opportunity to utilise my financial expertise to drive business strategy and contribute to the overall growth of a dynamic company.

“I was particularly attracted to working for Cestrian as the opportunity goes beyond that of a traditional FD role.”

Alex continued: “The entrepreneurial nature of the business means that creativity and innovation are embraced and customer experience is at its core.”

The appointment comes as Cestrian implements a growth strategy to increase turnover from £11.5m to £18m over the next three years.

Cestrian MD Phill Reynolds said: “Our growth strategy is seeing us hone our company strengths of innovation, customer collaboration, responsiveness and quality to add value to outdoor media owners and retailers.

“Alex is key to this and his focus on finance, HR and strategic development is already enabling us to replicate this successful partnership business model with new customers.”