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This week’s North East appointments

Your weekly North East appointment update.

Michael Cantwell, RMT

Well known North East dealmaker Michael Cantwell has joined RMT Accountants & Business Advisors to head up its Corporate Finance division.

Michael is now responsible for the Gosforth-based firm’s work around helping entrepreneurs undertake acquisitions and disposals, as well as assisting owner-managed businesses to secure the investment capital they need to expand.

Michael has worked in corporate finance for 14 years, specialising in acquisitions, disposals and fund raising, and has spent the last nine years as a director with RSM Corporate Finance in Newcastle.

He has been a leading advisor both regionally and nationally on applications to the government’s Regional Growth Fund program, has provided Due Diligence services to the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, and has worked on a variety of high profile corporate finance projects for household name clients including Komatsu, Haribo and JCB.

He also led the team which advised engineering firm Desco on its acquisition by German-based group RAG Stiftung earlier this year as part of a commercial relationship with the Sunderland-based firm going back more than a decade.

He said: “RMT has a strong industry reputation, and I already knew many of the individuals that make up the team, so the opportunity to strengthen the dedicated corporate finance resource of a full service practice was a very attractive one for me.

“Being part of an independent firm provides a great opportunity to shape our corporate finance offering in what I feel is the most appropriate way to meet clients’ needs, and provides the flexibility that I think is crucial in finding the right options for individual deals.

“With the Regional Growth Fund remaining active and the launch of the JEREMIE 2 investment funds coming in the near future, this is an exciting time for business investment in the North East, and I’m looking to use my corporate finance expertise to help more owner-managed businesses get the financial outcomes they’re looking for.”

Chris Morgan, Short Richardson & Forth Solicitors

Chris Morgan has joined the Commercial Property team at Short Richardson & Forth Solicitors in Newcastle as an assistant solicitor.

Chris is a graduate of Northumbria University with both a law degree and a Masters in Commercial Law. Over the last four years he has worked as in house legal counsel and in private practice.

Paul Earnshaw, partner in charge of the Commercial Property team at SRF, said “We had been looking for the right candidate to join our busy team for several months, so when Chris got in touch we were keen to bring him in.

“He has been with us for a month now, and is settling in very well. We are sure Chris will help the team go from strength to strength.”

Oran Robson, Port of Blyth

The Port of Blyth has appointed a new Finance Director to help oversee the next phase in the organisation’s growth.

Oran Robson joins the Port following sixteen years as the Finance Director and Company Secretary at Canford Group PLC, the Washington-based communications equipment suppliers.

Earlier this year the Port of Blyth announced record financial results, posting an 11% year-on-year increase in turnover to £19.8m. Group pre-tax profits at the Northumberland based trust port – now the seventh largest of its kind in the UK – doubled to £1.2m in 2015, whilst the volume of cargo handled in the year increased to 1.9m tonnes.

Martin Lawlor, Chief Executive of the Port of Blyth, said: “We’re delighted to welcome someone of Oran’s calibre to the Port to play a key role in the next phase of our growth.

“His experience and expertise will prove invaluable to us as we seek to build on the tremendous growth we’ve achieved in the last few years.”

Steve Crosland, Port of Tyne

Steve Crosland has joined the board of the Port of Tyne as a Non-executive Director.

With 20 years of experience specialising in leading human resource practices, Mr Crosland is a graduate of Newcastle University and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Previously Director of Human Resources with NetJets Europe, Group Personnel Director for Northern Electric and bringing experience of leading large UK, European and US based companies in organisational development; Mr Crosland brings a wealth of expertise to the Port of Tyne.

Steve said: “The Port of Tyne has a strong reputation for investing in the business and its people and I am looking forward to working with the team.”

Hilary Florek, Port of Tyne Chairman, added: “I am delighted to welcome Steve to the Board. He brings a diverse range of experience which will help us to drive ahead with our growth plans and continue to add value for our stakeholders.”

Nick Pope, Godfrey Syrett

Furniture manufacturer Godfrey Syrett has appointed chartered accountant Nick Pope as its new financial director.

Spending 20 years working for global firm British American Tabacco, Nick more recently ran his own property development company in Dubai before returning to his roots in the North East.

Godfrey Syrett, which designs, manufactures and distributes contract furniture from its Durham and Killingworth sites announced plans last year to increase the business’ turnover from £25m to £40m by 2020.

Nick said: “Godfrey Syrett is a great success story, a true British manufacturer that is very proud of its heritage and North East roots.

“I am joining the business at a very exciting time and I am looking forward to contributing to their continued growth strategy.”

David Hall, group sales and marketing director at Godfrey Syrett added: “We are delighted to welcome Nick to the team at Godfrey Syrett. He has a vast amount of relevant experience and will play a key role, alongside the other directors, to realise the business’ financial targets.”

Richard Shaw and admin assistant Natalie Maidment, Smithers Purslow

Civil & structural engineering and building & quantity surveying consultancy Smithers Purslow has added Richard Shaw and admin assistant Natalie Maidment to its growing team.

Speaking about the latest hires and future plans, Director for the North, Chris Scott, said: “I’d like to welcome both Natalie and Richard to the team and look forward to the positive contribution I’m confident they will make to our continued success in the region.

“Since launching, our work has been evenly spread across the North of England, Scotland, Isle of Man and Northern Ireland. However, due to the recent flooding over the last 12 months, a lot of our work has come from Cumbria and the North West which I hope to build on.

“To support our plans for continued growth in the region I want to further develop the civil and structural consultancy offering, as I feel there is a real need for it in the area.

“Also, I’m keen to build relationships with local authorities, as this is an important aspect of the work we do and I see it as an area for potential growth”.

Chris Blackburn, Robert Atkinson, Howarth Litchfield

North East architecture practice Howarth Litchfield has announced the arrival of two new faces.

Architect Chris Blackburn, an RIBA registered conservation specialist, has joined the practice in a senior architect role, while Robert Atkinson has taken up the position of senior architectural technician.

Jonathan Yates, MD, explained the significance of the appointments.

He said: “When looking to build on such an established team, creative flair, experience and the ability to provide a high level of service are key attributes we look for because we pride ourselves on delivering the kind of service that surpasses clients’ expectations.

“As we continue to win work across a range of exciting projects across a diverse sector range, I am delighted to announce the arrival of both Chris and Robert. With their different backgrounds and levels of experience, I am confident that each will play their part in the continued success of the practice.

“Going forward, we will be making further announcements regarding our recruitment plans. Thanks to the breadth of work we are asked to get involved with anyone joining Howarth Litchfield, particularly young architects starting out, can expect to gain great experience and enjoy a long career, working on some super schemes.”

Peter Robinson and Malcolm Wood, Mincoffs

Newcastle based Mincoffs Solicitors has further strengthened its offering to clients with the appointment of two new Partners.

Peter Robinson has been appointed as a Partner in the Corporate team and will work alongside Partners Paul Hughes and John Nicholson.

Peter joins after running his own corporate practice for a number of years. He has over 20 years of corporate transactional experience from helping early stage businesses, SME’s and listed companies get established, grow, do deals, and reach their objectives.

Speaking of his appointment, Peter said “It’s great to join a well- established and busy team who really are long term trusted advisers for their clients. The deals the team are doing are fantastic – one just has to look at the recent Cairn Group £75m five hotel acquisition to see that. I’m looking forward to helping them continue to build”.

Malcolm Wood also joins the firm as a Partner in the Commercial Property team working alongside Partner Ryan Bannon, after working for a number of years at national and regional law firms.

Malcolm said “I’ve been impressed both with the quality of Mincoffs’ client base and the team of lawyers and support staff and am very much looking forward to having the opportunity to help grow the real estate practice”

Commenting on the appointments, Chief Executive Andy Woodhouse said “We are very pleased to welcome Peter and Malcolm to the firm. Both are extremely experienced legal professionals and are great additions to our partnership. I am very much looking forward to working closely with them to further develop our service offering to new and existing clients.”

Join us again next monday for more appointment news.