People on the move: 21 top North West appointments you should not miss

Firms across Liverpool, Manchester and the wider North West have announced a whole host of top hires over the past week.

Since our last BusinessLive roundup, organisations in sectors from legal to marketing to finance have made a series of moves as the region's economy continues to bounce back from the pandemic.

If you have a new or recent appointment or promotion you'd like featured in our next roundup, please email jon.robinson@reachplc.com.

Here, BusinessLive runs through the 21 North West appointments from the last week that you shouldn't miss:

North West Business Leadership Team

The board of the North West Business Leadership Team (NWBLT) has announced that Juergen Maier CBE has been recognised as honorary life president.

Mr Maier joins Sir Alan Cockshaw and Neville Chamberlain CBE, who already hold the title.

NWBLT chairman Jonathan Murphy said: “Juergen served as North West Business Leadership Team Chairman for six years from 2012 to 2018 and continues to work with us to champion responsible business leadership and collaborate to make a difference.

“I am proud that Juergen has accepted this title that recognises the outstanding contribution he has had made, and continues to make, to the work of the NWBLT and to the economy and communities across the region.”

Mr Maier said: “I feel honoured to be invited to join the highly regarded North West Business Leadership Team in this capacity, and in that way play my part in helping the team have influence and maximise the value business creates for society.”

Jonathan Murphy also announced that Paul Corcoran, Deputy Chair of the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and Founder and CEO of Agent has joined the team.

Mr Corcoran said: “I’m exceptionally proud to have been invited to join the brilliant NWBLT team. NWBLT has an incredible track record of making great things happen and I’m really looking forward to playing my part in the next part of this story."

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Express Solicitors

Clinical negligence partner Carol Brooks-Johnson and new in-house barrister Garreth Duggan have been appointed by Manchester-based personal injury law firm Express Solicitors.

The pair are just two of 162 new appointments made by the firm from September 2020 to August 2021.

Ms Brooks-Johnson joins Express Solicitors as head of clinical negligence and heads up a busy department of nine, including three Associates.

Express Solicitor’s second in-house barrister Mr Duggan joins in-house barrister and partner Nyssa Crorie in the firm’s advocacy department, which now has a team of five employees with further growth planned.

Express Solicitors’ managing partner, James Maxey said: “It’s been a busy year for our HR and training departments, who’ve worked hard during lockdown to recruit, onboard and train the talent we need at the firm to offer a first-class service to our clients and to help us continue to grow.

“We’re delighted to have Carol on board; she has over 25 years’ clinical negligence experience and will undoubtedly lead the department with great skill and expertise.

"In addition, Garreth will really bolster our advocacy department, which we grew after the success of bringing in our first in-house barrister. We’ve found the team has won many cases that other barristers turned down, so it is proving to be of real benefit to our clients.”

NorthInvest

Investment non-profit NorthInvest has appointed senior business leader Jordan Dargue to its board of directors.

Operating across the investment, finance and business growth landscape, Ms Dargue's "significant entrepreneurial experience" combined with her passion for the Northern SME economy will help drive NorthInvest’s strategic direction at a key time for the organisation.

She said: “Being asked to join the NorthInvest Board of Directors is an exciting opportunity and has come at a pivotal time for NorthInvest and for myself as I take on a more active role in developing and delivering the NorthInvest strategy.

“Over the last two years, NorthInvest has grown and developed as a strong organisation developing the right foundations for the early stage investment landscape, supporting many of the Northern key sectors and entrepreneurs. I’m excited to be working with our highly-experienced Board to support the further development of the Northern funding ecosystem.”

438 Marketing

438 Marketing has promoted Helenka Hodnett to managing director after a 14-year career with the agency which has seen her play a "pivotal role" in securing major clients and business growth.

Ms Hodnett joined 438 in 2007 as a graduate recruit and has risen through the ranks to be promoted from the role of client services director to take the helm at the Cheshire agency.

She will work alongside 438’s founders Andy Whitmore and Paul Keen who remain in the business and who will be focusing on business strategy and driving new opportunities for the agency.

She said: “I live and breathe 438 – I’ve been here for 14 years - and have loved being part of such an entrepreneurial business.

"My appointment to the role of managing director is a huge privilege and fantastic opportunity.

"As we undergo a period of growth and expansion, now is the right time to build on the strong foundations already in place to make the business even better. Driving this change sensitively - maintaining the fabric of our culture which is so instrumental to our success - is something that I am hugely passionate about.”

Exchange Chambers

Exchange Chambers has continued its fast-paced expansion with the arrival of Richard McLean as a new member in Liverpool

Mr McLean, who was called to the Bar in 2011, joins Exchange from 1 Chancery Lane, London. He specialises in employment and personal injury.

Mr McLean acts for a wide range of clients including businesses, individuals, trade unions, and public sector organisations. He frequently acts for both claimants and respondents in multi-day cases in the Employment Tribunal/EAT, and cases across the fast and multi-tracks.

He said: "I am delighted to be joining Exchange Chambers, with its dominant position across the North of England and nationwide reputation for excellence. I'm extremely pleased to be joining such a classy, professional and forward-looking outfit, with undoubted strength in my practice areas.”

Liverpool Council

Liverpool Council is set to welcome a new city solicitor.

Daniel Fenwick is joining the council at the end of the year, following six years as the director of legal and governance at the London Boroughs of Newham and Havering.

Mr Fenwick replaces the outgoing city solicitor and monitoring officer, Jeanette McLoughlin, who stepped down from the role of City Solicitor earlier this year.

He said: “I am excited and privileged to be joining Liverpool City Council at this important time.

“I will do everything I can to help deliver the ambitious programme of improvements in governance across the council.

“I know Liverpool is a city that has not stood still in recent years. Despite the challenges it faced, it is very much looking to the future with a strong plan in place to become a fairer city with more equal opportunities for its residents.

Hyatt Regency and Hyatt House Manchester

Helen Hipkiss has been appointed as marketing and communications manager for Hyatt Regency and Hyatt House Manchester.

After ten years with Marketing Manchester and 17 years at Manchester’s Lowry Hotel, she brings with her an "almost unrivalled" upscale Manchester hotel marketing experience - and a "truly deep knowledge of Manchester as a destination".

Hyatt Regency and Hyatt House Manchester have also announced the appointment of Laura Benefer as their groups and events sales manager. She brings with her more than 14 years’ experience within the North West hospitality and events industry. They will both report directly into Jodi Hinks who was appointed as director of commercial strategy in February 2021.

Ms Hinks said: “Behind a great hotel delivering exceptional customer and client service you will find outstanding team players; and for that very reason, I am thrilled to welcome Helen Hipkiss and Laura Benefer to the Hyatt Regency and Hyatt House Manchester team.

"They bring with them unrelenting enthusiasm, dedication and experience, and will help to firmly secure Hyatt Regency and Hyatt House Manchester hotels as the preeminent upscale choice for leisure and business travellers to Manchester.”

Payl8r

Manchester’s millennial buy now, pay later finance firm Payl8r is building a new in-house creative team and has appointed Stephen Bagshaw as creative director and Chris Pullan as head of marketing.

It's in a bid to reach its ambitious growth plans of being a £1bn turnover fintech business in the next five years.

Mr Bagshaw said: He said: “Joining Payl8r was a no brainer for me, as I’ve been given total autonomy to take the brand forward by a brilliant senior management team who trust in me. I already know where we need to go and am in the process of making big changes; the impact I could make on the business was too good to turn down.”

Mr Pullan added: “I’m absolutely delighted to have joined Payl8r at the beginning of an exciting period of growth and expansion.

"Coming from a fin-tech background, I hope to make a big contribution to Payl8r’s plans to be the go-to brand go to for buy now, pay later finance."

Total Processing

Manchester-headquartered payments fintech Total Processing has made three key new additions to its team, with the appointment of Phil Astall as COO, Harry Luscombe as commercial director and Jonathan McGee as finance manager.

Previously a global senior director at travel company Expedia, Mr Astall joins with extensive experience in delivering improvements to business performance.

Bringing over 10 years of experience across sales, marketing and operations, Mr Luscombe joins Total Processing from SaaS platform company Mercarto. Mr McGee joins the business following over six years with leading payments company Worldpay, as an accounting manager.

Mr Astall said: “It’s fair to say a lot of people have been taking notice of Total Processing, it’s gone from a small Manchester start-up to a global fintech in the space of just four years, thanks to its advanced payments platform, exceptional customer support and partner ecosystem. I’m thrilled with the opportunity to play a part in its growth journey and proud to be a part of this exceptionally hard working and knowledgeable team.”

O'Donnell Solicitors

Saddleworth based O’Donnell Solicitors has added to its team with the appointment of senior litigator, Christopher MacCafferty.

Mr MacCafferty, a well-respected litigator of over 18 years and an accredited mediator, will join the firm’s existing litigation team.

He previously held a role of equity partner and head of litigation at a regional legal 200 firm, and said: "I have been keenly watching the development of O’Donnell Solicitors over the past five years.

"They have enjoyed exceptional growth and are attracting a great calibre of solicitors to their team. With roots in Oldham, joining the firm seemed like the perfect fit.”

Turley

Planning and development consultancy Turley has strengthened its sustainability team with the appointment of Barny Evans as director, Svetlana Cronin as a senior consultant and Millie Brill as a consultant.

The 18-strong team, which works with clients such as institutional investors and major blue chip development companies, helps firms advance their approach to delivering net zero buildings and ESG strategies.

The appointments signify a period of growth for Turley’s sustainability team and a continued investment in the service to ensure full coverage across the ��Ƶ to help meet clients’ environmental agendas.

Colin Morrison, senior director, sustainability, said: “When I joined Turley 11 years ago to establish the Sustainability team I always believed there was a fantastic opportunity to grow a market leading team and I have been proved right.

"We are now able to attract the calibre of individuals such as Barny, Svetlana and Millie and I look forward to supporting the team in the next phase of our strategic growth plans.”

Aticus Law

North West law firm Aticus Law has boosted its private client services offering in the region with the appointment of Victoria Richardson as its new head of family law.

With offices in Wilmslow, Manchester and Oldham, Ms Richardson brings more than 23 years’ experience to the role, having progressed through the ranks of multiple nationally accredited law firms.

She joins from McHale & Co where she was a family law partner.

She said: “I am delighted to be joining the Aticus team following what has been an extremely busy period for the firm.

“While the last year or so has been extremely challenging for many businesses, Aticus has a truly impressive, forward-thinking approach to delivering its services online so that people can continue to access the support they need when they need it.

“That, coupled with the family law team’s fantastic reputation for providing expert advice that brings about the very best outcomes for its clients – many of whom are experiencing a very difficult time in their lives – makes this an ideal fit for my values and approach to law.”

Beever and Struthers

Michael Tourville has been promoted to partner at Manchester-based accountants and business advisors Beever and Struthers within the firm’s social housing and not-for-profit sector team.

Mr Tourville joined Beever and Struthers as an audit trainee in 2008 and was appointed as an audit director in 2018.

Based in Beever and Struthers' London office at 15 Bunhill Row EC1, he provides a range of assurance services including external audit, internal audit, and consulting. He is also a specialist in service charges and leads the firm's
service charges certification and advisory work across the ��Ƶ.

He said: “I’m delighted to be a part of a dynamic firm. I’m proud to work with such a dedicated and professional team able to deliver such outstanding client service resulting in a huge range of new opportunities for the firm”.

Nugent

Independent charity Nugent has today announced a new addition to its all-female leadership team to drive forward its ambitions to transform and raise standards across the care sector.

At its annual leadership summit last week, the Liverpool-based charity's CEO Normandie Wragg welcomed Sarah Dimmelow as its new chief operating officer.

She joins Nugent from Polaris Children’s Services where she was managing director, and brings with her over eight years' experience at executive level. She will act as the organisation's executive lead for safeguarding.

She said: "I am very excited to be joining Nugent. Having spent time with the trustees and leadership team recently, two things really stood out. First, values drive the work of the organisation.

"How we treat others and how we behave as individuals defines our impact and our success. Second, the quality of services is paramount. Keeping children and adults safe, secure and able to reach their full potential defines not just our purpose as an organisation but our professional identity. As someone who shares these priorities, I am keen to join and support Nugent’s journey."