Organisations with operations around Wales have made a host of top hires and promotions in the last month. In our latest jobs round-up, we take a look at some of those who have taken on new roles.
If you have a new or recent appointment or promotion that you would like featured in our next round up, please email lauren.phillips@reachplc.com .
Active Travel Board
The Active Travel Board for Wales has appointed five new independent members.
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These are professor of transport and health Alan Tapp, Shropshire School travel plan coordinator Rhiannon Letman, Wales lead officer for Cycling 海角视频 Gwenda Owen, director of RTPI Cymru Roisin Willmott, and campaigns officer for RNIB Wales Kirsty James.
Chaired by Dafydd Trystan Davies, the Active Travel Board was reconstituted in 2022 to support the delivery of the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013.
Deputy Minister for Climate Change and Transport Lee Waters said: “The ambition we have set ourselves for increasing levels of walking and cycling is testing and will not only require a change in approach but a change in culture. We have refocused the board to give it greater independence and a stronger licence to challenge to help us make this leap. We won’t achieve our climate change targets without it”.
Mr Davies said: “With a remit from the Welsh Government to advise on the development and implementation of the Active Travel Action Plan, we are focussed on working with our delivery partners to change the way that we travel in Wales.”
Afan Lodge Hotel
Afan Lodge Hotel, owned by the Pen-y-Cymoedd Community Interest Company in the Afan Valley, has appointed Simon Bevan general manager.
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Mr Bevan has worked in the hospitality industry both in the 海角视频 and abroad, including in France, Jamaica, Lithuania and Houston, Texas. He has since managed leisure facilities in the 海角视频 including Gala Bingo and Bowlplex complexes.
Mr Bevan said: “I’m very happy to be a part of the Welsh community once again and especially pleased to be leading the growth of Afan Lodge as a hotel, bar and restaurant. I’m excited to help it grow and to further embed it within our community.”
Director Paula Marsh said: “PyC CIC continually works to ensure that Afan Lodge continues to develop as a prime tourism destination, that it adds economic value, and continues to be an important employer within the Afan Valley. Simon’s appointment is the next step in this strategic aim for the hotel, and we are delighted to welcome him.”
Blake Morgan
Blake Morgan has made seventeen promotions at its Cardiff office. The law firm has appointed Tomos Lewis, Kate Howell and Tina Whitman to legal directors while Rhiannon Peploe-Williams has been promoted to senior associate.
Rhian Davies, Natalie Taylor, Emma Gardner, Jonathan Williams and Steve Parish have been promoted to associate. Sophie Latham and Holly Spencer-Briggs have become senior solicitors and Kevin Barrow has been promoted to case manager. Sam Bevan, Shinto Paulose, Catrin Wehden, Emma Bilton, and Sara Powell have all been promoted to senior paralegal.
Eve Piffaretti, partner and head of the Cardiff office, said: “We are delighted to recognise our team members' hard work and achievements with these well-deserved promotions. Their contributions have been invaluable to our clients and our firm's success.”
Bouygues 海角视频
Bouygues 海角视频 has appointed Katie Hathaway as head of social value for Wales and the south west of England. She was previously head of business engagement and communication at the 海角视频’s first construction skills accelerator. In her new role, she will lead the engineering construction firm’s social value team with a focus on raising its profile across the region.
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Managing director for Wales and the south West of England John Boughton said: “We are thrilled to welcome Katie to the Bouygues 海角视频 team, and I’m sure she will be a real asset to the company. She brings with her a wealth of experience within the construction industry and I’ve no doubt her enthusiasm for the role will ensure she gets great results.”
Deloitte
Six employees have been promoted to the role of director at accountancy firm Deloitte’s Welsh division. The six directors are James Bartlett and Clare Skivens in audit and assurance, Matt Alps and Meg Watt in tax and legal, Nicola Moorcroft in risk advisory and Cen Thomas in financial advisory.
Deloitte senior partner for Wales Ian Howse said: “This is a phenomenal achievement for these new directors. I am delighted that so many of our 1700 people in Wales are achieving their ambitions and at the same time continuing to serve our amazing client base locally and globally.”
GCRE
The Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) has appointed Rob Forde as the project’s new director of strategy and skills. Mr Forde will work with clients, academics and industry partners to speed up research and development cycles at the new rail innovation facility currently being built in South Wales.
He was previously part of Network Rail’s research and development team, where he helped secure a six-fold increase in the budget for CP6.
GCRE chief executive Simon Jones said: “To be a success, GCRE will need to develop a long-term pipeline of skills, working with schools, universities, colleges and the industry to ensure that both GCRE and its clients have access to the talented people it needs to support the high-quality research and innovation work we will do on site.
“Building that pipeline of skills and, in particular, ensuring that people living near to the site can benefit from the jobs and skills we will be offering is one of the most important things Rob will be working on.
“This is a new role that we have created and reflects the vital importance that we attach to making sure that the infrastructure that supports our new facility is strong.”
GS Verde Group
Corporate advisory firm GS Verde Group has promoted Lorna Bolton to group director and to its executive board. An experienced commercial and IP lawyer with a background in the aviation sector, Ms Bolton joined the business several years ago as senior solicitor before working her way up to the law board.
Chief operating officer Rhian Osborne said: “We are delighted to welcome Lorna to the executive board. Developing and promoting people from within is a core value of the business, and I am pleased to see Lorna’s exceptional talent and hard work rewarded, and pleased the board will benefit from her appointment”.
Hospital Innovations
Pontyclun-based Hospital Innovations, which supplies human tissue and surgical equipment, has appointed Rachel McClure as medical education manager.
Ms McClure previously worked for medical technology company Zimmer Biomet for over 18 years. In her new role, she is responsible for developing and leading external and internal training, as well as supporting the company’s marketing function.
Managing director Sarah Lister-Sims said: “Rachel is already bringing a fresh perspective and dynamic leadership to our educational initiatives. She brings with her a wealth of expertise and will be pivotal in driving the development and implementation of our comprehensive educational programmes.”
Former Cardiff Blues and Newport Gwent Dragons’ fly-half Nick Macleod has also been appointed marketing manager.
Iechyd Da
Aberystwyth-based veterinary services company Iechyd Da has appointed George Roberts (Hafren Veterinary Group, Newtown), Jim Hopkins (Steffan Veterinary Services Ltd, Lampeter), Stephen Davies (Prostock Vets Ltd, Carmarthen), and Nikki Hopkins MRCVS to its board of directors.
While chair Robert Morgan will retire after seven years in the role. A new chair will be announced in the autumn.
Kilsby Williams
Newport-based tax and accountancy firm Kilsby Williams has appointed Huw Sheppard as associate who will work with the senior management team to provide accountancy, business and tax advice to clients.
A qualified chartered accountant, Mr Sheppard has experience in senior management and advisory roles both within industry and practice, including at multinational head offices and as an outsourced finance director for a number of clients.
Managing partner Simon Tee said: “We have been following Huw’s career over a number of years and we are delighted to finally secure him into our team. He has a range of high level skills which perfectly compliment what we deliver to our clients. This appointment makes our business stronger, allowing us to keep attracting the best clients and developing our team.”
Lexington Corporate Finance
Cardiff-based Lexington Corporate Finance has appointed a new executive following a record-breaking year for the firm that saw it complete over £200m transactions.
Evan Norvill joins the firm from Deloitte, where he worked for four years working with listed and large private-equity backed clients. His new role will see Mr Norvill advise businesses looking to buy and sell, as well as work on growth capital deals.
Managing director Gary Partridge said: “Coming from one of the big four accountancy firms, Evan has a wealth of experience of working with a diverse range of companies to extremely tight deadlines. He has also built up a host of strong connections across the business arena, and we are delighted to have him join our growing team of experts.”
Menzies LLP
Accountancy firm Menzies LLP has promoted Rachel Lai to a partner. Ms Lai is a business recovery specialist at the firm’s Cardiff office. As well as acting as an office holder in formal insolvency proceedings including liquidations, administrations and bankruptcies, Ms Lai advises businesses on how to manage creditor issues and debt recovery.
Simon Massey, managing partner at Menzies LLP, said: “I am delighted to announce that Rachel Lai has been promoted to the partnership. Both are extremely well deserved and reflect our continued growth as a thriving mid-tier accountancy firm and investment in talent.”
MotoNovo Finance
Cardiff-based motor finance firm MotoNovo, which is part of Aldermore Bank, has expanded its senior leadership team with the appointments of Leanne Christmas as conduct and business risk director, Alice Sweet as product and proposition director, and James Gearey as interim commercial and performance director.
The three roles have been newly created and they will report to the recently appointed managing director, Richard Jones, to help develop the firm’s new business strategy.
Mr Jones said: “I am delighted to welcome three new members to my Executive team, who bring considerable capability and expertise to help drive our business forward.
“These are exciting times for MotoNovo Finance as we embrace an era of unprecedented change in the motor industry and I am confident we now have the right team in place to help our business embrace the challenges and opportunities that present themselves.”
Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice
Cardiff-based Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice, has promoted Sam John to director, Bethan Tapper to associate, and Chloe Sparkes to trainee solicitor.
Mr John, joined the firm in 2015 before qualifying as a solicitor in 2017, while Ms Tapper qualified as a solicitor in 2020 and is a committee member of the Junior Law Division (Cardiff and south east Wales). Ms Sparkes,a graduate of Swansea University, joined the practice in 2022.
Founding director Melanie Hamer said: “These promotions of very talented lawyers will help secure our reputation as the leading family law firm in Wales and provide continuity and security for the firm for years to come.”
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