This week's North West appointments

Peter Grieve and Beth Santangeli, Robertson North West

Construction company Robertson North West has appointed Peter Grieve (pictured) as operations director and Beth Santangeli as business development manager.

Peter has 35 years’ experience in the construction sector, taking projects from bid stage through to pre-construction, delivery, completion and aftercare. For the last 11 years he has worked at Laing O’Rourke.

Beth, also from Laing O’Rourke, has previously played an active role in projects throughout the region, including Alder Hey in the Park and the Transforming Cancer Care.

Robertson North West MD Dirk Pittaway said: “It is a real coup that we’ve been able to secure two highly impressive individuals to the business.

“Peter comes to Robertson North West with vast knowledge and a highly regarded reputation, especially across the region. I have no doubt that his appointment will drive us forward in 2018 and well beyond.”

Discussing Beth’s appointment, Dirk continued: “In her previous role, Beth was instrumental in different aspects of project delivery from bid, pre-construction and delivery. The appointments show the ambition of the business, as we continue to grow across the region.”

Daniel Thomas, Primas Law

Primas Law has taken on commercial litigator Daniel Thomas as a partner and head of its litigation team.

Daniel joined the North West law firm from Blackstone Solicitors, where he was also partner. He specialises in all aspects of commercial litigation.

Senior partner Adam Kerr said: “We’re a growing firm and want to make sure we stay at the forefront of a legal market that continues to see huge changes.

“Daniel is an experienced lawyer who shares our outcomes-focused approach to helping clients achieve the best possible results.”

He added: “He will be a real asset as we grow the department and develop new services within our dispute resolution offering.”

Daniel commented: “Primas is a firm on the up and has an excellent reputation and great clients. The firm is well known in its core areas of corporate, commercial and real estate work.

“It also has a quality litigation offering and I want to help the firm become more widely known for this across the region and beyond.”

Mark Bousfield, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has appointed a new Commercial Development and Investment Director.

Now working from the authority’s HQ at Mann Island, Mark Bousfield previously worked for real estate business Igloo Regeneration.

His career includes roles with Google and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Mark said of his new role: “I am tremendously excited to join the Metro Mayor to contribute to the Combined Authority’s drive to transform the Liverpool City Region.

“We have a great opportunity to do things differently in terms of how we use investment for the benefit of the public.”

He continued: “We will be moving away from a culture of giving grants and towards investing in developments and projects that deliver a public good, while providing a return to the Combined Authority that we can then reinvest.”

Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram commented: “We are very pleased to have Mark on board.

“He brings a wealth of experience in responsible investing and is absolutely the right person to drive through our new approach.”

Molly Greenwood, Jonathan Burton-Baddeley and Rebecca Fairclough, Farleys Solicitors

Farleys Solicitors has announced new additions to its commercial department.

Recent appointees at the Manchester-based company include solicitor Jonathan Burton-Baddeley, who just completed his training contract at Farleys and specialises in commercial property; and solicitor advocate Rebecca Fairclough, whose work focuses on commercial disputes, debt recovery matters and professional negligence claims.

Farleys has also awarded a training contract to former paralegal Molly Greenwood. She will take up seats in various departments throughout the programme, starting with the commercial team.

Ian Liddle, managing partner at Farleys, said: “This trio of appointments kicks off a particularly exciting time for Farleys’ Manchester office.

“Since we opened back in 2007, we have continued to develop our presence in the city, so much so that we are now looking to move to bigger offices!

He added: “I want to congratulate Jonathan, Rebecca and Molly and, on behalf of everyone at the firm, wish them all the best in their careers here at Farleys Solicitors.”

Tom Brown, PMD Business Finance

PMD Business Finance has appointed Tom Brown to its board as a director.

Tom, head of direct finance, joined Oldham-based PMD just over three years ago following nine years at finance firm Lombard.

PMD managing director Peter Dobson said: “Tom made an immediate impact when he joined us three years ago.

“Since then he has developed and built the direct function within PMD and helped the business grow to the level where it is now lending over £100m per year.”

He added: “Tom is a very capable finance professional, he is extremely popular with the team and we are delighted he has accepted our invitation to join the PMD board.”

Tom commented: “We have a fantastic team here at PMD and it is an incredibly exciting time for the company. In my new role as director, I am looking forward to working with my team to help support SME businesses and offer true flexibility through our range of business finance options.”

L-R: Jim Truscott, Matt Fleetwood and James Flynn

James Flynn, Beyond Professional Services Group

Beyond Professional Services Group has appointed a new partner.

James Flynn previously worked with Beyond founders Matt Fleetwood and Jim Truscott at law firm Fieldfisher, where he was head of construction.

His new role places him within Beyond’s corporate and transactional business, Beyond Corporate.

James cited the chance to work with his former colleagues as a major factor in his decision to move.

All three worked together at boutique law firm Heatons, which was eventually acquired by Fieldfisher.

James Flynn said: “Beyond is led by a strong management team, with a different approach to both its people and its clients than that of other, more traditional law firms.

“Having worked with Jim and Matt before, I wanted to be a part of their vision for a new kind of legal business; it was a pretty compelling reason to join them.”

L-R: Charles Ardern and Aaron Graham

Four appointments, Avison Young

Commercial real estate firm Avison Young has announced appointments at its Manchester office and formed a new valuation team.

Charles Ardern and Aaron Graham joined the company as directors. They will work closely with Peter Clarke, director of the valuation team, who is based at the firm’s London office.

Both were previously partners at Knight Frank.

Charles said: “Aaron and I have worked together in both Liverpool and Manchester during our careers and together bring over 25 years’ valuation experience to the team.

“The transactional business done within Avison Young is second to none and it is great to be part of that process within a market leading company such as this.”

The company also appointed recently qualified surveyor Alex Weatherilt. Prior to her appointment, Alex was a graduate surveyor at Rapleys, were she specialised in automotive and roadside.

Elsewhere, Avison Young took on a new graduate surveyor – Kipp Harden, who graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a Masters in real estate.

Erin Shoesmith, Tim Taylor and Michelle Headrige, Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard has promoted three lawyers at its Manchester office.

Tim Taylor (business support and restructuring), Erin Shoesmith (health and safety) and Michelle Headrige (environment) will be partners in the firm from May 1.

The head of Addleshaw Goddard in Manchester, Malcolm Pike, said: “Our new partners have demonstrated exceptional performance across their specialist disciplines and sectors, as well as a clear commitment to AG’s strategy.

“These promotions reinforce our already strong position in the North West, bolster core areas of our business and will allow us to leverage new opportunities in the market.”

He continued: “Rewarding top talent is a priority for us at AG and we continue to find new and innovative ways of doing so. I am delighted to be able to announce yet again the promotion of three strong partners, who I believe will help us to continue to be the number one firm in the region.”