This week's North West appointments

12 promotions, Grant Thornton

Business advisory group Grant Thornton has announced 12 promotions across its Liverpool- and Manchester-based audit teams.

Jennifer Woods has been bumped up to associate director. She has 13 years of financial reporting experience, having joined the company in 2005.

Also promoted within the audit management team are Jen Ryan, Rebecca Thompson and Hayley Molloy.

Elsewhere, associates Vicki Garlick, Eleanor Vickers, Adam Hooson, Seamus Fricker, Jenny Elgar, Rachael Barlow, Lizzie Walker and Rebecca Myers are now executives.

The head of Grant Thornton’s audit practice in the North West, Mick Frankish, said: “I’m very proud of these promotions.

“It’s very satisfying to see professional development in action and the firm’s continued investment in our people as we continue to service our growing NW client base.”

Associate director Jennifer Woods commented: “It’s a really exciting time for me. Having been born and bred in Liverpool, it’s been amazing to see the development in the city.

“I can’t wait to be part of the fantastic leadership team here in our North West practice to continue to drive that growth and vibrancy in my home city.”

Dominique Oliviero, Clough & Willis

Bury- and Bolton-based law firm Clough & Willis has promoted property lawyer Dominique Oliviero to partner.

Dominique, who joined the company in 2008, specialises in land transactions and all aspects of residential conveyancing.

Clough & Willis’ managing partner, Lee Marston (pictured), said: “Dominique is a fantastic lawyer and her promotion is much deserved.

“She has been an integral part of the firm for the past decade so we are delighted to reward her talent and dedication.”

Lee added: I know that her new role will enable her to strengthen, manage and grow the property department.“

Dominique commented: “I have worked at Clough & Willis since the start of my career so becoming a partner is a real milestone and cements my future here.

“My focus is now on working alongside my colleagues to develop the profile of the Property team both here in the North West and beyond.”

Sonia Hill and Jack Beech, Shoosmiths

Law firm Shoosmiths has given its Manchester-based intellectual property (IP) and creative industries team a boost with two appointments.

The company responded to a growing work volume by hiring specialist trade mark attorney Sonia Hill, previously of law firm Marks & Clerk, and associate Jack Beech, who joined the firm from Weightmans.

Partner Laura Harper, who heads up Shoosmiths’ IP and creative business, said: “From the outset, we have aligned ourselves with Manchester’s vibrant and leading creative industries and digital sector, supporting businesses from start-up to large corporates – that strategy has paid dividends.

“With our excellent new team members on board, who join a remarkable existing team of lawyers, we look forward to growing the practice further by offering clients an exceptional service.”

Shoosmiths’ IP and creative team is set to double its 2016/17 turnover by the end of the current financial year.

Suzanne Benson, Trowers & Hamlins

Law firm Trowers & Hamlins has made partner Suzanne Benson the head of its Manchester office.

Suzanne already leads the company’s North West real estate team. She has been at Trowers & Hamlins for 18 years, during which time she has worked with a range of developers, local authorities, housing associations, Government departments and public sector bodies.

She said: “The Trowers office in Manchester has undergone considerable change in the last few years under the leadership of Mike Gaskell and I am really excited to be taking over the role at a time when we are well positioned to continue to expand both our public and private sector work.

“We are currently working on a number of significant local projects which will have a really positive impact on the areas we live and work in and I am confident that this gives us a really strong platform for further growth in the next few years.”

L-R: senior manager Lindsey Shepherd, director Nick Donohue, director Alex Kelly and senior director Mark Worsley

Alex Kelly, CLB Coopers

Accountancy and advisory firm CLB Coopers has appointed a new director within its audit and assurance team.

Joining the company from advisory group Grant Thornton, Alex Kelly will be based at CLB Coopers’ offices in Bolton. His background lies in leading and managing services for owner-managed businesses.

CLB Coopers MD David Travis said: “Alex is an excellent addition to our existing team and I am sure he will quickly become a key driver in the Bolton business community.

“The office’s senior team is now firmly in place for the future and, as well as continuing to work closely with our clients, will support our ongoing growth plans, both locally and across the wider North West region.”

Alex commented: “This is an exciting time to be joining the group and the opportunity to use my skills and experience to support the local and regional growth plans was really persuasive.

“I am looking forward to getting to know our clients and supporting them to meet their aspirations.”

Chris Wong, Gillespies

Landscape architecture practice Gillespies has expanded the urban team at its base in Manchester.

Chris Wong joined the company as a principal urban designer, making him responsible for leading several urban design and planning strategies in the UK and overseas.

He previously worked for architecture firm Studio Egret West and, before that, Shanghai-based NBBJ.

Gillespies associate partner Jim Fox said: “We are excited to welcome Chris to our growing team.

“He is a talented and creative designer, who brings a wealth of UK and international masterplanning experience from planning to construction.”

Jim continued: “Chris joins at an exciting time for the firm as we are undertaking some major commissions in the UK and internationally, and his appointment further increases our urban design and masterplanning capacity in the North of England.”

Sandy Ratcliffe, Legat Owen

Chester-based commercial property consultancy Legat Owen has added a new chartered surveyor to its 38-strong team.

Sandy Ratcliffe, who qualified as a RICS chartered surveyor last October, joined the company from Liverpool-based Matthews & Goodman.

He started his career as a graduate surveyor at Matthews & Goodman in 2015. During his time there he gained experience in valuation, rating, management and agency, among other departments.

At Legat Owen, Sandy will work alongside director James Lutton in the retail agency team. He will also assist Mark Eastwood, who leads the property valuation department.

Sandy said: “After becoming chartered, I was keen to take on a new challenge which is why I chose to join Legat Owen.

“It has such a strong reputation among surveyors in the north west and the opportunity to work for an award-winning company was too much for me to turn down.”

He added: “I’m really looking forward to joining the team and working with them to push the business forward in the years to come.”

James Lutton commented: “It’s great to welcome Sandy as he is incredibly focussed and already has some good experience under his belt.

“We are always looking at ways to recruit new talent and strengthen our team and the skills he brings will be a real asset to the business.”

Six promotions, GVA

Commercial property consultancy GVA has given its North West teams a boost with six promotions.

Jonathan Lowe, who has been a member of the company’s agency team for over 10 years, is now a director at its Liverpool base.

Energy and natural resources department member Linda Doyle, and Claire Robinson, who works in land and development at GVA’s Merseyside office, have both been promoted to associate level.

Over in Manchester, Gareth Conroy from the company’s land and development team is now a director. Kate Deakin (independent healthcare) and Michael Ihringer (telecoms) have become associates.

The six appointments form part of a UK-wide raft of 39 promotions.

Stephen Cowperthwaite, regional senior director for GVA in Liverpool, said: “As well as ensuring that we recruit the very best from outside the business, we’re committed to maintaining a strong team through recognising the exceptional talent already here too.

“Jonathan, Linda and Claire are all well known at GVA, having been with the business for a while now, so it’s fantastic to see the three of them step up to a new role and challenge.”

GVA Manchester regional senior director Chris Cheap commented: “The recent promotion of Gareth to director, and Kate and Michael to associates, underlines our ambition to grow our Manchester operation and highlights the strength of our inhouse expertise.”