This week’s North West appointments

Kay Wilkes, Your Legal Friend

Birkenhead law firm Your Legal Friend has announced the appointment of Kay Wilkes as group HR and operations director.

Kay has more 18 years of experience working for international companies, including food giant Kellogg’s and tech firm Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Most recently, Kay worked for law firm Slater & Gordon.

At Your Legal Friend, her role will focus on developing the company’s employee engagement initiatives and talent management, as well as its succession plans and working arrangements.

Colin Gibson, Your Legal Friend chief exec, said: “Securing someone with Kay’s experience and track record will further strengthen HR practices in support of our accelerated growth strategy.

“Talent is central to our business so we’re delighted to welcome someone with Kay’s proactive approach, which has been honed over many years at global corporates.”

Kay commented: “I’m proud to be joining a firm that’s making a name for itself across a number of specialist areas of litigation.

“The opportunity to apply my skills and experience in a highly-regarded and growing firm is something that I’m particularly excited about. This is a fast paced and demanding area of law and I’m looking forward to supporting the ongoing development of the team.”

Asif Hamid, Liverpool City Region LEP

The Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has appointed of Asif Hamid as its new chair.

Asif, who is the CEO of Birkenhead telecoms firm The Contact Company, will now lead the LEP’s work as the business led economic partnership for the City Region.

He was formally selected as chair by the LEP Board, following what it called an “extensive and open” recruitment process to replace former chair Robert Hough, who stepped down in 2016.

Asif said of his appointment: “I am both honoured and delighted to have been chosen to take on this important role at a hugely exciting time for the City Region.

“I am deeply committed to the inclusive growth of our City Region and firmly believe that the LEP has a vital role to play in enabling business, the public sector and the whole community to work in partnership to realise the incredible potential of this place we live and work in.”

He continued: “The LEP has, in the last five years, done a fantastic job in mobilising the businesses in our key growth sectors and the wider community to identify and realise the City Region’s growth potential working alongside our partners in local and central government.

“As we enter a new phase of governance for the City Region, the LEP is committed to supporting the Combined Authority and Metro Mayor in the successful implementation of the Devolution deal agreed with Government to accelerate our City Region’s economic growth.”

The appointment of a LEP chair last for a minimum of three years.

LEP board member Prof. Nigel Weatherill, LJMU Vice Chancellor, commented: “We are delighted that Asif has accepted the position.

“He has the right skills, talents and commitment to enable the LEP to continue to deliver economic growth and prosperity for the Liverpool City Region and the wider Northern Powerhouse.”

Stephen Green, RSM

The head of financial due diligence for the Northern region at accountancy firm RSM, Stephen Green, has formally joined the company’s Manchester office.

Stephen has spent the last six years heading up and growing RSM’s due diligence practice across the North.

The appointment of Martin Athey as due diligence director in the firm’s Leeds office enabled Stephen to make the permanent move to Manchester.

Stephen has over 15 years’ experience, including knowledge of both the buy and sell sides of financial due diligence projects in various sectors for private equity, corporate and banking clients.

RSM’s North West regional managing partner, Jill Jones, said: “As a prominent professional in the market, Stephen has a wealth of experience, specialist technical and international expertise that will continue to enhance our due diligence offering in the North West.”

Stephen commented: “The move to Manchester and the continued recruitment of experienced talent presents the team and the firm with a great opportunity to further build our capability and to support more acquisitive businesses and funding institutions in a buoyant transactional market here in the North West and across the North.”

Hannah Entwistle, dock10

Media services company dock10 has announced the appointment of Hannah Entwistle as a senior producer within its VFX department.

Hannah previously worked as a post production producer for Manchester-based production house 422 and a producer for MediaCityUK-based Equinox Film and Television. Her most recent role was agency producer for media agency McCann Manchester.

In the role of senior producer at dock10, Hannah will work with the company’s clients while collaborating with its team of VFX creatives and operators.

She said of her appointment: “The VFX team at dock10 is one of the very best in the country. I am looking forward to producing innovative, compelling and exciting work for a broad range of clients.”

dock10’s head of VFX, Chris Baker, commented: “Hannah is an important appointment for us as a department.

“She brings a significant amount of experience to the business, bolstering what is already an established and creative team. Hannah will work to support our continued success as an organisation.”

Nan Zheng, MC Vanguard Corporate Finance

MC Vanguard Corporate Finance, part of North West business advisory and accountancy firm Mitchell Charlesworth LLP, has bolstered its team with the appointment of corporate finance executive Nan Zheng.

The hire, made as the company looks to generate merger and acquisition deals between companies in the UK and China, sees Nan join the practice from the Beijing office of international accountancy group ShineWing.

Nan, who has over five years’ experience of the Chinese market and has also worked in Hong Kong, will work at MC Vanguard Corporate Finance’s Manchester office.

She said: “I’m looking forward to my new role. I was drawn by the business culture and passion for SMEs at MC Vanguard, helping the development of companies and working so closely with them. My experience is very much in fundraising and valuation projects.

“I’m also looking to use my experience of the Chinese market to help businesses in the North West, who are either already doing business with China or looking to do so.”

She continued: “There are growing economic opportunities for the region with Chinese companies eager to invest in the North West and closer trade links developing all the time.

“Part of my role will be working with the contacts that I have in China to generate M&A transactions between companies in both countries. It is about seeking out those opportunities.”

Brian McCann (pictured above), partner at the practice, commented: “We’re delighted to welcome Nan Zheng to our team in the North West.

“She brings extensive international experience gained working for large international practices and has a strong background in fundraising and valuation, as well as business strategy.”

He added: “Her working knowledge of China will also be invaluable and is already helping us to seek out new opportunities for our clients in a country which is keen to do business with the North West and whose companies are actively looking for investment and trade opportunities in the region.”

Cassie Kendrew, Event Marketing Solutions

Roadshow company Event Marketing Solutions (EMS) has appointed Cassie Kendrew as general manager of its office in Dubai.

Cassie has more than 15 years of marketing and project management experience, with four years spent at EMS.

Promoted from her former role of head of client operations, she will now take the helm of the firm’s Middle Eastern operations, overseeing activity in the region and working to drive further expansion.

EMS CEO Keith Austin said: “Since opening our Dubai office in 2013 we’ve enjoyed an exceptional reaction to our services, developing a strong presence in this exciting and emerging market.

“The King Abdullah legacy tour marks our greatest milestone to date, and Cassie has been instrumental in its delivery, so we are delighted to be able to continue our momentum with her at the helm.”

He continued: “Understanding how to conduct business in the region”, Keith continued, “and how to engage with your audience most effectively, is no easy feat. This arms Cassie with an invaluable skill-set that puts us in pole position as we continue to develop our Middle Eastern footprint.”

Ben Turner, Well

Independent pharmacy chain Well has appointed Ben Turner to the role of HR director, following a six-month interim appointment.

Ben has 18 years’ experience in learning, talent and resourcing, with two years worked in Well’s HR leadership team.

His previous roles include head of HR for retailer One Stop and learning and development lead for supermarket chain Tesco.

The focus of Ben’s new role will be developing and implementing a people strategy to strengthen the firm’s employee engagement and drive business growth for the wider Well Group, which comprises Well, Well Careplus and Bestway Medhub.

Ben said: “We are going through a really exciting period of transformation at Well, and I am passionate about fully including, engaging and supporting all our colleagues through these changes.

“Our people are what makes us different, and I’m committed to nurturing the existing talent within the business through the development of a number of career pathways, as well as attracting the best new talent to join us.”

He continued: “Our new Expert Clinical Practice Programme launched last week with 51 of our pharmacists starting their three-year diploma - a great example of how we are investing in our people enabling them to meet the future needs of our customers.

“Working in partnership with Keele University, this helps to develop current practice and offers an internal talent pipeline for future clinical and professional roles within the business”.

Well CEO John Nuttall commented: “Our people are our greatest asset and we continue to invest heavily in this area, supporting all our colleagues to develop their capability and skills for a successful future.

“With nearly two decades of experience and a real commitment to and understanding of the values of the business, I’m confident that Ben can lead a successful HR strategy to support our ambitious growth plans, and ensure that our employees are proud to be part of Well”.

Wendy Keely, Napthens

Napthens has announced the appointment of a new corporate solicitor.

Wendy Keely has joined the regional law following a stint with a law firm specialising in transport and eight years with Manchester’s Brabners.

At Napthens, Wendy will use her experience helping clients on matters such as business sales, acquisitions, joint ventures and commercial contracts to advise on a range of corporate issues.

Napthens corporate team partner Rob Dobson said: “The Lancashire business community continues to remain strong and we are seeing a lot of activity with sales, mergers and acquisitions continuing to take place.

“We are in the fortunate position of needing to expand the team to keep up with continuing demand from clients.”

He added: “Wendy will be a great addition to the team, and brings a wealth of experience in both the transport sector and corporate law in general.”