This week’s North West appointments

Michelle Taylor-Grice, The Lowry Hotel

Michelle Taylor-Grice has been appointed by The Lowry Hotel in Manchester to the role of sales manager for meetings, conference, incentive and events.

Michelle has 20 years’ sales and hospitality experience, including five years with Marriott Hotels UK.

Following her appointment, Michelle will work to source and secure sales opportunities for the The Lowry Hotel’s meetings and events facilities.

She commented: “There are so many opportunities at The Lowry Hotel for bespoke events, from a boardroom meeting for 10 delegates through to a 600-guest reception.

“2016 is set to be a truly memorable time for our conference and events team, as the hotel celebrates its 15th anniversary year.”

In her new role, Michelle will work alongside director of sales Melanie Thompson and corporate and leisure sales manager Andrea Baron.

The hotel’s general manager, Adrian Ellis, said: “We welcome Michelle as she joins us an exciting time for the hotel and for Manchester, which is among the world’s top conference destinations.

“Her solid knowledge of both the international and regional markets places her in great stead to complement our team in the meetings, events and conference market.”

Image: Russell Holt (right) with Tom Flannery

Russell Holt, Reward Finance Group

Leeds-based business lender Reward Finance Group has appointed financier Russell Holt as its new North West business development director.

Russell, who has over 20 years of experience working in the business advisory and asset-based lending sectors, previously held a partner role at the Manchester office of chartered accountant group UHY Hacker Young and was also the national head of sales for lending firm Catalyst Finance.

Commenting on his appointment, Russell said: “I am delighted to be starting my new role at Reward Finance Group and am looking forward to developing the client portfolio in the North West.

“Reward is an innovative financier whose speed of delivery is a real differentiator within the finance sector, and it is exciting to be working with such a dynamic and successful team.”

Tom Flannery, Reward Finance Group’s joint MD, commented: “Russell’s reputation within the area puts our business at a real advantage; he will be an asset in securing deals and increasing our clientele within the North West market.”

Peter Linstead, CBRE

The Manchester office of real estate advisory firm CBRE has welcomed a new graduate surveyor in its North West industrial agency team.

Peter Linstead has joined CBRE from letting agency Ball & Percival, where he worked as a property advisor.

Peter, who obtained a Masters degree in Real Estate Asset Management (MSc) from Manchester University, said: “I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to join the CBRE team and I look forward to working on a number of exciting new appointments within the Manchester region and further afield.”

At CBRE, Peter will be involved in a number of projects, including Astra Business Park at Trafford Park, Premier Park in Winsford and Ringway Trading Estate in Wythenshaw.

Paul Cook, senior director of the firm’s Manchester-based industrial agency team, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Peter to CBRE’s Manchester office.

“We are confident that he will be a real asset to the Industrial Agency team, which continues to expand following a number of key successes in 2015 and a positive outlook for the year ahead as the market continues to gather momentum.”

Paul Challinor, Stewart Milne Group

Stewart Milne Group has chosen finance professional Paul Challinor to take the helm of its North West homes division.

Paul has been promoted to the role of managing director after joining Stewart Milne Homes in January 2015 as finance director.

He said: “Stewart Milne Homes is a business that puts the customer at the heart of everything it does and I look forward to playing my part in the team that will deliver exciting growth plans across the North West of England.

“I’m now looking forward to creating new neighbourhoods with our team.”

Prior to his work with Stewart Milne Homes, Paul was a regional finance director with another company in the sector for seven years and, between 2002 and 2008, held finance positions with travel firms My Travel Plc and Thomas Cook Group Plc.

Group managing director John Slater commented: “Paul brings extensive finance and leadership experience within growth businesses to his new role, which will be critical to our expansion plans in North West England.

“As we mark our 40th anniversary this year, our focus is very much upon growing our presence in the region by creating the highest quality new homes and neighbourhoods to meet market demand.”

Rob Crompton, FK Group

Altrincham-based building envelope contractor FK Group has announced the appointment of Rob Crompton as business development director.

Rob, who studied civil and structural engineering at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, has joined FK Group after working for 20 years at aluminium roof and wall cladding firm Kalzip.

He said: “I have built a strong relationship with FK Group and I know the business well.

“With recent impressive growth and ambitious targets, I am relishing the challenge and the opportunities ahead in helping to take FK Group to the next level.”

In his new role Rob will report to Paul Bentley and Steve Hall, the firm’s two managing directors.

Steve commented: “Appointing Rob is a significant move for us as we continue to grow in both the retail and distribution and facades sectors.

“His knowledge of the market and product innovation will only strengthen our team when it comes to securing work from the industry’s biggest names.”

Darren Gidman, St John Bosco Arts College

St John Bosco Arts College, an all-girls Catholic secondary school in Liverpool, has a new headteacher.

Darren Gidman joined the school nine years ago and previously held the roles of teaching school director and deputy headteacher.

Darren, who was raised and educated in Liverpool and took up his first teacher role at Archbishop Beck Catholic College, commented: “I am delighted to be appointed as headteacher at St John Bosco Arts College.

“This school is at the cutting edge of teaching and learning and thrives on providing the best opportunities to the young people that it serves.”

He added: I’m looking forward to building on the school’s legacy and working together with pupils, parents and staff to develop St John Bosco further.“

Nine new appointments, SAS Daniels

North West law firm SAS Daniels has announced nine new appointments as part of its growth plans for 2016.

Paul Tyrer has been appointed as an associate solicitor in the firm’s corporate team, Clare Bromley as HR consultant in the employment law and HR team and Angela Moores as a partner in the family team.

Elsewhere, Sarah Jones has become an assistant solicitor for family law at SAS Daniels, while Neil Powell is now a partner and Scott Tams an associate solicitor, both in the commercial property team.

Further, associate solicitor Stewart Smith and solicitor Emily Clarke have joined the firm’s commercial property team, while Amy Dickens has been welcomed into the residential property team as an assistant solicitor.

Senior partner Jonathan Whittaker said: “2015 has been a phenomenal year for SAS Daniels.

“We’re attracting new clients to existing service areas and have been developing new specialisms, such as construction, energy and renewables, and employment consultancy and payroll for the education sector.”

Jonathan added: “These new appointments are part of our continuing growth strategy and help to provide additional support and capacity across all four of our offices.”

Katie Hill, Weber Shandwick

PR firm Weber Shandwick has promoted Katie Hill to the position of account director.

In her time at the agency’s Manchester office, Katie has worked to develop and extend its consumer team while broadening its client portfolio into new sectors, including food and drink, retail and travel.

Weber Shandwick Manchester’s managing director, Jo Leah, said: “This latest promotion follows a series of senior hires across the Manchester office as we continue to bolster our offering and acquire national and global business.

“Manchester is one of Weber Shandwick’s key offices in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) regions and we will continue to develop this by both investing in our people and recruiting the very best to build an agency for the future.”

In 2015, Katie undertook a six-month secondment with Prime, an agency based in Stockholm.

MD Jo continued: “Katie’s secondment at Prime was pivotal in building strong links with our recently acquired office and since returning to Manchester she has been successful in sharing best practice and key learnings across the EMEA network.”

Paul Boothman, Matthews & Goodman

Commercial property advisory firm Matthews & Goodman has appointed a new head of residential property management.

Newcomer Paul Boothman previously spent three years as the head of residential management with property agency Lambert Smith Hampton, where he looked after the company’s portfolio in the North and Central England.

As head of residential property management at Mathews & Goodman, Paul will take the helm of the residential arm of the business’ property management offering.

Tim Austin, the firm’s head of northern property management, said: “Paul’s appointment has strengthened our ability to deliver a full asset managed residential property management service which enables clients to achieve the best outcome for their property and for their tenants.

“With residential development returning to pre-recession levels in both Manchester and Liverpool city centres, there is currently a lot of opportunity in the North West and we are delighted to have Paul on board.”

Glyn Jones, Ultimate Construction Finance

Ultimate Construction Finance has expanded its Manchester team by appointing Glyn Jones as regional director with responsibility for the North West and the wider M62 corridor.

Glyn covered a similar area in his previous role at Aldermore Bank, prior to which he helped found a company that provides project finance funding for sub-contractors.

He commented: “As well as having an excellent reputation and performing well financially, I was particularly attracted to [Ultimate Construction Finance] by the strength of its construction product which is unique within the industry, as it is able to provide advances against uncertified applications.

“I am looking forward to growing the network of introducers for the group and raising awareness of the funding solutions we can offer to construction companies who face cashflow pressures through no fault of their own.”

He continued: “Many companies in the construction sector expect to suffer from late payments but not all of them realise that with the right funding facility in place they can access the money locked away in outstanding payments immediately.

“UK construction sector activity is increasing again and we are on hand to support those businesses who are trying to grow and take on new contracts but need the right financial support and expertise in order to do so.”

Louise Garforth, Grant Thornton

Business advisory company Grant Thornton LLP has taken on a new business development manager for the North West.

Louise Garforth, who will operate across the firm’s offices in Manchester and Liverpool, has joined from Liverpool Biennial where she held the role of head of development.

Commenting on her appointment, she said: “I’m excited about this new chapter in my career and am delighted to re-join Grant Thornton.

“The firm operates in a dynamic part of the market and the strength of its team and the sense of direction the business has made it a very attractive proposition for me.”

Grant Thornton’s managing partner in the North West, Carl Williams, said Louise will play “a key role” in helping the company expand its market presence.

He said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Louise to our team.

“She’s a talented business development professional and an experienced project manager.”

Simon Parr, Galliford Try Partnerships

Housebuilding and construction group Galliford Try Partnerships has strengthened its North West team with the appointment of Simon Parr, its new contracts manager.

Simon, who joins Galliford Try from developer Lovell North West with over 24 years of experience in the sector, will be responsible for overseeing and managing the firm’s North West construction department.

His role also includes ensuring all quality requirements are met and health and safety procedures followed.

Simon commented: “There are exciting times ahead for the North West division as we strive to deliver more and more developments and I am delighted to take on the role of contracts manager.

“As head of the construction department I am anticipating that there will be new and exciting challenges ahead but I am very much looking forward to assisting the company in achieving its goals and raising the profile of Galliford Try Partnerships by delivering high quality developments.”