This week’s Yorkshire appointments

Business development firm W Connect has appointed Liam Smith as a Non-Executive Board Director to help drive its high-impact multi-channel business growth and sales strategy.

W Connect, which offers telemarketing, social and digital marketing, and data delivery to clients across the UK, was established in 2015 - forming part of the W Investment Group.

The move will see Liam join the company’s management team – consisting of Marc Wildes CEO, Martin Harkness Managing Director and Nathan Millward Head of Client Services.

Marc Wildess, W Connect’s CEO, said: “Liam will join the rest of the W Connect management team which, combined, have more than 60-years establishing, overseeing and managing a range of businesses and teams.

“Liam brings with him a particularly strong understanding of both the challenges in acquiring customers, as well as the importance of retention through the delivery of excellent service.

“We are delighted to be welcoming him to the team, and I am certain we will benefit considerably from his experience, as well as his broader perspective on both our business and the wider market – especially whilst the business in its infancy.”

Liam Smith added: “W Connect are an impressive Customer Contact provider that are offering a level of professionalism and innovation that I haven’t seen often in this industry. Those who can combine the capability to deliver, innovation and be able to professionally manage a client’s needs are the ones who will quickly surpass the competition and deliver sustainable results for their clients.”

Richard Armitage, Commercial Property Partners (CPP)

Commercial Property Partners (CPP) has strengthened its Property and Asset Management team with the appointment of Richard Armitage.

Richard will now lead the firm’s new Facilities Management service and provide traditional FM services to owner occupiers, relocation management and a range of specialist facilities consultancy services.

Richard joins the property consultancy as an Associate and arrives from the welfare-to-work provider A4e in Sheffield, where he was National Facilities Manager.

Richard previously worked for Sodexo Property Solutions in Leeds and BNP Paribas Real Estate in London.

Matthew Fitzgerald, partner and head of property and asset management at CPP, added: “Richard is a talented, experienced and well-respected Chartered Facilities Management Surveyor and we are excited that he has joined our team.

“Richard has a vast amount of facilities management experience acting on diverse portfolios located all over the UK and his appointment will add further services to the Property and Asset Management department. I believe this significant appointment will put us even further ahead of our competitors.”

Chris Barwick, Sheards Accountancy

Huddersfield accountancy practice Sheards Accountancy has appointed Chris Barwick as Tax Manager.

Chris Barwick has a wealth of experience in the tax and payroll sector including an Association of Taxation Technician qualification (ATT). Chris will manage the firm’s personal tax and payroll services.

Kevin Winterburn, Director of Sheards Accountancy, commented: “Chris is an excellent addition to the team and we look forward to supporting him with his professional career development.

“We are confident that Chris will also play a key role in supporting various members of staff with his extensive level of knowledge and experience.”

Chris Barwick added: “I am delighted to have joined Sheards Accountancy. I am looking forward to sharing my skills with others and working as part of a team.”

Paul Varley, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking

Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking has appointed a new senior manager for Leeds and Harrogate to lead support for local SMEs to drive growth.

Paul Varley has more than 25 years’ experience at the bank having joined straight from school. He has spent 15 years in commercial banking during which he has worked closely with the bank’s SME customers across the region, most recently acting as a senior manager in the SME manufacturing team for Yorkshire and the North East.

In his new role, Paul will be leading a team of seven relationship managers, which includes managers with expertise in finance for law firms, to ensure local businesses with turnovers up to £25m have access to the funding needed to realise their growth ambitions both domestically and overseas.

Paul said: “Having worked at the heart of the commercial sector in Yorkshire for the past two decades, I have developed a real understanding of the challenges and opportunities businesses across the region face. I look forward to translating this knowledge into my new role at the bank to offer SMEs in both Leeds and Harrogate tailored financial support to drive long-term sustainable growth.”

Leigh Taylor, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking’s North East and Yorkshire area director, added: “Paul brings a wealth of expertise to his new role. His appointment into this senior management position will further bolster the support and expertise we can offer to businesses at a regional level.

“We’re committed to helping SMEs succeed, that’s why we’ve pledged to grow our lending by £1bn every year until 2017.”

Libby Holding, Beaumont Legal

Beaumont Legal has appointed Libby Holding as Head of Wills & Probate.

Based in Wakefield with a turnover exceeding £5m, Beaumont Legal houses one of the largest residential conveyancing departments in the country and the appointment continues their expansion outside of conveyancing, following the recent success of their online commercial law calculator launched last month.

Solicitor and non-practising barrister Libby Holding will manage and develop a department covering Wills, Probate, Powers of Attorney, Declarations of Trust, asset protection and estate planning services. Libby was selected because of her personal approach and ambition to provide a modern service to customers, something which Beaumont Legal passionately believes in.

Nick Masheder, managing partner, said: “Our conveyancing business has been a huge success over the last few years and we’re keen to expand our offering with additional areas of specialism. Libby’s appointment is a key element for our continuing growth plans.

“She impressed us with her ability, passion and vision for the future of private client services. She’s already had a great impact on the team and we’re looking forward to her working to advance our offering in wills and probate work.”

Harlan Pollitt, Carter Jonas

Property consultancy Carter Jonas has launched a new service for town centre house buyers and sellers with the appointment of a new head of town sales.

Carter Jonas, which has four offices in the region has appointed Harlan Pollitt to its residential team in Harrogate to head up its first dedicated service for vendors in the town.

A member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Harlan Pollitt comes from a commercial agency background and joins the firm from the Leeds office of Land Securities where he was portfolio manager, managing £750m of assets. Prior to that, Harlan was property and development manager at Evans Property Group.

At Carter Jonas, Harlan will work within the experienced residential team focussing on marketing all types of properties in Harrogate. The new service will complement Carter Jonas’ already strong presence in the villages and surrounding areas.

Tony Wright, partner and head of residential at Carter Jonas said: “This is a significant appointment and follows our identification of the Harrogate town centre market as buoyant. Carter Jonas is already well established in the middle and upper end of the property market in the villages surrounding the town.

“Harlan’s appointment means that Carter Jonas can now offer a dedicated and bespoke service to customers wanting to help their properties stand out in the thriving town centre market.”

Erica Thorpe, Twisted Automotive

Twisted Automotive has supported its international growth plans with the appointment of a new brand manager.

Erica Thorpe will be responsible for supporting the company’s international expansion, brand partnerships, and the launch of a range of new services over the next three years.

Ms Thorpe, from York, joins the business from White Horse Digital, where she held a senior role as client and media services manager.

Erica Thorpe said: “Twisted is a globally recognised brand with a passionate following. The company plans to grow its overseas business, and use the value in the brand to launch new products and services. It is a great time to join the business and help shape this development.”

Twisted Automotive recently announced a jump in overseas demand for its take on the Land Rover Defender.

Alex Duckett, operations director, added: “Erica brings a wealth of experience to the business and some much needed digital nous. She will play a key role in supporting the management team going forward.”

Andy Smith, Fuelmate

UK fuel card business Fuelmate has appointed Andy Smith to head up its fuel card operation, as the company gears up for growth.

Mr Smith brings 17 years’ experience in the fuel card industry to the company, having started in the industry on a YTS scheme in 1997.

During his career he launched a fuel card division from a standing start, growing it to turnover £50m in nine years.

He has spent the past four years working in Ireland to grow his knowledge of the European fuel card market.

Fuelmate, the Hull-based family group, which includes commercial diesel, domestic heating oil and lubricants supplier Rix Petroleum, racked up sales of £453m in 2014.

Andy Smith said: “Fuel cards are my background. I started as a sales rep at 19 and have worked in the industry ever since.

“In that time I have always been aware of Rix – the company has a great reputation – so I am really pleased to have been appointed to head up Fuelmate.

“Fuelmate has fantastic potential and I will be looking to capitalise on, and grow, the existing brand value of the business whilst working closely with the sales and account teams to ensure we are deriving the greatest value we can from our resources for our customers.

“I have my eye firmly on growth and am looking forward to taking the business to the next level.”

The company supplies all major fuel cards including Keyfuels and UK Fuels, BP, Shell, Texaco, Esso, European card DKV and Fleetmate – a bespoke solution aimed at fleet operators and based on the specific requirements of the client.

Rory Clarke, managing director of Rix Petroleum and director of J.R. Rix & Sons, added: “Andy has a great pedigree in the industry. We are very excited to have him on board and are confident Fuelmate is great hands with him at the helm.”