This week’s Yorkshire appointments

West Yorkshire’s Rance Booth Smith Architects (RBS) has promoted three senior members of its team to associate directors and a senior technologist to technical manager.

The Saltaire-based has announced that Karen Toth-Jones, Martyn Booker and Caroline Batson have become associate directors as of the 1st January 2017.

They each front the core services of interiors, conservation and sustainability respectively.

Allan Booth, one of the founding directors of Rance Booth Smith, said: “Collectively Karen, Martyn and Caroline have 50 years of service with RBS so there is no doubt that we admire their skills, knowledge and commitment.

“RBS has been established for 34 years and we have decided to make a few changes in order to strengthen our team and prepare the business for the future. It is going to be an exciting time ahead and we look forward to their valuable input in the business”.

In addition Barry Drummond, who originally joined RBS in 2003, is to become technical manager.

Mr Booth added: “Barry is a well-respected Senior Technologist and we look forward to him assisting us to maintain our high technical standards and champion our Building Information Modelling service.

“With our improved team structure we look forward to providing our Clients with many more years of excellent service”.

Adam Sinclair (pictured left), Andrew Jackson

Law firm Andrew Jackson has announced the appointment of Adam Sinclair.

Adam will be the newest addition to the firm’s business development team, strengthening its offering regionally and throughout the UK.

The announcement follows the recent opening of the firm’s latest regional office in Scarborough last month.

Adam has previously worked in senior management in Yorkshire for many years as managing director of a large family business and brings an insight into the commercial needs of businesses large and small when they are seeking legal services.

Until now, Adam has chaired York’s new Business Improvement District comprising over 1,000 businesses.

Mark Pearson-Kendall, managing partner of Andrew Jackson, said: “Adam’s client focussed approach to connecting businesses and legal advisors is a perfect fit for the firm, so we are delighted to have him on board.

“Andrew Jackson’s commitment to the provision of trusted legal advice in a commercial and practical manner is consistently recognised in our client feedback.

“With his roots in Yorkshire, both professionally and personally, Adam is well respected for his work throughout the UK, with a varied career as an employer and a leader voice in the business community and brings an invaluable perspective to the team.

“I am excited that with Adam’s valuable insight and expertise, we will be able to provide tailored legal solutions to more businesses and individuals throughout UK and overseas.”

Martin Hibbert, Woodrow Mercer Finance

Woodrow Mercer Finance has announced the appointment of Martin Hibbert as an associate director based in its Leeds office.

The company is a joint venture between FDYL, the Yorkshire-based financial consultancy and recruitment specialist, and Birmingham-based Woodrow Mercer.

With almost 20 years’ experience in the financial sector, Martin worked in private banking for a number of banks including NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays Wealth and Investment Management.

He joins from Brewster Pratap where he was a senior consultant in executive finance and prior to that he was an executive recruiter for Venturexec.

With a 30 year track record in the sector, FDYL specialises in the search and selection of portfolio finance directors and financial controllers as well as full-time interims and permanent FDs and FCs. In November, it joined forces with £12m turnover.

As well as its Leeds head office, Woodrow Mercer Finance also has offices in London, Birmingham and Sheffield.

Neil Muffitt, Woodrow Mercer Finance managing director, commented: “Our partnership with Woodrow Mercer is very much about consolidating our strengths and one of our USPs is that we are all experienced FDs, enabling us to really understand what our clients need.

“With his extensive background in banking and recruitment, Martin fits perfectly with this ethos and will be a valuable addition to the team as we continue to grow.”

Esther Kirwan, Clarion

Esther Kirwan, who has been with Leeds-based Clarion for six years, spending the last three years as a partner, has been promoted to head of the firm’s growing intellectual property (IP) practice.

With over 17 years’ IP experience, Esther joined Clarion in 2010 as a senior associate.

Specialising in contentious and non-contentious IP, she has expertise in all IP matters relating to patents, designs, trade marks, passing off, copyright, databases and confidential information.

Her experience includes IP, including litigation and dispute resolution (ranging from Court of Appeal patent disputes to trade mark oppositions), as well as advising on registered IP protection, IP agreements and exploitation.

Clarion’s IP team, believed to be the largest in a full service firm in Leeds, has a portfolio of blue chip clients including global brands such as Hard Rock Café and Arla, as well as representing numerous technology, chemical, pharmaceutical and biotech companies and leading Yorkshire SMEs and entrepreneurs.

Richard Moran, senior partner at Clarion, said: “Our IP practice has successfully established itself as one of the most renowned in the region, working with an impressive range of leading companies locally, nationally and internationally.

“From 2015 to 2016, we have seen revenue in our IP practice grow by almost 38% based on the high quality of our work and Esther has played a key role in our success. During her six years with Clarion, she has been instrumental in strengthening relationships with existing clients as well as attracting many new ones.

“Esther has established a reputation as a leading name in this specialist area and has been particularly effective in supporting our growing portfolio of overseas work. This latest promotion is well deserved and I’m sure that the practice will continue to grow and flourish in her capable hands.”

Esther will be supported by legal director Sue Streatfield in the six-strong team.

Clarion’s IP practice’s areas of expertise cover patents, designs, trade marks, passing off, copyright, database rights and the protection of confidential information.

Ruairi Giles, Harrison Spinks

Harrison Spinks, the Leeds-based bed maker, has bolstered its senior team by appointing a new commercial director.

Ruairi Giles has taken on the position after spending more than eight years working at Harrison Spinks in a variety of roles.

This experience has provided Ruairi with a wealth of knowledge in sales, commercial awareness and customer relations within the bed industry.

As part of his new role, Ruairi will assist the sales, operations and manufacturing departments in continuing to drive the company forward.

Joining the company in 2008 as a graduate assistant, Ruairi has worked in various roles across the business including working alongside the sales team to launch and service some of Harrison Spinks’ biggest accounts.

During his career at the bed maker, he has managed relationships with more than 100 Harrison Spinks stockists, as well as providing training and launching new products in-store.

Simon Spinks, managing director at Harrison Spinks, said: “Ruairi has been a crucial member of the Harrison Spinks team over the years and his promotion to this key role is testament to his hard work and consistent high standards.

“His vast experience and knowledge of both the business and the bed industry will be invaluable in helping us to achieve our ambitious plans.”

Tammy Hobson, One Stop Business Finance

York-based One Stop Business Finance has announced the appointment of Tammy Hobson as office and marketing manager.

Tammy brings with her a wealth of experience which includes a career in the military and running her own network marketing business.

Tammy will be working with the One Stop Business Finance team to raise awareness of the company’s offer and to develop relationships in the market to strengthen One Stop Business Finance’s position in the sector.

Andrew Mackenzie, One Stop Business Finance’s managing director, said: “Tammy has the ideal personality and exceptional internet marketing skills, which will facilitate the continued growth of the business.

“She also can ensure the office is well organised, to provide the solid foundations required for both our own book lending and business finance brokerage.”

Neil Delaney, Contis Group

Contis Group, the Skipton-based provider of debit card programmes, has appointed Neil Delaney as the new chief commercial officer.

Neil will join the board and head the global sales and marketing activities for the group.

Neil has a proven track record in the payments and technology sectors, previously holding senior positions for companies such as Payzone, PayPoint, Gunnebo Group and Cybertill.

He is a business management graduate with over 15 years financial services experience, proven in building and leading commercial sales and marketing teams whilst establishing and maintaining strong client relationships.

Peter Cox, Executive Chairman and Founder, said: “We are delighted to welcome Neil Delaney to Contis Group as our new CCO.

“With Neil’s specialist knowledge and experience, he will fully complement our quest for continuous growth and scale within the global banking and payment space.”

“Contis has been growing extensively over the past few years by which it has introduced innovative technologies and processes.

“With the advent of our latest development, ‘Agency Banking’, Contis has further enhanced it’s wide-ranging suite of award-winning products and services. I, my fellow management and shareholders welcome this appointment and are looking forward to working with him in these exciting times.”