Coronavirus isn’t stopping career development with key appointments announced across the region’s professional services sector as it gears up to deal with whatever may come its way. Promotions and welcomes have been made as companies gear up for a challenging future.
EY’s transaction advisory services team has grown its Yorkshire and North East presence with the appointment of a senior mergers and acquisitions and finance specialist.
Adam Barraclough joins as associate partner, having spent over 20 years working with and advising businesses across Yorkshire and the North East.
He was previously finance director at Hull’s Jacksons Bakery, part of the William Jackson Food Group, and the wider group’s corporate development director. He was involved in the sale and acquisition of Aunt Bessie’s and Wellocks.
Prior to this, he was a director of large corporates at Lloyds Banking Group in Leeds for over six years, before being appointed as head of global transaction banking for the North East in 2016. During his tenure, he was involved in several high-profile deals including the investment by Coca-Cola in Innocent Drinks, and the acquisition of organic produce provider, Abel & Cole by his former employer William Jackson Food Group. He was also ranked top nationally in the ICAEW’s annual FD Excellence Awards.
Adam’s new role at EY will see him advising businesses across the region, developing and maintaining relationships and supporting them through EY’s broader expertise.
Suzanne Robinson, managing partner for Yorkshire and Humber said: “I’m delighted to have Adam on board as we continue to invest in our people and build our transaction advisory services team.
“Adam has a huge amount of financial and M&A experience gleaned right here in the north, so has the local knowledge that’s key to adding value to clients and helping businesses across the region successfully grow their market presence.”
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Mark Allcroft, transaction advisory services partner at EY added: “I’m thrilled that Adam has joined the EY team, helping to drive our efforts around business development and origination. Having known Adam for over 20 years it’s a reunion of sorts and so we’re both really keen to strengthen and develop our long-term relationships with businesses and support clients right across the region with their merger and acquisition strategies.”
Adam qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG. He also attended Harvard Business School in 2018, studying M&A strategy, negotiation and management.
He said: “Throughout my career, I’ve been on both sides of the boardroom table, as in-house finance director, as a funder and an advisor, so I know the issues that businesses are facing, especially at the moment.
“I can’t wait to start combining my industry experience with EY’s significant expertise and resources to really help businesses across the region overcome their challenges and support them in their growth journeys.”
At Begbies Traynor, experienced insolvency practitioner Laura Baxter has been promoted to director in the Humber office.
After joining the firm in 2012 as a senior insolvency administrator, having worked as a case administrator for six years prior, she was appointed to the position of assistant manager in 2016, becoming a manager the following year. She was promoted to senior insolvency manager at the firm’s Hull office in 2019.
Andrew Mackenzie, partner for Begbies Traynor in Yorkshire, said: “Having experienced first hand Laura’s hard work and commitment to helping to develop our presence in the Humber region, including the opening of our offices in Grimsby and Scunthorpe, it is particularly satisfying to see her well-deserved success in achieving the position of director. As a firm, we are committed to nurturing talent in order to ensure we can provide the best service to our clients.”
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A fully qualified insolvency practitioner, Laura achieved her professional exams in corporate and personal insolvency, in March 2019, passing first time. She specialises in corporate and personal insolvency, distressed advisor and business investigations.
She added: “Begbies Traynor has built a reputation as the leading independent rescue, recovery and advisory firm in the region and I have been fortunate to learn from such experienced colleagues. I look forward to working alongside Andrew and the team as we continue to support businesses, individuals and creditors across the county and beyond.”
Hull law firm Rollits LLP has promoted Gareth Orriss and Sophie Wheeldon, who both deal with all aspects of commercial property work, from senior solicitor to associate.
Emma Fawke, a solicitor in the firm’s private capital team, and Donna Ashbridge, a solicitor in the corporate department, are both promoted to senior solicitor.
Sophie and Gareth both gained first class honours degrees from the University of Hull. Sophie joined Rollits as a trainee in 2013 and qualified as a commercial property lawyer in September 2015. Gareth completed his training contract at another firm and joined Rollits soon after qualifying in January 2016. In 2019 Gareth was recognised in the Hull and Humber Top 30 Under 30 list.
Donna joined Rollits as a trainee solicitor in 2015 and moved to work in the firm’s corporate team when she qualified. During her training contract, Donna spent three months on secondment to Hull 2017 City of Culture, where she gained experience drafting a variety of different commercial agreements specific to the culture and creative arts sector. She now works on a variety of corporate matters including company formations, mergers and acquisitions and banking matters.
She also works on partnership matters, share buy-backs and re-organisations and is part of the firm’s education team, advising on a variety of corporate issues for clients in the sector.
Emma entered the legal sector more than 12 years ago and worked for several local firms before joining Rollits in 2018. She now specialises in wills, estate planning and administration matters, as well as lasting powers of attorney.
Ralph Gilbert, managing partner at Rollits, said: “I would like to congratulate Gareth, Sophie, Donna and Emma on their promotions. We have always strived to create a place of opportunity within Rollits in order to nurture, recruit and retain the region’s very best talent in the hope they will enjoy a long and rewarding career with us.
“These promotions are all thoroughly well deserved as they have all proved themselves to be very capable and focused on achieving the best possible results for clients in the work that they undertake.”
Two ‘locals’ have been recruited by RNS Chartered Accountants in Scunthorpe.
Judith Cousins Woodrow has joined as a manager in the town where she grew up and went to school, while Antony Burnett, who used to be a pub landlord in Scotter before switching career, joining as an accounts senior.
After lockdown Judith will see her commute to a previous role in Rotherham reduced to a walk to the Oswald Street office.
A former pupil at Brumby Comprehensive School, she went to John Leggott College before studying accounting at Sheffield Hallam - having completed a week’s work experience with RNS. Upon graduation in 1999, she won a training contract with a Rotherham firm and became a chartered accountant in 2002.
“I was appointed as a director in 2006 and we worked hard to expand the practise taking over a couple of smaller firms," she said. “I had my first daughter in 2014 and my second in 2016 and reduced my working hours accordingly.
“My workload eventually got too much and so, when I saw the opportunity to work at RNS, I jumped at the chance. I assisted in the sale of my old firm before I left.”
Antony used to be landlord of The Gamekeeper in Scotter, but decided to sell the lease to start a career.
He began his accountancy training at home before being taken on by a Scunthorpe firm and then moving to a Gainsborough practice. He completed his Association of Accounting Technicians’ qualification during his five years there.
He said: “I am really happy with the move. I like the structure and professionalism. All the staff and partners have been more than friendly.
“I’m pretty much an all-rounder, having experience in VAT, payroll, company accounts, sole traders and taxation. I must admit though I am partial to pub accounts – I have fond memories!”
Senior partner John Heeney said: “We’re pleased to have recruited experienced professionals into two senior roles. They have strengthened our offer and service to clients. It’s also great that they are local to Scunthorpe and North Lincolnshire and understand its people and business."
Beverley Building Society has appointed former Secure Trust Bank Mortgages managing director Esther Morley as a non-executive director.
Her insights are eagerly awaited from her 20 years of financial services experience, and in particular the lending knowledge she gained during her time at the helm of the challenger operation.
Society chairman Stuart Purdy said: “It’s great to have Esther further bolster our highly experienced board team. I’m confident she will bring fresh ideas, and her own unique brand of dynamism and energy.
"Esther’s knowledge and experience, gained working with a leading specialist lender, will be invaluable."
Now managing director of Premiss Consultancy, during her career at Secure Trust Bank, Esther had full profit and loss accountability in the mortgage division, and brings extensive knowledge of specialist lending, credit risk management, marketing and product analysis.
And her first impressions of the Beverley, which represents her first non-executive position - and Beverley itself - are equally positive.
“I was attracted to this role because of the opportunity it represents to work with an organisation with such a history and presence in its region, which balances real potential with a genuinely warm and friendly approach to customer service," she said. "I think there’s a huge opportunity for the Beverley to further engrain itself within its community, in particular, as well as reaching a wider national customer base, by offering more in terms of lending.
“I’m hoping that, with my skill set, I can help the society in its desire to grow and further serve its membership.
“My background is in specialist lending and, in particular, serving those customers whose needs aren’t currently met by high street lenders. These people are an ideal target market for the Beverley because of the knowledge and experience within its lending team, and the fact it can take the time to support customers individually.
“I’m really looking forward to working with Karl and the team to help them bring that to life.”
Lincolnshire Housing Partnership has appointed Alex Dixon as executive director of property.
He is described as having a strong background in management and development, having previously held directorship positions with Freebridge Community Housing in Kings Lynn and Bromford Housing Group in the West Midlands.
It comes as the merged entity of Boston Mayflower and Grimsby's Shoreline Housing Partnership implements a new repairs standard, while continuing a commitment to building new and regenerating homes.
Alex's career in housing asset management, maintenance and development stretches back to 1994.
He said: “I am delighted to join Lincolnshire Housing Partnership and I am looking forward to helping the team develop an increasing supply of new homes along the east coast of Lincolnshire, as well as ensuring that our existing homes continue to provide great accommodation for our customers.
“I am passionate about the quality of our homes and of the living environment we provide to our customers.
“We have to ensure that our homes are warm, safe and efficient in use – I am also passionate about ensuring we continually challenge our construction methods to ensure we build as cost effectively as possible.”