Firms from across the North West have made a series of major hires over the past week.
Companies based in Liverpool, Manchester and further afield and in sectors from tech to logistics are among those to have announced new recruits since our last roundup.
If you have a new or recent appointment or promotion you'd like featured in our next roundup, please email tom.houghton@reachplc.com.
READ MORE: 'Things heading in right direction' for Stanlow oil refinery despite reports of 'imminent demise'
Here, BusinessLive runs through the 20 North West appointments from the last week that you shouldn't miss:
Your Flock
The managing director of digital media agency Social Chain has joined the board of a Manchester-based remote working technology start-up which recently secured a six-figure investment.
Katy Leeson has become the latest board appointment of Your Flock as the company enters its most intensive round of product development and growth so far.
Based in Manchester, Your Flock's customers include the BBC and Virgin and the business received £240,000 from GC Angels and a private investor in July.
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The MD is the latest addition to the Your Flock board that has recently added Tom Auld, David Levine and Jess Jackson.
They join original board members, Sandy Lindsay MBE and Laura McGowan.
Katy Leeson has been MD of Social Chain for five years and has overseen one of the largest growth periods in the company's history.
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CBRE
CBRE has appointed Mike Pochin as associate director of investment properties in its market leading Manchester team.
Mr Pochin joins from Knight Frank where he was associate in the Manchester Capital Markets team.
After seven years at Knight Frank, he is an established advisor in the investment market specialising in both the industrial and office sectors.
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He added: "After seven enjoyable years at Knight Frank, I am delighted to be joining CBRE's market leading team in Manchester.
"The team has established an enviable track record for advising on the most high profile transactions in the region and I look forward to working with the team to build upon this success."
FANoty
A Liverpool tech entrepreneur has brought football legend Gary Lineker on board as a business partner and brand ambassador in a move he described as a "blessing".
Dijon Moore and his football fan app FANoty have landed one of the world's best-known football figures - and said this week there "wasn't a better ambassador for the brand".
Mr Moore's app is going from strength to strength - and he told BusinessLive in May he had launched talks with a list of Premier League and Championship clubs over lucrative agreements - and becoming a front and back-of-shirt sponsor for a top club.
PWA Planning
North West planning consultancy PWA Planning has expanded its team with the appointment of Alex Hinchly.
She has joined the Preston-based firm as an assistant planner from housebuilder Castleoak where she was a development surveyor.
In her new role at PWA, Ms Hinchly will assist the team on town planning matters including pre-planning application statements, planning applications and appeals.
She has over nine years’ experience working in the property sector including roles with housebuilders Rowland Homes and Taylor Wimpey, supported living developer Mersten, and rural estate agency Armitstead Barnett.
She said: “I’m pleased to be joining a great team. The role will give me plenty of opportunity to advise housebuilders and developers, but I’m also looking forward to broadening my experience and working with PWA’s clients in the energy, commercial and sports sectors.”
She is studying towards a masters degree in urban planning at Sheffield Hallam University after obtaining a first class honours degree in property and real estate from the University of Salford.
TMC Strategic Communications
Creative agency Strategic Communications has appointed Ian Traynor as a non-executive director to accelerate its current business growth.
An experienced executive from corporate and SME businesses, Mr Traynor is a chartered director and fellow of the IoD.
He said: "TMC Creative is an agency built on very solid foundations and lives its values. This approach has led to consistent growth and many awards.
"Driving the over-arching strategy to rapidly scale-up the organisation, I will bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and insight through what will be a period of transformation for the Cheshire based creative marketing agency."
Co-op Power
The newly-appointed managing director of Co-op Power, Scott Etherington, has called for more co-operation to re-build the energy sector.
Mr Etherington replaces David Roberts as head of the largest energy buying group in the country, boasting over 70 members and over £200m of buying power per year.
Mr Etherington’s appointment comes as the energy market is experiencing a global escalation of gas and electricity prices. Gas levels in storage, replenished in summer for use over winter, are lower than usual for the time of year.
On Mr Etherington’s appointment, Jo Whitfield, Co-op Food CEO, said: “We’re really pleased to have Scott join Co-op Power and support our growth journey as we look to achieve the targets we set out earlier this year in our ten-point plan.
"Scott brings a wealth of knowledge and we’re confident that with Scott as our Managing Director, we’ll be able to promote ethical and sustainable practices that can help build the 海角视频’s renewable energy capacity and help tackle the global climate crisis. Whilst also delivering significant financial, environmental and social benefits to our Co-op Power members.”
B8 Real Estate
B8 Real Estate, the North’s leading industrial property agents, has expanded the lettings team with the appointment of Alex Perratt as surveyor.
Mr Perratt, who will primarily be covering the Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and West Lancashire areas, joins from CBRE in Manchester where he was part of the industrial and logistics property team.
An RICS-qualified Chartered Surveyor, he has eight years’ experience in property during which time he has worked with leading e-commerce and corporate occupiers as well as numerous landlord clients.
He said: “Having specialised in industrial and logistics property for the past few years, it was a natural progression to join B8 Real Estate, who are recognised as specialists in the field. The move will enable me to further develop my knowledge of the sector and the local market.”
No Brainer
PR, SEO and content marketing agency No Brainer has appointed three new members of staff.
Alexandra Hudson and Charlie Briegal have taken on the role of account executive while Michaela Leech has joined as office manager.
Ms Hudson has a background in the property industry. Whilst working at the firm, she is also currently undertaking a master’s in digital marketing and data analytics. Ms Briegal joins after completing an internship at the agency while studying languages at Newcastle University.
Ms Leech has over a decade's experience working in operations for businesses including ASDA and Byrne & Doherty Mortgage Specialists.
No Brainer co-founder and managing director, Gary Jenkins said: “This is a really exciting time for us all, as it’s fantastic to be growing our clients and our team.
“We’re proud to have so many talented people and delighted to welcome Alex, Charlie and Michaela to the team. It’s great to see them already rolling their sleeves up and getting stuck into life at No Brainer.
“We’re also proud to have the opportunity to work with four amazing new clients, all of which are doing fantastic things in their respective industries.”
PMD Business Finance
A North West independent business finance firm which operates across the 海角视频 has bolstered its structured finance team with a new senior appointment to support the company’s ongoing expansion.
John Platt has joined PMD Business Finance from NatWest’s Corporate Banking team, where he worked for 14 years, most recently as relationship director.
In his new role as structured finance director, Mr Platt will assist clients across the 海角视频 on all aspects of structured finance requirements including acquisitions, management buyouts and employee enterprise trusts.
He said: “I’m excited to be taking this step in my career, one which will allow me to be part of the story of one of the 海角视频’s most exciting independent finance providers. I’ve known the team at PMD for many years and am looking forward to using all of my experience to help PMD clients and introducers with both structured finance and property finance requirements.”
Azets
Regional accountancy and business advisors to SMEs Azets has appointed Jack Clitheroe to develop its forensic accounting offering in the North West.
Mr Clitheroe has joined the firm as a director from a ‘big four’ firm.
He will be based in Azets’ Manchester office, covering the firm’s six offices in the North West and said he has ambitious plans to grow the team locally over the next couple of years.
He said: “I’m excited to join Azets at a time when the business is undergoing a rapid expansion. I’m looking to grow the regional team as we’re seeing a rise in demand for competitively priced disputes and investigation services.”
The Snap Agency
Creative and digital marketing agency The Snap Agency, has appointed Barry Ryan as its first head of marketing.
Mr Ryan will lead The Snap Agency’s new marketing team, having previously held senior roles at Tactus Group and 3PL.
He will be tasked with growing the agency’s offering of digital strategy, SEO, PPC, paid social and content marketing, and will also be responsible for the management of the agency’s online presence.
He said: “In my previous role, I worked closely with The Snap Agency. I witnessed first-hand their level of creativity, passion, and dedication. Joining The Snap Agency as its first Head of Marketing is an exciting step for me, and I am confident that I can use my 11 years of industry experience to add real value to the company, and more importantly, to its growing list of clients.”
Clearwater International
Leading global mid-market corporate finance house Clearwater International has announced the appointment of Julian Brown as CEO, along with his addition to the firm’s international board of directors.
The appointment comes on the back of a record period of growth which saw the business complete more than 90 deals worth £7.6bn and grow by over 20% in the last six months.
Mr Brown takes over from Michael Reeves, who, having led Clearwater International as CEO since its inception almost seven years ago, has decided to focus on his role as 海角视频 managing partner and board member of the 海角视频 business.
Mr Brown spent 15 years at PwC building and running their corporate finance businesses in Spain, Canada and latterly the USA, as well as sitting on the Global Corporate Finance Board with responsibility for North and South America.
He said: “Clearwater International is a business that has grown into an established, trusted and well-known brand across Europe in a relatively short space of time. I am both honoured and humbled that the partners have entrusted me with the exciting role of driving the business further forward.
“The partners in this business are outstanding entrepreneurs and business people in their own right, and this resonates strongly with our clients. My role as CEO is to work with this amazing pool of talent to help them realise their full combined potential as a business.
“I have spent the Summer months travelling to meet partners and staff around the business and am excited not only by the quality, energy, dedication and professionalism of our people but also by the client-centric culture of the firm.”
Quantuma
Business advisory firm Quantuma has established a new eDiscovery service to meet increased demand for electronic investigations from the legal sector.
Quantuma’s eDiscovery team is headed up by newly-appointed director of eDiscovery Ben Hammerton, and will be an extension of the firm’s forensic accounting and investigations arm.
Mr Hammerton has over 12 years’ experience in providing professional services in the field of litigation, arbitration, and regulatory investigations, as well as managing dozens of eDiscovery projects from initial data collection, through processing and review, along to successful court production.
He said: “The growth of eDiscovery has dramatically increased, even throughout the pandemic, with clients far more comfortable in the use of technology to save time, and importantly money, when dealing with legal disputes. Quantuma is in a unique position due to their service range and office locations, and so establishing this extension of its popular forensic accounting arm, I am excited to be onboard and helping to drive that journey in the coming months and years.”
BIG Partnership
海角视频 marketing and communications agency BIG Partnership has appointed Rob McCann as head of its Manchester office as it plans to ramp up investment in the North of England.
Mr McCann joins the 95-strong agency as a board director and will work closely with BIG’s existing board to drive forward the agency’s ambitious growth plans across the 海角视频.
Mr McCann said: “I’ve been keeping an eye on BIG’s Manchester office for a few years now. From a standing start, it’s grown to become one of the 海角视频’s largest independent agencies and one of only a few who can truly boast a full-service offering to its clients.
"Once I learned of its plans to significantly ramp up its base in the city, I jumped at the chance to become a part of that journey."
Today Team
A Manchester-based logistics entrepreneur and ex-professional rugby league star has announced two new senior appointments following an unprecedented 35% growth in turnover during the pandemic.
The latest appointments are logistics team manager Mark Hurd and marketing manager Sian Page.
Jamie Boyd, 40, founder and managing director of Today Team, has also taken on new full-time apprentice Adam Aspinall, increasing the same-day courier service’s workforce by 20%.
The recruitment drive coincides with the firm turning ‘Sweet 16’.
“It has been a long journey – both on and off the road – to get to where we are today, and I am grateful to all our colleagues, customers and supporters over the last 16 years,” said former Warrington Wolves winger Mr Boyd, who lives in Castlefield.
“I would especially like to thank The Prince’s Trust, who gave me a helping hand when a knee injury ended my professional rugby league career aged 24. I used a £3,000 loan from the Trust to rent a van and put some fuel in it. Since 2005, I have turned my one-man courier service into a seven-figure venture that serves customers based across Manchester city centre and Trafford Park, as well as all corners of the 海角视频.”
Sharks Community Trust
Sharks Community Trust has announced the appointment of former MBNA and Homeserve executive board director John Greaves as its new chair of trustees.
Wirral-based Mr Greaves, who has a long association with Sale Sharks dating back to his time leading MBNA’s sponsorship of the club, originally joined the board of trustees in January 2016.
He will take over as chair from Jonny Acheson, who had remained involved with the board of trustees after stepping down as the Trust’s Executive Director in 2018.
He said: “I’m thrilled to be appointed as chair of the Sharks Community Trust. As a long-time Sharks fan and former commercial partner of the club, as well as being a Trust board member for a number of years, being asked to help guide the Trust through the next stage of its journey is a real honour.
“The trust is committed to using the power of our sport, rugby union, to change lives across the North West for the better."
Williamson & Croft LLP
Manchester and Liverpool-based accountancy & tax firm Williamson & Croft LLP (W&C) has appointed a new business development director and head of marketing, Jack Burnett.
Mr Burnett has joined W&C having previously worked with one of Yorkshire’s largest accountancy groups, having supported their growth over several years to become a 海角视频 top 100 firm.
He will be also overseeing recruitment and strategic acquisitions for the firm following an "excellent period" of growth for the practice.