This week’s Yorkshire appointments

Leeds-based Squire Patton Boggs has announced the appointment of Colin Stirling, who has joined the firm as a senior business advisor in the Global Corporate Practice.

Mr. Stirling was previously a partner at private equity fund manager Spirit Capital in Leeds.

Mr. Stirling has over 20 years’ experience in private equity investment. Having qualified as an accountant with KPMG, he moved into corporate finance, specialising in providing buy and sell side advice to private equity investors.

Mr. Stirling then worked for NatWest Ventures and Aberdeen Asset Managers Private Equity, before participating in two management buy-outs to create private equity fund managers Bridgepoint and Spirit Capital.

Jonathan Jones, Leeds private equity partner, said: “Colin is a very successful and highly regarded private equity professional. We have worked alongside him on numerous transactions and have witnessed first-hand the strength of his relationships in this market and his deal-doing nous. He will be a tremendous asset to the firm and our clients.”

Jane Haxby, EMEA head of the Global Corporate Practice, commented: “We have a very successful regional Corporate Practice, with a long-standing client base and strong track record in private equity.

“Colin’s appointment underlines the scale of ambition we have for the continued growth of our practice; he brings great new insight and experience and will lead the charge to develop and build our private equity and corporate relationships, both with existing clients and targets and regional referrers of work.”

Mr. Stirling’s arrival coincides with the firm’s move to new flagship offices at 6 Wellington Place in Leeds, coupled with the announcement earlier this year that the Manchester office will be moving to new premises at No. 1 Spinningfields in 2017.

Jane Haddon, JMG Townends Insurance Brokers

JMG Townends Insurance Brokers has expanded its team with the appointment of Jane Haddon.

Jane joins the business as an account manager from Romero Insurance Brokers in Leeds.

Jane started her career in insurance at risk management and insurance firm AON over 25 years ago, moving to Arthur J Gallagher (previously Heath Lambert) in 2011, where she spent 14 years.

In her new role, Jane is responsible for managing client accounts and relationships with JMG Townends’ client base of start-up and well-established businesses in York and further afield.

She is also the first point of contact for insurance renewals and client enquiries.

JMG Townends is led by David Fryer, who said: “The business is growing, and our focus is on making sure we continue that growth whilst consistently delivering high standards of service to our clients.

“Jane’s extensive insurance industry experience means that she is well placed to look after the day to day needs of our clients, and her role is to help us maintain the bespoke, personal approach that we take to all of our work.”

JMG Townends insurance brokers is a joint venture between Townends Chartered Accountants and insurance broker, JM Glendinning. As part of the JM Glendinning Group, JMG Townends is able to offer a personalised service to clients with the backup of one of the UK’s top 75 insurance brokers.

The firm relocated to York from the JM Glendinning headquarters in Guiseley in June last year to support Townends Accountants’ clients and help facilitate plans to double the size of the insurance business over the next two years.

Bruce Allan, Carter Jonas

Carter Jonas has appointed Bruce Allan MRICS as partner and head of valuations in Leeds, working within its commercial team.

Bruce, who will be based out of Carter Jonas’ Northern hub office, will work closely with the teams across the country, bringing over 27 years of specialist valuation experience to the role.

Bruce joins from Deloitte, where he led the real estate valuations department in the Middle East. Prior to this, Bruce held the position of director of valuation consultancy at GVA Bilfinger in Leeds.

Bruce has provided valuation services to the main high street banks, building societies, specialist funders, developers, local authorities, government departments and directly to business across the UK. Bruce has also accepted expert witness appointments for over 15 years.

John Webster, head of commercial and development at Carter Jonas Leeds, commented:

“In recent years we have seen increasing demand for valuation consultancy services, at both a regional and a national level, and the growth of our dedicated valuations team in Leeds is a testament to this.

“We are committed to providing our commercial clients with a full service offering at the highest level. Bruce’s appointment significantly strengthens our ability to deliver this. Not only does Bruce have international experience with a ‘top 4’ accountancy firm, he is also a highly respected valuation surveyor in the Yorkshire marketplace.”

Tony Farmer and Nigel Clemit, JWP Creers

A senior management restructure has been carried out by North Yorkshire accountants and business advisers, JWP Creers.

Head of the corporate finance team, Tony Farmer has been appointed chairman and former managing partner and head of the audit team, Nigel Clemit, who joined the firm in 1987 and became managing partner in 2009, has been appointed chief executive.

In their new roles, Tony Farmer and Nigel Clemit will devise a strategy to develop all aspects of JWP Creers, which will be delivered by Nigel Clemit with the help of a newly-created Executive Group which will also comprise partners Russell Smith and Jill Campbell; marketing manager, Sue Espiner and practice manager, Charlotte Granger.

Tony Farmer, who joined the firm as a partner in 2003, commented: “JWP Creers has grown significantly through new business gains and attracting top-quality staff since the banking crisis and this re-structure and Executive Group reflects our long-term vision and commitment to delivering it in a modern, dynamic way.”

Nigel Clemit said: “Recent growth has seen us strengthen the firm by adding talented new staff at every level from associates to trainees and this initiative reflects our determination to capitalise this to create the best possible future for our current and prospective clients and staff.”

JWP Creers has offices at Heslington, York and Park Street, Selby. The firm has seven partners and 80 staff and operates throughout the UK with most of its clients in the north.

Chris Birkby, Transline Group

Brighouse-based Transline Group, the international recruitment agency, has appointed Chris Birkby as managing director.

Chris will utilise his wealth of experience in the sector, alongside his 5 years with the company, to further enhance and develop Transline’s operational function.

Chris will report directly to joint CEOs Paul Beasley and Jon Taylor, as well as group operations director, Mark Elms.

Chris said of his new role: “Transline Group has seen impressive growth in recent years, surpassing £200m in revenue in 2015 - it’s a real honour to be appointed as Transline’s managing director.

“The sectors we operate in are constantly changing and Transline will need to be adaptive and innovative if we are to see continued growth financially and geographically – it’s a challenge I am looking forward to.

“The talent within Transline surpasses any team I have come across during my career, and to have their support and unwavering commitment to the business as we continue to drive Transline forward is hugely encouraging”.

Adrian Smith, Britcon Engineering Services

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire-based Britcon Engineering Services (BES) has appointed Adrian Smith as construction manager.

The appointment brings back together four steelwork industry professionals after 20 years to lead the business which is the structural steelwork division of Britcon.

Adrian is reunited with director Nick Evans, senior construction manager Kevin Cocker, and 3D cad detailer Dave Lomas.

Adrian brings over 34 years’ industry experience following senior roles in the UK and overseas. He recently returned to the UK following a contract in South Africa where he was involved with building Kusile Power Station, currently the biggest construction site in the southern hemisphere.

At BES Adrian will manage operational site activities on all steelwork projects across the business in the UK with responsibility for programming and sub-contractor management. In particular, he will bring specialist expertise for the power and energy sector where BES is experiencing growth.

Nick Evans, director at BES said: “We are delighted to welcome Adrian to the team at BES. Two other team members and I worked alongside Adrian nearly 20 years ago so it is great to reunite a successful team. We know only too well what value he will bring to the business having achieved experience on some ground-breaking projects.”

BES provides design, supply, fabrication and installation of structural and bespoke steelwork for clients across all project sectors in the UK.

Paul Hudson and Simon Davis, Towry

Towry, the wealth manager, has strengthened its Leeds office with two new financial planners and wealth managers.

Paul Hudson joins Towry having worked within the financial services industry for more than 13 years. Having gained experience across a number of roles, Paul spent the last five years as a financial planner within a family-based firm.

Simon Davis joins Towry from Gale and Phillipson, having helped them establish and grow their North East operation.

With over 14 years’ experience in the industry, having held roles in retail bank management to more recently owning his own financial planning businesses, he now works with a number of leading North East accountancy and law professionals to assist their clients.

Mark McCormack, manager at Towry, said: “In Simon and Paul, we have found two financial planners of the highest calibre who are clearly passionate about delivering the very best advice and service to our clients. They will both be a big asset to our growing team in Leeds and I am delighted to have them on board.”

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