This week’s North West appointments

Lauren Pritchard and Hannah Jones, No Brainer

Cheshire-based creative PR agency No Brainer has added to its team with the appointment of a new PR, social media and content manager.

Lauren Pritchard has joined the company from Liverpool-based creative agency Liquid, before which she worked in-house at ao.com and with the Manchester-office of PR firm Weber Shandwick.

No Brainer’s director and co-founder, Lee Cullen, said: “Lauren is an accomplished communications professional with a host of great household brand names under her belt.

“She’ll be a great asset to the No Brainer team as her experience lends itself to our current clients and will also complement our future growth strategy.”

He continued: “This is a key strategic hire for us and aims to seal No Brainer’s position as one of the North West’s most exciting communications agencies. We look forward to Lauren’s passion and enthusiasm becoming an integral part of our agency.”

Lauren said of her appointment: “I’m really excited to be part of such a fast-growing, dynamic agency. No Brainer has achieved so much in just two years and has big ambitions for the future.

“They have a strong focus on securing national clients from their North West base, so it’s a great time to join.”

Elsewhere, No Brainer has taken on Hannah Jones as a full-time account executive. Hannah worked with the agency in her final year at Manchester Metropolitan University Business School.

Leslie Butterfield, Join the Dots

Leslie Butterfield CBE has been appointed by Manchester-based consumer insight firm Join the Dots as non-executive chair of the board.

A branding and communications professional, Leslie has 40 years’ experience in building brands.

He is the owner of Butterfield Harris, a marketing, brand and innovation consultancy. Before that, Leslie was global chief strategy officer for Interbrand.

Join the Dots’ managing director, Quentin Ashby, said: “In looking for our new chair we wanted someone who knew the research world but came from an adjacent industry, had helped businesses grow and had extensive international experience, and in Leslie we have definitely ticked all those boxes.”

Leslie, made a CBE in the Queen’s 2007 birthday honours list for services to the advertising industry, commented: “I’m really excited about working with Join the Dots.

“They have a great team, an excellent product, and some really ambitious plans for growth - both internationally and here in the UK.”

He added: “I very much look forward to helping bring those plans to fruition.”

Aiden Corcoran, PM+M

The Bury office of accountancy and business advisory firm PM+M has announced the appointment of Aiden Corcoran in the role of tax advisor.

Aiden has worked in tax for four and a half years and joined PM+M from Manchester-based accountants Jack Ross.

He has experience in a variety of tax work, including personal, partnership and trust tax returns, as well as P11Ds, payroll and HMRC enquiries.

At PM+M, Aiden will initially handle a client portfolio mainly composed of personal tax work, with a view to expanding his remit to include corporation tax clients.

Aiden said of his appointment: “I joined PM+M seeking new challenges and experiences to help me drive my career forward.

“Over the past few years, I have been really impressed by the firm and its growth so it seemed like the right step for me.”

The head of the Bury office, partner Helen Clayton (pictured above), said: “We are delighted that Aiden is now part of the expanding PM+M team in Bury as he brings with him some great experience, knowledge and contacts.”

Jonathan Studholme, PwC Liverpool

Professional services firm PwC has chosen Jonathan Studholme to succeed Martin Heath as the leader of its Liverpool office from July 1, following Martin’s retirement from the company after 33 years.

Jonathan joined the Liverpool team from PwC’s Manchester office several years ago.

In his new role, Jonathan will continue to have the support of tax director Mark Armstrong and transaction services director Mathew Edwards.

Further, assurance director Tom Binns will move to Liverpool this summer to provide additional support.

Martin Heath said: “My five years in Liverpool have been amongst the most rewarding in my career – it’s a transformed city with a renewed sense of purpose and belief, a vibrancy powered by ambition and enthusiasm in the face of real challenges.

“It’s been a privilege to be part of a fantastic team of people in Liverpool and to work closely with so many passionate and committed people across the city.”

Jonathan Studholme said of his appointment: “I am thrilled by the opportunity to lead the Liverpool office. Under Martin’s leadership we have created real momentum: growing our practice, helping our clients and supporting the local community.

“I am passionate about continuing to build on this. We have an enthusiastic young team in the Liverpool office excited by being out in the market and by the prospect of helping and supporting even more local businesses to grow and be successful.”

PwC’s North West regional chairman, Iwan Griffiths, commented: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Martin for the tremendous impact he has had on the Liverpool office since his appointment.

“During that time we have grown our business and market presence significantly particularly in Deals and Consulting. We have been a key supporter to IFB 2014 and 2016 and reinvigorated our City Region networks.”

He added: “Martin has been a fantastic asset to the firm throughout his long career and I hope he enjoys a long and healthy retirement which is richly deserved.”

Stephen Lawson, The Law Society

Warrington lawyer Stephen Lawson, who works in inheritance and trust disputes with North West law firm FDR, has been appointed to The Law Society’s Wills and Equity Committee.

Stephen, who has worked at FDR for more than 35 years, will sit on the Committee from September 1 this year until August 2020.

As part of his membership, he will attend six meetings a year with solicitors specialising in wills and private client work, including estate administration.

Stephen said: “I am thrilled my experience has been recognised by the panel. I am looking forward to being involved in bringing about national change and reform in the coming years. I am a firm believer that the legal system should be guided by common sense.”

He is also a member of The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners England and Wales and Worldwide Council, and a member of The Association of Contentious Trusts & Probate Specialists.

Ian Roberts, WHN Solicitors

Rawtenstall-based law firm WHN Solicitors has hired legal accounting manager Ian Roberts as its new head cashier.

ATT-qualified Ian has 12 years’ experience in accounting, across roles with companies such as HL Interactive, Carter Law and Nesbit Law Group.

Following his appointment, Ian will work to improve WHN’s current accounting system and enhance its financial processes.

He will also oversee the company’s cashier team, working closely with WHN finance director Mike Gillibrand and partner David Connor.

Ian said: “One of the most compelling reasons to join WHN is the friendly professionalism of everyone at the firm.

“I was also very impressed with WHN’s dynamic expansion plans and am keen to help realise the exciting strategy to grow the business in a number of key areas.”

David Connor commented: “Ian is a valuable and welcome addition to our team. His wealth of knowledge and experience of legal accounting and financial systems will be of enormous benefit to our growth strategy.

“Ian’s decision to join us represents a significant advancement in an already impressive career and I am sure he will be a great success at WHN.”

Stuart Thompson, Institute of Directors Lancashire

Lancashire leadership and strategy bod Stuart Thompson has been selected as the new chair of the Institute of Directors’ Lancashire branch.

Stuart, from Rossendale, will now champion the Institute’s Lancashire agenda, helping the county’s business leaders and directors as they face an increasingly complex and challenging business environment.

Speaking of his appointment, Stuart said: “I really am delighted to be the new branch Chair and would like to thank the IoD for appointing me.

“I first joined the organisation to meet people in Lancashire – a place I’m really passionate about. I now want to make sure I help my peers in the region become better leaders.”

Stuart currently works as the managing director of of Reorient Consulting Ltd, a provider of leadership and strategy consulting services for business owners, directors and entrepreneurs. He founded the firm in 2014.

Speaking further, he said: “This role with the IoD resonates greatly with what I do each day. I spend my time working with directors on the challenges they face in leadership, strategy and communication.

“My approach is to help them focus on improving what they do and how they do it for the greater good of their companies and the people within them. I’ve become a trusted advisor to many. I hope that I can become a reliable resource for IoD members too.”

Stuart added: “I truly want to help them as we tackle the fast changing commercial landscape.”

IoD regional director Claire Ebrey commented: “Stuart is a forward thinking, experienced leader who will be a wonderful asset to IoD Lancashire and IoD North West.

“Not only is he an expert in the complexities of business leadership, but he is also passionate about Lancashire and its businesses.”

She added: “We will see great things happen in Lancashire, and there has never been a better time to become a member.”