A specialist patent and trade mark law firm has a new managing partner.
Matt Shaw has taken over the role at Forresters in Birmingham from Lloyd Hoarton who is retiring after nearly three decades with the practice.
Mr Hoarton, who joined the firm 29 years ago as a trainee patent attorney, said: "It has been a brilliant job which I have enjoyed very much and continue to enjoy after all these years.
"I am looking forward to spending my time in retirement doing exclusively non-IP things."
Mr Shaw, who has worked for the firm since 1994, said: "It has been a real pleasure to work with Lloyd whose outstanding knowledge and experience have strengthened our reputation as one of the world's leading intellectual property firms.
"We have all valued Lloyd's wise counsel and instrumental contributions and he will be greatly missed."
The firm has also made a series of other promotions.
Emma Johnson, who joined Forresters as a trainee 16 years ago, is now an equity partner, Jack Gunning is a partner and Greg Smith has been promoted to senior associate.
Mr Shaw added: "After the challenges businesses have faced in the last year, we are pleased to announce this positive news.
"I would like to congratulate all on their well-deserved promotions which recognise their achievements and the significant contribution they have made to Forresters and its clients."
In other appointments news, Natwest has recruited a new regional ecosystem manager to support businesses to grow in the Midlands.
Josh Winfield has taken on the role in which he will support new and established companies to develop through specially tailored programmes such as the Business Builder and NatWest Accelerator which he has worked on for the past four years.
Working with a range of partners, Mr Winfield will lead on the delivery of activity across the region as part of the bank's ambition to create 35,000 new businesses this year.
He said: "I'm especially excited about our Climate Accelerator and Women in Business support throughout this year and into 2022.
"We have so many incredible female entrepreneurs and sustainable businesses across the Midlands, championing innovation across all industries and sectors.
"To be able to support as many as we can to grow and scale would be a huge achievement."
Financial services firm PwC has appointed Caitroina McCusker as its national education leader.
The Birmingham-based consultant has more than 20 years of experience of working on transformation projects in higher education institutions.
She helps them reimagine their student and staff experience from aligning costs to running and delivering large-scale technology transformation programmes.
Steve Knight has joined West Midlands Growth Company as its new senior business tourism manager.
Mr Knight will manage and lead its convention bureau, delivering a new business tourism strategy and approach to attracting and retaining sporting and major events in Birmingham and the West Midlands.
He has more than 20 years of experience working with a range of events organisations including VisitBritain's New York office, Reed Exhibitions and most recently Newcastle University London.
He was appointed event director for The Meetings Show when it launched in 2012.
Law firm Pinsent Masons has announced its 2021 round of promotions which take effect next month.
In the Birmingham office, Katie Ivens and Carl Scott have been made partners and Rebecca Sulley is its new legal director.
Ms Ivens is a member of its financial services team and specialises in pensions law and Mr Scott works in the real estate and financial services sectors as head of real estate restructuring and insolvency support for the UK.
Al Rayan Bank has appointed its second female non-executive director.
The Birmingham-based Islamic bank has recruited Caroline Bradley to its board and also as chairwoman of its audit committee.
She has 20 years of experience at director level within financial services, including roles with Tenet Group where she oversaw corporate development activity.
Ms Bradley was also finance and risk director at online trading and investment platform TD Direct Investing.
Her appointment follows Kathryn Kerle joining the bank's board earlier this year.
