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A prominent Liverpool director invited by the º£½ÇÊÓƵ Government to become an export champion for the Northern Powerhouse is among the big appointments from the city region.

Despite business in the area over the past weeks having been severely disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak, various announcements about top appointments have been made by firms.

Here are 11 of them that you may have missed:

Paul Kallee-Grover

Paul Kallee-Grover, Liverpool-based director at Avison Young, has been invited by the º£½ÇÊÓƵ Government’s Department for International Trade (DIT) to be an export champion for the Northern Powerhouse for 2020.

The move means Avison Young will be joining other leading businesses already working with the DIT to help promote the government’s message to businesses thinking of trading globally.

Paul said: “It is a huge honour to be invited to be an export champion for the Northern Powerhouse. I am confident that I will bring to this voluntary role a wealth of exporting expertise in the selling of services to global markets. I look forward to working with those businesses looking at exporting for the first time, as well as supporting our clients and partners contemplating new markets.

“At this difficult time for global business we must look to reinforce our networks, explore new ways of communication and look at how we can support one another to ensure our businesses come out stronger and ready to trade successfully in the future.�

Sarah Gazzola

Prescot-based composite insulated panels maker Hemsec has appointed Sarah Gazzola as its new sales manager.

The family business, which created one of the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's first insulated cabinets in 1928, said the move demonstrated its "appetite for further growth", with Sarah's role to ensure the company meets the needs of customers and prospective customers.

Sarah said: “I really enjoy customer facing roles, learning about different types of businesses and finding out how they use our products and services. Many of our customers have worked with us for several years and it is my responsibility to listen, learn and respond to their changing requirements."

Daniel Turner

Business adviser firm Grant Thornton has appointed Daniel Turner as the new director of its forensic and investigation services (FIS) team.

Daniel Turner will be based in the firm’s Manchester office, heading a team of 12 across the North, covering Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds.

Daniel has over 17 years of experience in accounting with a particular focus on disputes and investigations. He joins from FTI Consulting, where he worked for over two years as a managing director based in Dubai.

Andrew Ruffler

Professional Liverpool, the membership organisation representing the professional and business services sector across the Liverpool City Region, has appointed Andrew Ruffler as its new chief executive.

The appointment comes as the incumbent chief executive, John Hall, steps down after a nine-year tenure, during which time membership at the organisation grew from 60 to almost 500 businesses. Andrew joined the organisation on March 16, and will officially start his new role on April 1.

Former regional director at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) North West, Andrew joins Professional Liverpool from a consultancy role at Wirral-based architecture practice, ArchitectFolk.

Stephnie Judge

A woman who only joined leading bathroom retailer Victorian Plumbing as a personal assistant in 2013 has just been promoted to managing director.

Stephnie Judge has taken over the role from current MD Mark Radcliffe, founder and owner of the firm.

According to the firm, which in January revealed its profits had soared in 2019 by almost 200%, said in a sector "dominated by male leaders", Stephnie's appointment is a "welcome change" to the industry.

Andrew Briggs

Newton-le-Willows-based Speedy has appointed Andrew Briggs as managing director to lead its powered access business following a £52m investment programme in its º£½ÇÊÓƵ offering.

Andrew, who joined the tool and equipment hire provider last July as operations director, will focus on growing the powered access business and enhancing the firm’s range of products and equipment.

The move follows the acquisitions of regional powered access firms Prolift, Platform Sales and Lifterz over the last two years, alongside investment in the company’s range of scissor and boom lifts.

The business provides powered access solutions to customers across the º£½ÇÊÓƵ and Ireland, with a fleet now totalling more than 8,500 units.

Emma Charnock

Provenio has appointed Emma Charnock as a senior litigator.

The boutique litigation firm welcomes Emma after she spent seven years at DLA Piper's Liverpool office.

Provenio, formerly known as Fortuna Law, said Emma has extensive experience advising clients in respect of complex high value commercial disputes across a wide range of sectors.

Speaking about her decision to join Provenio, Emma, who is also chair of Merseyside Young Professionals said: “I am delighted to join such a high-quality team and look forward to helping build the firm in the local market and beyond. The prospect of working on such complex, high value disputes whilst also helping to develop a new business was one which does not come along very often and represented an opportunity unlike any other in the market.�

Andrew Craig

Andrew Craig has joined Redrow Homes at Daresbury as construction director.

The move comes after nearly eight years with Taylor Wimpey - almost seven of them in charge of build as production director.

He has worked his way from apprentice carpenter to director during his career, and at Redrow will head up a team of four area construction managers, four project managers, 15 site managers, 20 assistant site managers, trade apprentices and various support staff, between them responsible for output at around a dozen developments across Cheshire, parts of Merseyside and North East Wales.

Barry Fletcher

Career Connect has appointed Barry Fletcher as its new CEO and successor to Kieran Gordon, who retires after 19 years leading the organisation.

He joins the organisation following a 15-year career at Ingeus, most recently as managing director leading their business in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ.

He also holds trustee positions with the Future Youth Zone charity, part of the Onside network, and is vice chair of Headlines, a specialist health charity.

Barry said: “I am delighted to be joining an amazing Charity with a superb team at a key time in its development. I am looking forward to continuing the delivery of excellent career services to young people and adults and its education, training and employment services to offenders, while exploring new opportunities to grow and develop the impact of the charity.�

Giles Coulson

Hotter has appointed Giles Coulson as its first head of product development and research with the remit of revolutionising the brand’s comfort DNA.

Ian Watson, CEO of the Skelmersdale-based footwear company, said: “Giles is a key appointment to our product team, his exceptional international shoe making experience is integral to our plan to move products forward at speed.

“Giles has been with us for just three weeks and has already implemented a raft of new product developments; I’m certain he is going catapult our comfort DNA to the next level.�

Peter Marsden

Property development and real estate lawyer Peter Marsden has joined national, new-model firm Excello Law in the North West, from his role as legal director and board director at Harrow Estates plc.

As well as acquiring land for immediate development, Peter’s experience includes the acquisition of strategic land including options, promotion agreements and hybrid arrangements together with collaborative working where sites are shared.

Peter said: “Excello Law provides me with a platform to provide a more personalised and agile service to developers, housebuilders and landowners alike. I am excited to have joined a firm with such a progressive and modern approach to the delivery of legal services.�