This week’s North West appointments

Andrea Stanford, First Capital Cashflow

Cheshire-based payments bureau First Capital Cashflow has chosen Andrea Stanford for the new business development manager position.

Andrea previously worked for the Bank of Scotland for more than 10 years and has sales experience across several sectors, such as recruitment and education.

Working with First Capital Cashflow, her responsibilities will focus on driving new business and promoting the company’s cloud-based Direct Debit and Direct Credit payment services.

The commercial director of First Capital Cashflow, Helen Priestman, said: “We are delighted to welcome Andrea as the newest member of our successful and fast-growing team.

“Having worked with Andrea in banking many years ago, I have every confidence that she will contribute to our continued growth throughout 2017.”

Andrea commented: “After working in banking for over a decade, I’m relishing the opportunity to transfer my skills to this complimentary sector.

“I am really looking forward to using my experience to support the firm’s ambitious growth objectives for 2017.”

Four appointments, Bring Digital

Bolton-based digital marketing agency Bring Digital has announced four new hires.

The company has taken on Faye Hodgkiss in the role of senior account manager and Stacey Wynn as performance marketing manager.

Sabir Musa and Beth Miller have joined Bring Digital through its graduate scheme.

Tom Rosillo, the firm’s operations director, said: “Due to the outstanding work our team has achieved this year, we’ve seen the agency grow at a rapid rate.

“We’re thrilled to be bringing on such talented individuals and look forward to this continued growth.”

Laura Graham, Freshfield

Preston marketing agency Freshfield has appointed Laura Graham to the role of PR and communications executive.

Laura joined the company from law firm Irwin Mitchell, where her remit included co-ordinating client events, producing marketing collateral and overseeing PR and social media support.

At Freshfield, Laura will advise a portfolio of property and professional services sector clients.

She said: “Freshfield is an agency I’ve been aware of for a while and I’m delighted to have secured a place on the team. It was clear from the outset the firm has a deep commitment to helping clients as well as looking after its people which was of great appeal to me.

Freshfield MD Simon Turner commented: “Laura brings to Freshfield a range of marketing skill sets, specific sector knowledge and experience of being part of a leading UK marketing team, making her a great find.

“She is also a real people person making her a natural for a business like ours built on key relationships.”

Dan Walker (pictured) and Tom Dutton, Dow Schofield Watts

Dow Schofield Watts, the independent advisory firm, has grown its North West corporate finance team with two appointments.

Chartered accountants Dan Walker and Tom Dutton both joined Dow Schofield Watts from the Manchester office of professional services company KPMG.

Dow Schofield Watts founding partner James Dow said: “Dan and Tom are both very talented young professionals and leaders in their peer group.

“Our strength very much lies in our people and our ability to attract the brightest and the most experienced professionals has made us the region’s leading independent advisory firm.”

Syedul Hussain (pictured) and Peter Dickens, PwC Manchester

The Manchester office of professional services giant PwC has welcomed two new equity partners to its partnership.

Syedul Hussain is now a partner in the company’s North West transaction services team. With more than 15 years’ deal experience, Syedul has advised a range of corporate clients. He is currently PwC’s North West private equity leader.

Peter Dickens, meanwhile, has been made partner in the North West restructuring team. Peter focuses on supporting private clients facing financial or operational challenges and works with management teams to generate cash and cut costs.

PwC’s North West regional chairman, Iwan Griffiths, said: “At PwC we recognise the importance of continuing to invest in the specialisms we can bring to our clients across the region.

“These two very different types of partner appointments will ensure that we have the capabilities and strengths across our North West deals teams to continue to support our clients, our business and the wider economy.”

Sangam Mishra, Quint Group

Macclesfield fintech business Quint Group has taken on a new acquisition manager.

Sangam Mishra, who previously worked as digital marketing manager for fintech company Valour Group, will now head up Quint’s paid channels and drive growth.

Sangam has 13 years’ experience in digital marketing and completed an MBA at Manchester Metropolitan University prior to joining Valour Group.

He said: “Having been at my previous employer for nearly a decade I was ready for a new challenge and when I met the team at Quint it was clear that the company was a perfect fit for me.

“I am very familiar with the finance market in the North West and have been impressed by Quint and its recent growth.”

He continued: “I’m enjoying my new role and working with the team who are all experts in their respective fields. My role is to optimise everything we do across all paid channels and ultimately improve conversions. I’m looking forward to getting to work on the different companies within the Group and contributing toward their success.”

Quint Group managing director Mike Ransom commented: “Sangam is very familiar with the market that we operate in and will bring a wide skill-set to our team.

“He brings great digital marketing experience in the consumer finance market and will be an important part of the growth across all channels for all of the Group’s companies.”

He added: “It’s an exciting time for us having recently won a Queen’s Award for Innovation and we expect our turnover to exceed £50m in the current financial year.”

David Laws (pictured) and Tim Austin, Matthews & Goodman

Commercial property advisory firm Matthews & Goodman has appointed two new equity partners in its Northern operation.

Manchester-based David Laws, who has over 20 years’ experience of the commercial property market, first joined the company in 2010.

According to Matthews & Goodman, he has been “instrumental” in introducing a more integrated multi-disciplined approach to the development and implementation of acquisition, management and disposal strategies for both local and national clients.

Tim Austin, meanwhile, splits his time between the firm’s Liverpool and Manchester offices.

Having joined Matthews & Goodman in 2015, Tim has since proved to be “a very successful catalyst” for attracting new talent and securing strategic accounts for the property management team, the firm said.

James Routledge, equity partner and head of the company’s investment team, said: “Attracting new talent with the skills, enthusiasm, drive and infectious enthusiasm for building teams and the business is rare, therefore having done so twice bodes very well for our firm in the short, the medium and the long term.”

Heidi Nagaitis and Alex Ashman, Monitor Creative

Monitor Creative, the Manchester-based graphic design, digital and marketing agency, has announced two promotions.

Account manager Heidi Nagaitis is now a senior account manager, while designer Alex Ashman has stepped up to the role of senior designer.

Heidi, who has worked at Monitor for close to three years, first joined the team on work experience while studying towards a degree in History at Lancaster University and went on to secure a permanent position.

She said: “It’s great to work with a team which really cares about the end result for each and every client. We have a wonderfully varied customer base and I’ve been lucky enough to manage a whole host of exciting projects over my three years here – the time has flown by!”

Alex, meanwhile, trained in animation at Duncan of Jordanstone College in Dundee and has since specialised in graphic design and illustration.

She commented: “Monitor has given me a wonderful opportunity to grow and expand on my skills – I feel part of such a creative and passionate team, who inspire me to push for better results, new ideas and even happier clients. There’s a great atmosphere of teamwork and family, and no two days are alike.”