This week's Yorkshire appointments

The Leeds office of CBRE has announced five key senior promotions in its building, valuation and asset services teams.

Ben Hudson has been promoted to the position of senior surveyor within the building consultancy team.

Emelie Stromblad is also promoted to senior surveyor within the asset services team.

Jamie Gellert and Danny Latimer take up associate director roles within the valuation team while the asset services division is strengthened with the promotion of Michael Greenbank also to associate director.

Richard Sunderland, managing director of CBRE Leeds, commented: “The Leeds office continues to strengthen its position in the region with the appointment and development of exceptional staff and we look forward to supporting their continued career progression.

“We are immensely proud of our high-profile and diverse client base and the outlook for the year ahead is extremely positive as market conditions continue to improve.

“We have a strong team in place to meet market demands.”

William Kaye, Langleys Solicitors

Lawyer William Kaye has joined Langleys Solicitors to lead the family law unit in York.

William joins Langleys as a partner from Harrowells and has more than 20 years’ experience in family law.

He is a qualified collaborative family lawyer and an accredited specialist member of Resolution.

Mark Day, head of private law at Langleys, said: “William brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge of family law and its complexities.

“He will be a great asset to the family law team and the services we provide to our clients.”

Sophie Barton, Newtons Solicitors

A new senior solicitor has been appointed to the commercial property team at regional law firm, Newtons Solicitors.

Sophie Barton joins Newtons’ head office in Knaresborough, after 15 years at Berwins Solicitors, Harrogate.

Sophie qualified as a solicitor working in-house with B&N Housing, now Accent Housing, Baildon; carrying out a range of legal work. She then moved to Berwins to specialise in commercial property.

She focuses on a wide range of commercial property work including landlord and tenant issues, leases to commercial freehold, sales and purchases, commercial mortgages and agricultural property matters.

She is the third senior solicitor to joins Newtons Solicitors this year and her appointment takes the firm’s commercial property team to eight.

Chris Newton, Newtons Solicitors managing director, said: “Many of us have worked with Sophie before and know of her strong reputation.

“We’re therefore delighted to have a former colleague and highly-respected solicitor on our team.”

Newtons Solicitors has nine other local offices across Yorkshire and the North East.

Andrew Merrick, Irwin Mitchell

National law firm Irwin Mitchell has announced the appointment of Andrew Merrick as its regional managing partner in Leeds.

Andrew, who is also Irwin Mitchell’s chief financial officer and a member of the board, joined the firm in 2013 from the AIM-listed airline and logistics group Dart Group PLC.

Andrew’s predecessor, Jane Wright, retired in April this year. Jane joined the firm as a trainee solicitor in 1990.

Andrew said: “I am delighted to take on this new role leading the Leeds office.

“I would like to pay tribute to the fantastic work Jane has done for Irwin Mitchell, particularly here in Leeds, and I am excited about the chance to lead the office.

“I look forward to continuing Jane’s work and building a strong team in Leeds with a reputation for providing first class legal services, both for our personal and business clients, in the city and wider region.

“Leeds is one of the leading cities in the UK in terms of professional and legal services and Irwin Mitchell is proud to play its part in helping the city grow.”

Mark Millar and Steve Padley, MechFS

MechFS, the South Yorkshire-based mechanical and electrical contractor, has announced the appointment of two new directors.

Mark Millar joins the company as operations director, and Steve Padley has been appointed as commercial director.

Mark’s post as operations director will see him oversee MechFS’s growing portfolio in the northern regions of the UK, leading on recruitment and training as well as day-to-day service delivery.

Steve will be responsible for managing the firm’s commercial and estimating teams, reviewing and negotiating contract conditions and ensuring the financial viability of all projects.

The duo’s appointment follows MechFS’s announcement of its ‘best ever’ start to a year, having secured more than £27m worth of new business and opened a new Sheffield office in the first two months of 2017.

Paul Firch, managing director at MechFS, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Mark and Steve to the MechFS team.

“Now is a really exciting time for our business, as we win more major contracts across the UK and in turn, grow our team by appointing new talents and harnessing the skills of the next generation through apprenticeships.”

The company, which has its headquarters at Beckingham, Doncaster, specialises in providing tailored mechanical and electrical engineered solutions for a wide range of sectors including retail, distribution, public sector and commercial.

Melanie Webb, Consilia Legal

Niche law firm Consilia Legal has expanded its family department in Leeds with the appointment of Melanie Webb.

Melanie joins from Simpson Millar where she was an associate solicitor specialising in complex matrimonial finance and private children’s cases.

Sally Clark, director of Consilia Legal in Leeds and Consilia Mediation in Harrogate, said: “Melanie’s personality and the dynamic approach to her work will be a perfect fit within our team and we are very excited about the potential that Melanie’s offering will bring to the expansion of our firm.

“We are delighted to have the benefit of Melanie’s creative and pragmatic approach to all areas of relationship breakdown and pre-marriage financial planning.”

Melanie was a recommended lawyer in the Legal 500 in 2016, with the guide making special mention of her ability to negotiate strong settlements.

She added: “I am pleased to be joining an expanding team which has established an excellent reputation in Leeds for family, mediation and employment and a growing presence in Yorkshire with the opening of a family mediation practice in Harrogate earlier this year.”

Suzanne Jeakins, Future Life Wealth Management

Sheffield-based Future Life Wealth Management has appointed a new financial planner.

Suzanne Jeakins joins from Grant Thornton Wealth Management, where she trained and managed the company’s paraplanners. Before that she worked for 27 years at HSBC, as a financial adviser.

In her new role at Future Life, Suzanne will be responsible for researching, assisting and providing financial advice to its clients.

She has a diploma in financial planning and trust, and is currently taking further exams to complete an advanced qualification in the same subject.

Jillian Thomas, managing director, who is immediate past president of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, said: “Suzanne joins us with a great deal of experience and I’m sure will prove to be a great addition.

“I’m confident she will play a major role in continuing the development of Future Life and build on the excellent service we provide to our clients.”

Future Life is based in Renishaw and offers a bespoke financial planning service to generators of wealth; typically business owners, executives and professionals, and also to receivers of wealth, such as inheritors, divorcees, widows and retirees.

Vanessa Showler, DBL Logistics

DBL Logistics, the Sheffield-based logistics firm, has expanded with the recruitment of a new finance manager.

Vanessa Showler has joined the family-run firm and will be based at it’s Tinsley Park Road headquarters.

Having spent 28 years in the finance industry, Vanessa has previously held positions such as finance manager and financial controller and she has also worked for car manufacturers, rail freight carriers, and commercial vehicle hire and sales in her career.

Along with academic qualifications, Vanessa is also qualified by experience (QBE), and joins from Cambrian Granite (Howden) Ltd, where she was Financial Controller.

Vanessa said: “As a recently qualified HGV Class 2 driver, and with a long, skilled finance background, I bring a lot of useful skills to DBL Logistics and look forward to a productive finance career within the organisation.

“DBL Logistics is a friendly, family-run, efficient business, with countless local commercial customers and suppliers.

“The firm also sponsors local sports teams and people, such as the DBL Sharks Sheffield and boxer Sam O’Maison, something which is crucial to DBL and to myself, being a Yorkshire girl.

“Managing director David Clarkson has already tasked me with some new financial challenges and developments for the company, and I enjoy challenges, so I’m very much looking forward to my new role - I feel like I’ve settled in already - so thank you to all the welcoming staff at DBL Logistics.”

David Clarkson, managing director of DBL Logistics, added: “Vanessa is a great addition to our team and has really hit the ground running in her new role.

“Her experience in the finance industry will be invaluable to us as a business and I look forward to seeing her work on various new projects.

“It’s an exciting time for DBL Logistics, with the start of the second year of our naming rights sponsorship of the DBL Sharks Sheffield coming up in September, and our continued sponsorship of talented Sheffield boxer, Sam O’Maison - and the addition of Vanessa to our team here further underlines our growth.”

Matt Morgan, Martin Walsh Architectural (MWA)

Martin Walsh Architectural (MWA), the Dewsbury-based architectural firm, has appointed Matt Morgan as architectural assistant.

Formerly a technical consultant for a wind energy developer and with a degree in Renewable Energy that included sustainable architecture and environmental management modules, Matt has significant experience from within the environmental sector.

As part of his role Matt will also support the business as it completes the final stages of ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, streamlining processes and driving efficiency throughout the business.

Damian Walsh, finance and business director for MWA, said: “Matt has a wealth of experience that will enhance our own practice whilst also supporting client work.

“Matt has a great deal to offer; his passion for integrating sustainable practice is infectious and his willingness to develop his skills in architecture create a winning combination that will certainly add value to our business.”

Alan Millard, York Science Park

York Science Park has announced the latest appointment to their board of directors, Alan Millard.

Alan brings with him a wealth of commercial experience to the organisation, strengthening the Science Park’s reputation as a home to innovation.

Alan has joined the board as a non-executive director, having stepped down from his role as chief executive officer for Hiscox UK.

Alan was the chief operations officer for Hiscox UK from 2005 to 2017, and as part of his role he was responsible for the development of organisational strategy, initiatives and projects, along with all operations.

Alan also sits on the board of a range of businesses, including the Table Group and DueDil, along with lecturing on Innovation and Ethical Leadership at York St John University.

Alongside his experience of large commercial organisations, Alan also has extensive knowledge of startup and SME support, having managed the Hiscox Futures programme, and the development of the Hiscox Business Club.

Tracey Smith, CEO of York Science Park, said: “We are delighted to welcome Alan to the board. His experience, expertise and connections will be a great addition to our team.

“Looking to the future we will be working collaboratively with our key stakeholders to help create angel and investor activity around our resident companies and develop programmes to support business growth on the Science Park.”