This week’s North West appointments

Bernadette McQuillan, Rebecca Harper and Jessica Haigh, CBRE (Manchester)

The Manchester office of real estate advisory firm CBRE has welcomed three new faces to its land and development team.

Bernadette McQuillan has been appointed as director, while Jessica Haigh and Rebecca Harper have joined the team as senior surveyors.

Bernadette made the move from CBRE’s Manchester-based planning team, where she has worked since 2008.

In her new role, Bernadette will undertake site finding and development consultancy, as well as providing commercially focused development advice.

Jessica Haigh, meanwhile, joined CBRE after working in commercial sector positions at King Sturge and WHR. She specialises in office agency, including the acquisition and disposal of commercial property in Manchester.

Newcomer Rebecca has moved to CBRE from Savills. Following her appointment, Rebecca will provide development strategies and act on the disposal and acquisition of property for both the public and private sector.

Steven Verity, a senior director for the land and development team, said: “We are experiencing continued growth within our business line and as a result have expanded the team with three highly talented individuals with complementary skills to enhance our client offering.

“We are delighted to welcome Bernadette across from CBRE’s planning department and are confident that she can utilise her previous experience to successfully progress her new role.”

He added: “We are also pleased to welcome Jessica and Rebecca and are looking forward to working as a multi-disciplinary team on a number of high-profile projects across the region.”

Phil Wong, High Access

High Access, the Manchester-based high level commercial property maintenance service provider, has appointed Phil Wong in the role of finance director.

Phil, who has joined the firm from engineering company Laing O’Rourke, has experience in overarching financial and operational strategies.

In his new post, Phil will help shape High Access’ future growth as the business launches depots across the UK.

High Access’ managing director, Niel Bethell, said: “We have been building momentum behind the scenes for some time now.

“Having recently relocated to larger premises and launching a new depot in London, we have also been expanding our team. With the addition of Phil, we are now well placed to go for growth.”

Phil said of his appointment : “High Access is a dynamic, growing firm with a truly unique offering.

“We are hungry for growth and set to continue increasing our market share because we can provide the very best service to our commercial property customers.”

John Williams, IPREX

John Williams, the founder and CEO of PR agency Mason Williams, has been chosen as the president of the European, Middle East and African regions (EMEA) for global comms network IPREX.

Following his appointment, John will oversee the organisation’s expansion across the EMEA area.

John, whose first major focus will be the upcoming IPREX conference in Dublin, commented: “I am excited about the prospect of increasing our involvement with IPREX to bring business to the UK, not only for MW but for other partners in our network.

“Already this year we have worked on contracts from Spain, France, Portugal, Germany and had enquires from the USA and Dubai. This can only be great for us and for those friends and businesses that we have relationships with.”

He added: “Mason Williams has always tried to create jobs and career openings and I am hopeful that my new role within IPREX will continue to stimulate and grow those opportunities.”

Stacey Ashe and Rachel Buckley, Birchall Blackburn Law

Birchall Blackburn Law has announced two senior promotions in its Manchester-based conveyancing department.

Stacey Ashe has been made a partner in the company, while Rachel Buckley is now a senior associate conveyancer.

Having joined Birchall Blackburn in 2007 and qualified as a solicitor in 2011, Stacey has worked across a number of the business’ offices in conveyancing, foreign property and private client fields.

Rachel has been with Birchall Blackburn for 20 years, joining the company as a legal assistant. Since then she has worked in property and litigation.

Birchall Blackburn senior partner Michael Foxford said: “Stacey and Rachel’s promotions recognise the valuable contribution they make to the company in their chosen fields.

“Stacey works extremely hard to make sure our clients’ needs are met and they receive the highest standard of service. Her commitment to spending time with clients, advising on technical issues and problem solving is often reflected in the feedback we receive and I’m sure she will relish this new opportunity.”

He continued: “Rachel’s role is vital to make sure we deliver the best service possible for our clients and continually strive for excellence. She has worked very hard to get to this stage in her career and this promotion recognises those efforts and her work to make sure our clients are always getting the best possible service.”

Holly Wood, Grain

Manchester-based marketing agency Grain has expanded its team with the appointment of Holly Wood as commercial director.

Holly has brought experience in commercial strategy and business development to the role, having worked across a number of sectors, and will now focus on customer acquisition and entry into new markets.

Grain’s managing director, Richard Wood, said: “Holly joining us allows us to accelerate our own business development after what’s been an incredible first year of growth.

“We’ve got some ambitious targets to hit over the next five years, and her experience and ability across a wide remit of sectors is going to be a huge part of that.”

Holly Gethin, Woodcocks Haworth and Nuttall Solicitors

Law firm Woodcocks Haworth and Nuttall Solicitors (WHN) has promoted one of its lawyers.

Private client solicitor Holly Gethin has been promoted to lead WHN’s wills, trusts and probate offer at its base in Bury.

Holly joined WHN in 2010 and trained in the company’s specialist asset protection team before going on to qualify as a solicitor in 2012.

Over the last four years, Holly’s role has seen her advising local families and individuals on all aspects of wills, trusts and probate.

WHN partner Michael Shroot, who heads up the Bury office, said: “WHN has seen a spike in demand for its private client services over the past few years, particularly wills and trusts.

“This area of law is very complicated and many people are now recognising plans for the future need to be legally watertight and carefully thought out by specialist solicitors and not thrown together by DIY wills or online portals.”

He continued: “Holly is a gifted member of our team and her promotion is well deserved. She provides a beacon of expertise in a complicated area of legal practice and has a bright future ahead.”

Holly recently travelled around Australia as part of WHN’s sabbatical scheme, before returning to her Lancashire roots to take up her new role.

Holly commented: “The months I spent travelling in Australia enabled me to see life from different perspectives and grow as an individual, which I believe has helped to make me a more rounded professional person.

“My new role is very client focused and there are times when I have to deal with people in difficult situations, such as a family bereavement.”

She added: “Hopefully I can make a deeply upsetting period a little easier by helping to remove as much stress as possible from the unavoidable legal process.”

Neal Charlton, Buttress Architects

Buttress Architects has announced the addition of Neal Charlton to its board of directors.

Neal, who has worked with the Ancoats-based firm since 1999, has experience in the arts and culture sector and leads one of Buttress’ conservation teams.

He is currently involved in the redevelopment of the Grade-I listed Headstone Manor in London and the restoration of 16th-century Wythenshawe Hall manor house, near Manchester, which was damaged in a fire earlier this year.

Buttress’ managing director, Gavin Sorby, said: “Neal is an experienced design team leader with wealth of experience in the museum and conservation sectors.

“He has made a significant contribution during his time at the practice, providing strategic direction on a number of key projects, and his move to director will allow us build our expertise in arts and culture at board level.”

Shaun Critchley, ADVANCE

Shaun Critchley has become the sole managing director of ADVANCE, the accountancy and payroll company based just outside Chester.

Shaun previously served as the company’s joint MD alongside Tim Hunt, who has now left the firm to pursue opportunities elsewhere.

Andrew Coates, ADVANCE’s group finance director, and Anna Sills, the firm’s customer service and communications director, remain in place following the changes.

A qualified employment law solicitor, Shaun joined ADVANCE in August 2015.

He commented: “This is a really exciting time for ADVANCE and I’m honoured to be leading the business as we start the next chapter in our history.

“We have huge ambitions and some extremely talented people. I am determined to ensure that as a collective we fulfil our potential.”

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