The loans and car finance business of Wales’ only FTSE 100 firm Admiral has appointed a new chief executive. Emma Powell has taken up the role with Admiral Money, stepping up from her current position of chief risk officer -subject to regulatory approval).
Departing chief executive Scott Cargill, is moving into Admiral Group’s Ƶ insurance business as its household, pet and travel director.
Ms Powell joined Admiral Money in 2016 and has been part of Admiral Money’s executive team for almost nine years, with a key role in driving its continued profitability and evolving its multi-product offering.
Milena Mondini de Focatiis, chief executive of Admiral Group, said, “It’s fantastic to see Emma step into this role as chief executive of Admiral Money as Scott moves to oversee our Ƶ insurance business’ household, pet and travel areas. It’s another great example of strong internal mobility that we have always embraced at Admiral Group, and I know both Emma and Scott’s vast experience and expertise will bring a positive impact to our customer offerings.”
Ms Powell said: “I’m truly excited to take the reigns from Scott and continue to build on the success of Admiral Money. As a founding member, working closely with Scott for almost nine years, I look forward to working with the team as we further enhance our customer offerings in the future.”
Admiral launched Admiral Money launched in 2017 offers unsecured personal loans and car finance. It has 155,000 customers in the Ƶ.
Design Commission for Wales
The Design Commission for Wales (DCFW), which was set up by the Welsh Government in 2001 as a national body for the promotion of design excellence in the built environment, has four new board members.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, has appointed Zaynub Akbar, Barny Evans, Simon Jones and Simon Power. They join Jon James, Cora Kwiatkowski, Mike Biddulph and Joanne Rees following their reappointed for four further years. It takes the number of commissioners from five to nine, including chair, Ewan Jones.
Ms Akbar, a former journalist from Cardiff, brings expertise in policy and public affairs within the sport sector and is an advocate for a built environment that is inclusive and promotes active lifestyles. An alumna of the Future Generations Leadership Academy, she also champions sustainable development, considering the long-term impact of our actions and protecting the planet for both current and future generations.
Mr Evans is a director at Turley in Cardiff, with a focus on sustainability and energy. He has over 20 years’ experience working in the built environment all over the world on new developments of all scales, from city strategies to technical advisory. He is also an advisor to a tech start-up, MapMortar, that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help decarbonise building portfolios. His passion is for understanding and communicating how the net zero transition can be successful from all perspectives.
Mr Jones is chief executive of the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) and a chartered engineer who has led major infrastructure initiatives in the private and public sectors. Cardiff-based, he was previously director of economic infrastructure at the Welsh Government, where he led on transport and telecommunications, following 20 years with Atkins, the international engineering consultancy. Mr Jones and his team have drawn upon DCFW’s client support service in the past to help attract design-led consultant teams.
Mr Power is a chartered town planner and environmentalist with 30 years’ experience in major infrastructure site design, consenting and assessments. His career in interdisciplinary consultancy includes major Ƶ road, rail, energy, water, ports and urban regeneration projects and is experienced in design processes and quality at scale, and in special landscape settings. He is a past chair of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Wales and has been a DCFW design review panel member for several years. His doctorate from Cardiff University centred on place-based leadership for net zero in cities.
Chair of the DCFW Mr Jones “Our four new Commissioners bring a wealth of rich and diverse experience and expertise alongside a united focus on sustainable design to our board. I am delighted that our four existing Commissioners will continue in their roles, too, which significantly boosts our capacity to continue positively influencing policies, clients, and projects.”
DCFW chief executive Carole-Anne Davies said the enlarged board’s combined expertise is invaluable to promoting good design for Wales’ places, buildings and public spaces.
“The combined exceptional talent, track record and perspectives of our new and existing board bring an unprecedented opportunity for us to really drive home the value of high quality design to help improve the quality of people’s daily lives in Wales,” she said.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have the commitment of such dynamic and accomplished professionals around the board table and I’m excited to work with them to promote the benefits of good design and placemaking that help make Wales a better place for everyone.”
Savills
The Cardiff office of Savills has announced 12 promotion.
The promotions are across the real estate consultancy’s planning, development, energy, valuation and residential development sales teams, and see the creation of three new directors in Rhys Govier, planning, Caroline Jones, development and Jack Pugsley planning.
It seven promoted associates are in energy, Dean Roberts, James Morris, Aaron Li, Lowri Davies and Sarah Banbury, in valuation Dave Jones and residential development sales Elizabeth Beaudette-Sheppard. Moreover, Alice Gardner and Lucy Hayward have become senior planners.
Chris Potts, head of Savills Cardiff, said: ‘This record number of promotions reflects the considerable wealth of talent we have in our business across a broad range of property services.
“!It is a great pleasure to congratulate our new directors, Caroline, Rhys and Jack, who represent a new generation of industry leaders in the social housing, regeneration and renewable energy sectors respectively. Well done to our new associates, Liz, Lowri, Dave, Sarah, Aaron, Dean and James, and to Alice and Lucy, who have become senior planners.’
Savills Cardiff is the largest property consultancy in Wales, with over 110 employees across 10 departments.
Rhyl Neighbourhood Board
Craig Sparrow is the new independent chair of Rhyl Neighbourhood Board, a group tasked with developing a £20m regeneration strategy for the seaside resort.
The executive director of property and development at ClwydAlyn, succeeds as chair Adam Roche.
Mr Sparrow said: “Having grown up in Rhyl I am passionate about the town and like many have grown tired of hearing so much negativity, it is a wonderful place with great people and so much potential, which we will harness as part of our strategy.
“I was really pleased to join the board as this is going to be a very interesting and progressive time for the area, some big decisions will be made, and I feel as a group we are well placed to make them.
“However, it is important people remember our role and that this is not a £20m handout being discussed by a talk-shop, as chair I will ensure there is a laser focus on our goals and objectives.
“It is a commitment over 10 years and will be carefully managed, as we look to leverage it against exciting commercial ventures via match funding, identify community benefits and long-term, sustainable projects.”
At ClwydAlyn – the St Asaph-based housing provider and registered social landlord, which employs around 800 staff and manages almost 7,000 homes in mid and north Wales - he works closely with private and public sector bodies.
Nidec Drives
Newtown-based electric drive solutions firm Nidec Drives has appointed Laurent Babaud as its president.
With more than three decades of experience in motors and drives at Nidec, Mr Babaud has led the European sales network for Leroy-Somer and Control Techniques, served as president of SSB Wind Systems, and most recently led Nidec Conversion’s global marketing, sales, and European operations.
Michael Briggs, Nidec Motion and Energy president said “With the appointment of Laurent, I am confident that the Nidec Drives business is in safe hands. We see great opportunity and potential for the business to grow in line with the aspirations of the motion and energy business unit. Following a career of leadership accomplishments on a global scale within Nidec, Laurent is perfectly positioned to strengthen Nidec Drives and the overall motion and energy business.”
Anthony Pickering, Nidec Motion platform president said: “The appointment of Laurent is an exciting development for Nidec Drives. With his knowledge of the drives industry and his leadership skills honed within the Nidec Group, I am convinced that he has the passion, enthusiasm and tenacity required to lead the Nidec Drives business forward, driving new phases of strategic growth and long-term development.
Mr Babaud said “I am honoured to step into the role of president at Nidec Drives. Being part of Nidec for many years I know what an incredible team Nidec Drives has and that makes me incredibly proud and excited to lead and guide them in driving growth and innovation for our customers worldwide. I am ready to start writing the next chapter for Nidec Drives.”
Hodge Bank
Cardiff-based Hodge Bank has appointed Daniel Lewis as head of marketing and Sara Bailey head of operations.
Prior to joining Hodge, Mr Lewis held the role of strategy director at Spindogs, where he played a key role in delivering innovative marketing solutions and driving business development.
Ms Bailey brings with her over 30 years of experience in the financial sector.
Having spent the majority of her career at Lloyds Bank, she most recently served as head of performance and business banking.
The bank’s chief executive, David Landen, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Daniel and Sara to Hodge as they take on senior roles within our team. Daniel joins us as head of marketing, bringing his expertise to drive our brand and communications forward, while Sara steps in as head of operations, focusing on enhancing our processes and delivering excellent experiences for our customers. We’re excited to see their leadership and experience make a big impact.”
