This week’s North West appointments

Danielle Dixon, Flynn Refrigeration

Refrigeration and air conditioning systems supplier Flynn Refrigeration has shored up its growth drive with the appointment of Danielle Dixon as its new marketing executive.

In her new role with the Birkenhead-based firm, Danni will offer support in client relationship management, sales and customer service, in addition to helping with Flynn Refrigeration’s social media and marketing campaigns.

She commented: “This is a terrific time to be joining Flynn Refrigeration as it continues to rapidly expand on a global scale.

“I was attracted to the role and the team at Flynn who are dedicated to providing a world-class service from start to finish.”

She added: “I am really looking forward to being part of a thrusting, dynamic and forward-thinking business, and using my skills to maximum effect.”

Prior to her appointment, Danni worked as a senior sales advisor and sales and marketing professional.

Flynn Refrigeration MD Alex Flynn commented: “Danielle has the perfect skill set to assist us in the continued growth of the company.

“Flynn Refrigeration is experiencing strong growth and we believe next year is going to be pivotal as we aim to hit ambitious targets.”

Alex continued: “I have total confidence in Danielle’s abilities and the support she will provide to the team, our suppliers and, most importantly, our customers.”

James Alderson, Mulbury

Property consultant James Alderson has been hired by residential and care housing developer Mulbury to head up its city centre residential development business.

Joining Cheshire-based Mulbury from built asset consultancy Arcadis, James will lead the company’s Mulbury City division, which focuses on the private rented sector.

James said: “Opportunities to develop schemes under PRS and similar investor-backed housing models are growing, particular in Manchester, but also in other cities across the North.

“Mulbury has grown on the back of its desire to provide a range of solutions to housing need and we are well placed to help our clients benefit from these new opportunities.”

Previously he worked with companies such as development and management firm Grosvenor and infrastructure group Balfour Beatty, assisting with projects such as the Liverpool ONE retail complex and Manchester’s £1.5bn Spinningfields development.

Mulbury Homes director Greg Mulligan commented: “Our first PRS scheme at Port Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter will be starting on site early next year and we have number of other city centre schemes in the land acquisition and planning stages.

“James’s experience of handling major city centre development projects will be invaluable as we expand our Mulbury City offering.”

Andrew Goddard and Daniel Head, KPMG

Business advisory firm KPMG has appointed Daniel Head and Andrew Goddard as partners at its office in Manchester.

Daniel, who leads KPMG’s global transfer pricing services team, has been with the firm since 1999. He has more than 20 years of corporate tax experience and today works to support a number of large North West companies.

Andrew, meanwhile, joined the Manchester-based pension team at KPMG in 2009 after working for professional services network PwC for seven years. Today, his efforts at KPMG focus on growing its Pension Trustee business and advising on all aspects of pension strategy.

Jon Holt, a senior partner at KPMG’s Manchester office, said: “We now have 30 partners based in Manchester who are supported by over 800 colleagues, which makes Manchester one of KPMG’s largest hubs in Europe.

“Daniel Head and Andrew Goddard’s appointments and the eight director promotions reflect the strength of our team in the city, and its growth is further evidence of the important role that Manchester and the wider North West plays as a strategic centre for professional services in the UK.”

Elsewhere, KPMG also announced eight director promotions in the North West, including tax specialists Joanne Brien, Richard Nash, Mark Hagan and Simon Chapman, all of whom are based in Manchester.

Further changes at the Manchester office saw KPMG make Tarifa Simpson from the deal advisory team a director, as well as James Buxton and Jitka Roberts from its restructuring team and Antony Whittle from the audit team. Furthermore, Ailsa Griffin, from KPMG’s Liverpool-based audit team, was also made a director.

Anna Melia (pictured) and Natalie Asprey, Berg

Berg, the law firm based in Manchester, has strengthened its marketing capabilities with its latest two appointments.

Anna Melia has been taken on as digital campaign manager, while Natalie Asprey has become Berg’s offline marketing manager.

Joining from accountancy firm Armstrong Watson, Anna will drive the ongoing development of Berg’s digital operations. Natalie, who previously worked for business development organisation pro-manchester, has experience in PR, events and branding.

Reuben Berg, a senior partner at the company, said: “We are delighted to welcome two new additions to our business development and marketing team at what is an exciting time for the firm and allows us to make significant progress in our marketing objectives as a business overall.”

Sue Fendt, Powell Williams

Chester-based building consultancy Powell Williams has taken on Sue Fendt in the position of business development and marketing manager.

Sue has over 15 years of experience in international marketing and business development.

She commented: “I am excited to be part of the team at Powell Williams and work with some of most seasoned and proven building consultants in the real estate industry in the UK.

“I welcome the opportunity to support the firm’s continued growth in an expanding and dynamic marketplace, and am looking forward to helping the firm build even further on its existing excellent reputation.”

The role will see her operating across the company’s four offices, in Chester, Leeds, Birmingham and London, working alongside senior partner Andrew Marshall to attract new business.

Senior partner Andrew said: “In order to take the next step and grow the business further […] we need to open up new markets.

“We’re doing this through geographical expansion and with the help of a business development specialist.”

He added: “We selected Sue because of her proven experience within professional services industry and her unrivalled enthusiasm for the role, and were delighted she agreed to come and help us on this journey.”

Joanne Keen and Victoria Roberts, Birchall Blackburn Law

Manchester-based Birchall Blackburn Law has added two new members to its catastrophic and serious injury team.

Joanne Keen and Victoria Roberts have joined the Kennedy Street law firm as senior specialist asbestos solicitors.

With more than 20 years’ industry experience, Joanne and Vicky have joined Birchall Blackburn Law from Thompsons Solicitors, where they both worked for over 12 years.

Dianne Yates, a partner at the company, leads the serious and catastrophic injury department.

Commenting on the appointments, she said: “There has been an increase in victims of asbestos-related illnesses requiring legal assistance for litigation, advice on benefits they may be entitled to and links to support organisations.

“Both Vicky and Joanne have a wealth of experience in this complex area of law so they are welcome additions to the team.”

Diane added: “They will help those who have been exposed to asbestos across the Manchester, Crewe, Cheshire and Staffordshire areas gain the expert advice and compensation they deserve.”

Joanne obtained her law degree from the University of Central England before qualifying as a solicitor in 1995, while Vicky studied towards an LLB degree in law at North Staffordshire University and completed her training contract in 2005.

Natalie Lewis, Napthens

Law firm Napthens has appointed solicitor Natalie Lewis as a member of its corporate team.

Natalie, who trained in Lancashire before spending time overseas, will handle transactional work such as share schemes, mergers and acquisitions in her new role.

She commented: “It’s great to move back and to work in Lancashire again after time spent out of the county, and I’m looking forward to working with Napthens’ clients and contributing to the team.”

Following her appointment, Natalie will provide Napthens’ clients with general company law advice, which includes drafting commercial contracts such as confidentiality and shareholders’ agreements.

Richard Robinson is the head of corporate at Napthens, which has offices across Lancashire and Cumbria.

He said: “Natalie joins our team during an exciting period of growth for the business as we look to meet increasing client demand across our corporate and commercial services.”

Paul Baker, Boxed Off

Liverpool PR agency Boxed Off Communications has hired Paul Baker, a former journalist and feature writer with publisher Trinity Mirror.

For the last decade, Paul has created commercial features for a number of newspapers and periodicals in the North West and North Wales, including LDP Business and Confetti magazine.

Commenting on his appointment, he said: “I’m very pleased to be joining Boxed Off. This is a superb opportunity to become part of an agency that’s really on the up.

“It’s exciting to work across a broad range of clients from SMEs and individuals to nationwide businesses and famous heritage brands.”

In October, Boxed Off helped with the launch of a £1.5m family attraction at Liverpool’s Albert Dock for its client Heritage Great Britain plc, the group behind Land’s End, Snowdon Mountain Railway and other tourist attractions.

Richard Clein, a founding director of Boxed Off, said: “I’m delighted Paul has agreed to join Boxed Off which is enjoying a sustained period of growth.

“He is an experienced journalist with great contacts and will play a vital role as the agency steps up to the next level.”

Terri Walker, Sofia Sheikh and Shannon Rowlands, Stark Brooks

Recruitment company Stark Brooks has welcomed three new faces in its Manchester team.

Sofia Sheikh and Terri Walker have been hired as recruitment consultants in Stark Brooks’ commerce and industry team, while Shannon Rowlands joined its research division.

Joining from XCL Management, Sofia will focus on transactional and part-qualified finance posts in the North West. Terri, who has joined from Macdonald & Company, will specialise in newly-qualified level posts in Cheshire and Manchester.

Shannon, meanwhile, will provide research, mapping, resourcing and headhunting support for clients across the UK.

Gron Ffoulkes-Davies, the firm’s chief executive, said: “We’re delighted to welcome our three new arrivals in our Manchester office as demand for our services increases.

“We expect to further bolster our teams on both sides of the Pennines across our existing commerce and industry and professional services specialisms.”

He continued: “Alongside growth in our core markets, we are also looking to recruit in the coming months for expansion into new markets, such as the legal, human resources and marketing sectors.”

Paula Bradley, EMS-Healthcare

EMS-Healthcare, the mobile health services firm based in Ellesmere Port, has appointed Paula Bradley as a new project manager for the NHS and pharmaceuticals markets.

Paula, who has over 10 years’ experience working in healthcare-related events, joined EMS-Healthcare from Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

She also has experience running her own Cheshire-based healthcare events company.

In her new role, Paula will communicate with both internal and external stakeholders to manage the delivery of client projects.

EMS-Healthcare’s business delivery manager, Suzie Nield, commented: “Paula will be a valuable addition to the team.

“Her wealth of NHS and commercial experience in the events industry means that she will have the confidence and experience to make a difference right from the start.”

She added: “By expanding the team with this new role we will strengthen the service we can offer to our clients, ensuring they always have one key point of contact throughout their partnership with us.”

Paul Hill, Electio

Delivery management platform provider Electio has appointed a new director of client technology.

Paul Hill has joined the company from delivery management firm MetaPack, where he worked as director of service excellence.

His experience spans two decades and includes work with a number of companies in the delivery sector, including UPS.

As director of client technology, Paul will work closely with Electio’s customer service and software development teams to ensure development of the company’s core platform remains customer focused.

He commented: “Electio has provided me with a fantastic opportunity to be a part of an energetic, agile team that is passionate about delivering a product that the industry has long been crying out for.

“I love the disruptive approach Electio and its close-knit team is taking, and I’m genuinely excited that this flexible and scalable technology is providing the e-commerce industry with exactly what it needs right now – choice!”

Electio is part of Manchester-based MPD Group, which also operates the My Parcel Delivery brand.

MPD Group’s CEO, David Grimes, said: “Paul is a huge boost to the Electio team. He has a wealth of experience in operations, delivery, retail, and technology having worked with some of our industry’s biggest players.

“We’re continuing to attract the best talent from across the industry. Having Paul on board really goes to show that we’re making waves in our space.”

Beth Houghton, James Winterbottom and Andy Strickland, Palatine Private Equity

Palatine Private Equity has announced three new promotions.

The private equity business, which has offices in Manchester and London, promoted Beth Houghton to the position of partner, and James Winterbottom and Andy Strickland to the roles of investment directors.

Beth, who has been with Palatine for close to nine years, was made a partner after playing what the firm called an “instrumental” role in achieving positive exits for Playnation, a family leisure business, as well as in the sale of financial education company Wealth at Work for £50m to investment firm Equistone.

James has worked for Palatine for seven years, while Andy came on board just over two years ago.

Gary Tipper, a managing partner at Palatine Private Equity, said: “These promotions are part of our continued progression as a business and demonstrate our on-going commitment to developing talent within the firm.

“The past 12 months have been exceptional for Palatine, both in terms of deal completions and successful exits, so it’s a great time to be commending the hard work of our team.”