Companies with operations across the North West have announced a series of top appointments and promotions over the last seven days.
The likes of Everton, B&M, Speedy Hire and CBRE have all made major moves alongside the likes of Brabners, K3 Capital Group and the maker of Vimto.
Below, we round up the latest hires and promotions from across the North West that we feel you should not miss.
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Everton
Everton have confirmed the appointment of Colin Chong as their interim chief executive. Mr Chong is currently the club's chief stadium development officer and has been focused on the delivery of the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium.
He has been responsible for the operational management of the club's business headquarters at the Royal Liver Building.
James Maryniak, currently director of finance, will take charge of all finance matters as interim chief finance officer.
Everton added that majority shareholder Mr Farhad Moshiri will join the board alongside chartered accountant John Spellman.
The club also confirmed that Bill Kenwright will remain as Everton's chairman.
Speedy Hire
Speedy Hire has announced the appointment of Paul Rayner as its new chief financial officer from July 1.
The Newton-le-Willows-headquartered company confirmed the news as it released its latest financial figures.
Brabners
Law firm Brabners has promoted four employees across its corporate, real estate and commercial practices to its partnership.
Ruth Hargreaves, Daniel Hayhurst, Luke Taylor and Michael Winder have all been promoted to join the firm’s now 85-strong partnership.
Managing partner Nik White said: "It's important that we invest in talent at all levels as we build on recent successes and continue to focus on delivering purpose-led growth across the business.
"These promotions are further evidence of the clear development pathways we’ve developed within the firm, providing talented lawyers with the support and opportunities to progress their careers."
Ward Hadaway
Law firm Ward Hadaway has announced a total of four promotions at its Manchester office.
Catharine Busby has been promoted to partner in the healthcare team while Victoria Parker, who works in the same team, has become a managing associate.
Fameeda Shafiq has become a managing associate and Rachel Garcia is now an associate.
FWP
Architecture, design and masterplanning practice FWP Ltd has announced a trio of appointments at its Preston headquarters.
Abigail King joins as assistant quantity surveyor while Mark Strother has been appointed M&E technician.
Emily Critchley has also joined as an apprentice and has been appointed to the role of receptionist at the Ribblesdale Place office.
Nichols plc
Vimto maker Nichols plc has appointed David Taylor to its board as interim chief financial officer.
Mr Taylor joins the Newton-le-Willows company after most recently being CFO of Churchill China for over 30 years.
The company's process for the selection of a permanent group CFO continues.
Gateley
Three new partners are among the 13 promotions announced at the Manchester office of legal and professional services group, Gateley.
The three lawyers promoted to partner are Leanne Murray and Crystal Or of Gateley’s residential development team and Holly Howarth from the construction team. Another senior appointment is real estate’s Helen Ellis, who has been promoted to legal director
There are also three new promotions to senior associate: Jonathan Burton-Baddeley and Katie Mindurski, both in the real estate team, and Michael Rock from corporate.
In addition, there have been six promotions to associate across corporate, planning, employment, commercial dispute resolution and private client. These are: Haz Arshad, Richard Bailey, Jordan Buckle, Matthew Knowles, Adam Noble, and Katie Walsh.
Olliers Solicitors
Olliers Solicitors has added to its team with new fee earning appointments alongside a number of support staff.
The criminal specialist firm has brought Gareth Martin on board to added to its regulatory offering.
Meanwhile, fraud specialist Richard Cornthwaite joins the firm as a consultant, while solicitor Kathryn Lloyd re-joins the business having first worked with Olliers over 20 years ago.
The trio are joined by a number of new support staff including a new office manager, together bringing Olliers’ headcount to over 40.
CBRE
CBRE’s Building Surveying team in Manchester has appointed Lauren Verdi Bowker as associate director.
She joins from Colliers where she was senior building surveyor with more than five years’ experience within commercial building surveying.
She will initially work with CBRE’s director and northern dilapidations lead Chris Mann.
B&M
Liverpool-headquartered B&M has appointed Hounaïda Lasry as a non-executive director from September 22.
She is currently a non-executive director at Britvic plc.
Chairman Peter Bamford said: "I am delighted that Hounaïda has agreed to join the board of B&M. She brings strong commercial international, and strategic instincts and the benefits of experience gained in a wide variety of challenging operational roles within the highly structured and developed consumer facing disciplines of Procter and Gamble. Hounaïda will enhance the diversity of experience and skills on our board considerably"
Continuous
Brand agency Continuous has announced Stephen Conchie as its new creative director alongside two internal promotions.
Caroline Whittaker has also been promoted to strategy director while Olivia Downing becomes associate creative director.
Managing director Stephen Ardern said: "We need to continually evolve to help ambitious, world-class brands thrive in times of change.
"Building on our successful long-standing relationships with clients such as Primark, Ideal Standard and Amtico, I'm excited to see us grow and fulfil our commercial ambition of delivering our very best work yet."
K3 Capital Group
Bolton-based professional services firm K3 Capital Group has announced that chief executive John Rigby will become its new executive chairman.
Managing director Ian Symes will step up to become the group's new chief executive.
Mr Rigby said: "We have major plans for growth under the ownership of Sun Capital Partners, and our directors and senior leadership team are currently working on these plans as part of our shared vision initiative.
"This change in K3’s leadership structure is the next logical step for us to ensure that we are aligned as one large entity to deliver on these plans. We are all very excited for this next stage of our journey."
PKF
PKF has appointed James Wilkinson to head up its new Manchester office.
Mr Wilkinson joins the firm from PwC, where he has spent nearly nine years – most recently in one of the firms’ northern offices.
Managing partner Dominic Roberts said: "We’re excited to welcome James to PKF. "James is known for being approachable and personable, which fits perfectly with our ethos and culture here.
"In addition, James has a sound understanding of complex technical matters, and his expertise will undoubtedly benefit our growing portfolio of Northern-based financial services audit clients."
Leonard Curtis Legal
Leonard Curtis Legal has added a restructuring and insolvency lawyer to its North West team with the appointment of Rachael Bentley.
She joins as a director with over 14 years’ experience advising on non-contentious insolvency matters - having held roles at Walker Morris, Gateley Plc and Clarke Willmott LLP throughout her career.
She specialises in all aspects of recovery, restructuring and turnaround - advising businesses facing any kind of financial challenge.
Lovell
The North West team of national housebuilder Lovell has welcomed Paul Challinor as its new managing director.
Mr Challinor joins from housebuilder Stewart Milne where he also held the position of regional managing director for the North West after joining as the business’ finance director in 2015.
Prior to that, he held positions at Morris Homes, MyTravel and Thomas Cook Plc.
Meet & Potato
Liverpool-based creative events company Meet & Potato (M&P) has made two new hires and the creation of a new videography department as well as a senior promotion.
M&P has hired Tom Guerrier, a videographer who has worked with all major UK broadcasters, such as the BBC and ITV.
The agency has also appointed event producer Laura Williams and promoted Jo Prosser from creative director from head of creative experience.
