This week's Yorkshire appointments

Alistair Cameron, SportsShoes.com

International online running shoes, running clothing and outdoor gear retailer SportsShoes.com has appointed a former CEO of Asics EMEA as non-executive director.

Alistair Cameron joins the Shipley-headquartered business to help drive further growth by utilising more than 35 years’ experience gained working in senior positions for global retail brands.

During his ten-year tenure as CEO of Asics EMEA, Alistair oversaw a period of growth which led to the business doubling its revenues to more than £700m. He has also previously held senior positions at New Balance and Speedo International and was chairman of premium outdoor brand Haglöfs.

At SportsShoes.com, Alistair will consult on supporting the company’s growth ambition and maximising partnership opportunities. He will also work closely with SportsShoes.com’s management team to further expanding its reach within Europe.

Alistair said: “SportsShoes.com has built an exceptional global reputation for providing the best range of premium performance running and outdoor products in one place online.

“I have admired the company’s rapid but controlled growth over recent years and seen how it has intelligently evolved its proposition and continually enhanced its customer experience.

“SportsShoes.com is run by a highly capable and ambitious management team and I am looking forward to helping them realise the company’s ambitious growth plans.”

Alistair’s appointment follows soon after the company announced an increase in sales of 37 per cent to a record £92.2m for the year ended 28 February 2021. In addition, SportsShoes.com saw its EBITDA before non-recurring costs rise 118 per cent to £12.2m.

Bridie Johnson-Power, Ryan Cotton, LCF Law

Bridie Johnson-Power and Ryan Cotton have become the latest newly qualified solicitors to join LCF Law having completed their legal training with the Yorkshire law firm.

Bridie is now based in the firm’s Leeds office within the Disputes department, working on a range of commercial litigation and insolvency matters spanning shareholder and contractual disputes, as well as breach of warranties and indemnity disputes, high-value money claims and interim injunctions.

She completed a law degree as well as the legal practice course and an integrated Master of Law degree at Northumbria University in 2016 and worked as a paralegal at another Leeds law firm before joining LCF Law as a trainee solicitor in 2019.

Ryan is working in LCF Law’s Real Estate team, in the firm’s Bradford office, managing both commercial and residential freehold sales and purchases, as well as drafting and negotiating leases and dealing with the sale of businesses where property is the main asset.

Ryan graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with a law degree in 2016 and then embarked on a legal practice course and master’s degree at The University of Law. In 2019 he joined LCF Law’s real estate department as a legal assistant before becoming a trainee solicitor.

Simon Stell, managing partner, said: “We have a fantastic track record of supporting the future talent of the legal industry, whether that’s through the traditional university degree route, or our apprenticeship programme, which gives school leavers the opportunity to train in-house and receive a nationally recognised legal qualification.

“Both Bridie and Ryan have done extremely well throughout their training and have already built up plenty of experience assisting with direct contact client work over their time with us.

“We’re pleased that they have decided to continue their careers with LCF Law and there’s no doubt they both have promising careers ahead of them and can play integral roles within our well-established real estate and disputes departments.”

Kuljit Kaur, Hentons

A Yorkshire chartered accountancy and business advisory firm has appointed an experienced learning and development professional as part on its ongoing investment in its people.

Kuljit Kaur, joins Hentons from a FTSE 250 listed financial lending firm, and has more than 15 years’ experience working in training, learning, development and leadership.

Managing director at Hentons, Peter Watson: “Hentons is a great place to work with plenty of opportunity for progression. Kuljit’s appointment as Learning and Development Manager demonstrates our continued investment in our team, as we propel the business forward.

“Talented people like Kuljit, who are highly competent and motivated, are exactly the type of people we want at Hentons. Her skills will be utilised across every part of our business, as we continue expanding and investing in our people. Crucially, it will benefit not only our employees, but our clients too.”

Kuljit added: “I was keen to join Hentons at a very exciting time for the business. Since the start of the year the firm has welcomed 17 new people to the team and now employs 120 of some of the industry’s finest across five offices.”

“Plus, with two acquisitions in recent years, and more on the horizon, there is a fantastic opportunity to unite all of its people with the same common values, behaviors and mission.

“The new frameworks I will be working on, will form a firm foundation from which we will continue to attract, keep and train the very best industry talent. All this combined makes this career move a fantastic opportunity in a growing and ambitious business.”

Hentons has a turnover of circa. £7m and is ranked as one of the top 100 accountancy firms by fee income in the UK by industry bible Accountancy Age.

Claire Murphy, Switalskis

The Switalskis group is set to welcome property lawyer Claire Murphy as a director, with a brief to help develop the firm’s commercial property department.

An experienced commercial property solicitor, Claire has worked in the sector since 1994. She trained at international law firm Clifford Chance in London and relocated to Yorkshire in 1996, where she worked at several large Leeds law firms including Addleshaw Goddard, Gordons, and Lupton Fawcett.

In 2013, she founded Claire Murphy Legal, a specialist commercial property law firm based in Ilkley. Claire has built a strong and long standing client base of property developers, investors, business owners and occupiers, and counts national businesses such as Lidl Great Britain Limited among her clients.

At Switalskis, Claire will work with the senior team, Abigail Mitchell and Andrew Lawson, to expand and develop the firm’s commercial property department. The Switalskis team acts for regional and national clients in the construction, retail, office, industrial and leisure sectors, including restaurant chain Nando’s.

Group managing director John Durkan said: “Claire’s arrival will strengthen the firm’s commercial property offering and pave the way for growth in this specialist area of law.

“Within our strategic plans for the business we have identified a number of areas where we see scope to grow. Commercial property is one such area, and I have no doubt that adding Claire’s expertise, ambition and drive to the firm will add depth to our current offering and help us achieve the growth we are looking for.”

“There is a lot of energy across the group and a keenness to grow – both of which are very appealing to me.

“I also see huge value in having back office compliance and administrative support from the team at Switalskis, which will free up more of my time to do what I do best and enjoy most: looking after clients and developing the commercial property department within the firm.”

Shannen Riley, Maariyah Akram, iSource Group

iSource Group, the recruitment specialist based in Leeds, has appointed Shannen Riley and Maariyah Akram as delivery consultants to support the work that the company delivers to clients throughout the UK and across Europe.

Taking the opportunity to embrace a change in career, Shannen, formerly a Civilian Public Protection Officer within Adult Safeguarding for West Yorkshire Police and Criminology graduate, will transfer her skills, sourcing candidates for a variety of clients.

Previously a sales advisor at Sky, Maariyah is entering the recruitment sector for the first time and is looking forward to speaking with candidates and working with them to find the roles that they are looking for.

Shannen said: “This is a great career move for me. I’m so pleased to be in a position that offers me the chance to build and develop my skills. The team have been really friendly and I’m looking forward to learning more from them as I settle in.”

Maariyah commented: “This is a completely new career path for me, which is nerve-wracking but in a good way. As well as bringing the skills from my previous role, I will also take this opportunity to learn from others. It’s already clear that the team are willing to help new starters, which makes the process of onboarding so much simpler.”

Managing director of iSource Group, Geoff Shepherd comments: “I would like to welcome Shannen and Maariyah to the team. It’s great to have people join us that want to explore a career in recruitment and that are so eager to learn.

“With two further Delivery Consultants it provides us with the capacity we need to meet with client demand, which is growing every day. There’s one thing for sure, our new recruits won’t have time to get bored!”