This week's Yorkshire appointments

Three new staff have joined overseas trade specialist, Chamber International as part of a cosmopolitan team able to speak 12 different languages.

Fiorella Duran-Robinson, Sam Lazkani and Inga Keire, who join the Client Services Team, will help Chamber International meet growing demand for more export advice from companies throughout Yorkshire and the UK.

Fiorella Duran-Robinson has a pharmacy BSc from Bogota University and an MBA from Durham University. She previously worked as an export sales and marketing executive for a medical scientific company in the North East.

Sam Lazkani is originally from Syria and speaks Arabic and Mandarin. He has worked in exporting for seven years. He attended the Central Academy of Arts, Beijing, achieved a Fine Arts PhD from the University of Wales and spent two years with the Syrian Embassy, Beijing, as an events coordinator.

Inga Keire, who came to the UK from Poland eight years ago, has 10 years international trade experience in manufacturing and distribution. She previously worked as a finance assistant at a York brickwork contractor and as sales office manager for a West Yorkshire exporting manufacturing company.

The new advisers will meet demand for research, including access to new markets, working with Chamber International’s overseas network of private sector partners, bi-lateral chambers of commerce and business groups; practical support with import and export order management services including customs clearance, freight management and trade facilitation; and advisory work covering letters of credit, tariffs, trade agreements and country of origin assessments.

Among 12 languages spoken by the new team are English, Portuguese, Spanish, Latvian, Russian, German, French, Mandarin, Polish, Italian, Chinese and Arabic.

Tim Bailey, Chamber International director, said: “Increased competition, companies exporting further afield, and a wider range of products being exported, is leading to growing demand for more sophisticated support services.

“As well as being multi-lingual, Sam, Inga and Fiorella are all experienced with a high level of skills and will enable us to meet this demand with a truly international team.”

Emma Oakley, BHP

Bhp, Yorkshire’s largest independent firm of chartered accountants, has expanded its forensic accounting and risk services team with the appointment of Emma Oakley as a senior manager.

Emma joins from PwC and is an ICAEW chartered accountant with 10 years’ experience having previously worked in both audit and forensic accounting where she latterly specialised in disputes surrounding merger and acquisition activity.

In her new role, Emma will support BHP partner Tony Chapman, who leads the firm’s risk services practice, as well as working closely with Alison Barnes, who joined BHP last year as director of risk services and forensics.

The specialist department provides a full range of forensic accountancy, fraud and financial risk management, covenant assessment and financial risk assurance services to clients, intermediaries and law firms both regionally and nationally.

The team also works with BHP’s specialist corporate finance division, offering merger and acquisition contract assurance, as well as business and shareholder valuations.

Emma said: “Forensic accounting is continually evolving and our services are in high demand from an ever-diversifying market and particularly law firms dealing with corporate disputes.

“This makes it an exciting time to join a forward thinking, independent and fast-growing firm like BHP, which is making its mark in the forensic field.”

Tony added: “We are establishing a formidable reputation for our work in the forensic accounting and risk services fields and we’re now the first port of call for a growing number of lawyers dealing with shareholder, post M&A and corporate disputes.

“Emma is a seasoned operator within the region’s forensic accounting sector, with an excellent track-record of unravelling complex financial transactions and finding innovative solutions to corporate problems that augments and complements our experience in this area.”

BHP now has more than 300 employees across five offices in York, Sheffield, Leeds, Cleckheaton, and Chesterfield.

Mark Jennings and Tom Yeates, PwC

PwC announce the appointment of two new partners to its Yorkshire and North East practice.

As part of its continued commitment to increase the capability and level of specialisms within the region, PwC Yorkshire & North East has announced that two new partners will be entering the partnership, Tom Yeates and Mark Jennings.

Tom Yeates, who is based in the firms Leeds office, has nearly 20 years of experience providing audit and assurance services to clients ranging from FTSE 100s to private equity portfolio companies to owner managed start-ups.

He has worked in London and Newcastle, before transferring to Yorkshire in 2012. As partner he will continue to focus on providing high quality services to local businesses.

Mark Jennings, heads up the firm’s Pensions Advisory practice across the northern cluster regions, having been with PwC for 17 years. Mark advises corporate clients and pension trustees on employer covenant and pensions restructuring, helping clients secure pension member benefits and protect schemes in corporate transactions and distressed situations. Mark previously worked in the firm’s Business Recovery practice.

Ian Morrison, PwC’s Yorkshire & North East regional leader, commented: “I’m delighted to welcome both Tom and Mark to the partnership. They bring a wide range of expertise to the Yorkshire & North East practice across very different specialisms.

“Responding to the diverse needs of our clients is vital and these appointments, as well as the wider promotions we have announced, reflect the importance we place on delivering the best service possible to our clients across the region”.

Nationally PwC has promoted 54 equity partners, with effect from 1 July 2018, an increase from 31 last year. The new partners represent a diverse range of backgrounds, with more people who didn’t attend university, who work on a part-time basis, and are from an ethnically-diverse background moving into senior positions.

Kevin Ellis, chairman and senior partner at PwC, said: “In order to help our clients solve their biggest problems we need people with a broad range of skills, backgrounds and experiences.

“That’s exactly what our new partners represent. Our investment in new partners this year reflects the increasing demand from our clients for technology expertise, and for people with diverse thinking and industry experience.”

Caitlin Macnamara, Williamsons

Caitlin Macnamara has joined Hull and East Yorkshire law firm Williamsons as a commercial property solicitor at its Beverley office.

Caitlin said: “I work for landlords and tenants on commercial leases – though naturally not at the same time – and you soon find that no two days are the same and each client has unique requirements.

“I enjoy all the problem solving it entails and doing our utmost to provide a good service to customers. We don’t do ‘conveyor belt transactions’.”

Caitlin also has experience in residential plot sales and purchases and wills and probate.

Bill Waddington, Williamsons director, commented: “Caitlin has specialist and all-round skills and is a very good addition to our Beverley team. We serve the region in all main fields of law and we are very well set-up for the lively commercial property market.”

Caitlin gained a Bachelor’s degree in history and a Master’s degree in the history of art from the University of Warwick before being awarded a graduate diploma from BPP University Law School in 2015 and moving on to the University of Law.

Williamsons Solicitors has its head office in Hull with branches in Beverley, Bridlington and Driffield.

Chris Coley, Avant Homes

Housebuilder Avant Homes has promoted the operations director of its Yorkshire business to the newly created head office role of group developments director.

Chris Coley now has responsibility for leading the implementation of actions and initiatives that will further enhance the control environment throughout the group.

He has been with Avant Homes’ Yorkshire operating company for 13 years, originally joining as a graduate surveyor before progressing to commercial director in 2012, then operations director earlier this year.

The housebuilder is privately-owned and employs more than 700 people. For the year ending 27th April 2018, group revenues were up 21% to a record £447m.

Chris’s appointment follows Avant Homes’ chief executive, Colin Lewis, stating in March this year that the company’s next strategic growth objective is to double output to 4,000 homes a year and become a £1bn turnover business by 2023.

Colin Lewis, Avant Homes chief executive, said: “As we enter our next phase of growth, it is essential that we continue to evolve and enhance our business to maintain our positive momentum and upward trajectory.

“The role of group developments director will be crucial in ensuring that Avant Homes expands rapidly whilst maintaining the highest levels of design excellence, build quality and customer experience.

“Chris has been with the business since he was a trainee and his journey shows how talent, dedication and a great attitude provide a clear pathway to the top of our company.

“He has consistently proven himself to be a leader with an excellent commercial and operational mind. I have every confidence he will play a significant role in ensuring Avant Homes’ continued growth and success.”

Nigel Tonge, Priestley Construction

Priestley Construction, the Leeds-based contractor which specialises in refurbishments and conversions, has appointed Nigel Tonge to its senior team as business development manager.

With more than 25 years’ industry experience, Nigel is tasked to build on Priestley Construction’s strong relationships with developers and secure both conversion and new build projects for clients.

Nigel has previously worked for high profile firms, including Mowlem, Caddick Construction Ltd and VINCI Construction UK.

He said: “Priestley Construction is a dynamic company that is well-known for the craftsmanship and attention to detail it brings to conversions and refurbishments.

“I’m delighted to come on board and be an instrumental part in driving forward this ambitious business.”

Rob Pell, head of construction at Priestley Construction, commented: “We have unrivalled experience in transforming historic properties into much-needed, high quality apartments and office spaces.

“Nigel is a very welcome addition to our team – his industry expertise strengthens our know-how even further, helping to bring our clients’ visions for restoration and new build projects to life.”