Here is our latest update of appointments and promotions from across the wider East Midlands, including changes at the top at smart exercise bike business Wattbike and talent specialists The Speakers Agency:
Allison Homes
Housebuilder Allison Homes has appointed a new land manager to its central region, to help secure new land opportunities across the Midlands.
Sophie Kendal (pictured above) is based at Allison Homes’ group head office and central regional office in Bourne, Lincolnshire.
She joined after working for two large PLC housebuilders in Cambridgeshire, in both land manager and land buyer roles. A graduate in human geography and town planning from Leeds Beckett University, she will be responsible for seeking out new land opportunities for the region and establishing strong relationships with agents and landowners.
Ms Kendal, from Stamford, said: “In the land department, we rely on receiving information from our technical, commercial and sales teams, so having good working relationships with other members of the Allison Homes family is vital.”
Wattbike
Richard Baker has decided to step down as chief executive at based Wattbike after more than a decade with the Nottingham-based business.
Stephen Loftus, who was most recently chief commercial officer at UK bike-maker Brompton, will take over from May 1. Mr Baker will stay involved with the brand as special advisor to the board.
The static exercise bike brand has commercial deals with the likes of British Cycling, Manchester City and the New Zealand All Blacks as well as David Lloyd, the England football team, Hilton Hotels and the British Army. Its most recent accounts showed a turnover of more than £32 million.
Mr Baker has been instrumental in the company’s growth and was at the heart of the successful launch of the Wattbike Atom. He steered the company through the pandemic after becoming CEO in 2018.
The news follows a busy period for the brand, which appointed Greg Nieuwenhuys as chairman in March. He is currently chairman of Swiss mountainwear brand Mammut Sports Group, and was previously CEO of Cotswold Outdoors, Snow+Rock and Runners Need.
In 2020, Wattbike received an £11.5 million investment from consumer brands specialist Piper to help fuel growth in the UK and further penetrate the US and Asian markets.
The Speakers Agency
Sylvia Tidy-Harris who has decided to hand over the reins of the talent agency she founded in 2001 to concentrate on her other business Tidy Management.
The change sees Holly Kerley promoted to managing director of Leicestershire-based The Speakers Agency, which specialises in providing speakers, hosts, guest presenters and conference chairs to clients across the UK, Europe and beyond.
Its client list includes large corporate organisations such as Sanofi, Google, Ernst & Young, Lloyds Bank and The London Stock Exchange as well as private companies and educational establishments.
Ms Kerley joined The Speakers Agency in 2018 and has worked closely with Ms Tidy-Harris to expand the business, even during the pandemic.
Previously, she was marketing manager for former Dragon’s Den entrepreneur the late Hilary Devey, who was founder of Leicestershire-based transport giant Pall-Ex.
Kerley officially took over as Managing Director on April 1, 2023, with Tidy-Harris staying on as a mentor.
Sylvia Tidy-Harris said: “I know Holly is going to take The Speakers Agency to new and spectacular levels and I’m really looking forward to seeing it go from strength to strength.”
Blueprint Interiors
North-West Leicestershire-based workplace consultants and office interior fit-out specialist Blueprint Interiors has announced that Andy Sawyer, who was previously contracts manager, has been promoted to project director and Ben Dawson has joined as a business development manager.
Mr Sawyer has more than 25 years’ experience within the fit-out sector, and joined Blueprint in 2016. He has previously worked with some of the leading global leisure and retail brands on demanding and high profile commercial fit-out projects.
Ben Dawson, who lives in Leicestershire, has over 20 years’ experience in the industry and studied architecture at De Montfort University. He began his career as an interior designer but gravitated towards business development in order to build on his passion for developing relationships and delivering tailored solutions.
Recent project completions for Blueprint include The Melton Building Society, Gleeds, Worldline Beeston, Futures Housing, Consultus, Roythorne Solicitors, Corteva Agriscience and a BUPA healthcare centre for Enigma Wellness.
PKF Smith Cooper
Derby-based accountancy and advisory firm PKF Smith Cooper has recruited Dean Castledine to the new role of private client director, as it continues to invest in its tax advisory division and private client services.
Mr Castledine brings 20 years of experience and expertise in private client tax advisory services, having started his career working for HMRC and occupying subsequent roles at several Midlands firms including RSM. Before joining PKF Smith Cooper, he was private client senior manager at Shorts Chartered Accountants for seven years.
PKF Smith Cooper is the home of PKF in the Midlands, providing audit, accountancy, tax and advisory services to businesses of all sizes. It has offices across the Midlands, including Derby, Nottingham, Birmingham and Ashbourne.
Nottingham University Business School.
The University of Nottingham has appointed Professor David Park as the new Dean of the Nottingham University Business School.
Prof Park is a professor in entrepreneurship and innovation and was previously Associate Dean (external engagement) and the director of executive education for the school.
He holds three degrees (BEng, MSc, PhD) from the university, in engineering and artificial intelligence, and has a wealth of practical entrepreneurial experience gained in the UK and New Zealand from starting and running his own innovative businesses and social enterprises.
He has first-hand experience in raising millions of dollars’ worth of start-up funds, growing effective, multi-disciplinary teams, and completing multi-million-dollar licensing deals with FTSE100 companies.
He has also played an active role in helping create national policies across a number of sectors including food, geospatial engineering and UAV systems.
As well as providing strategic support and mentoring to hundreds of early-stage companies and social enterprises across the UK, he has enthusiastically mentored and taught thousands of Undergraduate and Postgraduate students from across the world.
Premier Logistics
Paul Walker has joined Leicester-based Premier Logistics team as commercial and operations director.
The new role has been created strategically to help achieve the firm’s ambitious five-year business plan targeting a £50 million turnover.
He has worked in the logistics industry since he was 18, and has worked with big industry players DHL, Bibby’s and Menzies Group.
Premier will mark its 20th anniversary in May, 2024, and has a £13 million.
He said: “I wanted to work somewhere that I could truly put my own stamp on and add real value to.
“With Premier, I can go about making change immediately for the good of the business, as opposed to having to go through months of red tape.
“This new role is a genius step in the five-year business plan and I’m already making moves to get closer to reaching that £50 million turnover by anticipating new hires and establishing new corporate relationships.
Azets
Top 10 accountancy firm Azets has grown its East Midlands team, with the appointment of Mark Brayshaw as tax partner and Alex Bolton as director at Azets Wealth Management.
Mark Brayshaw most recently headed up the local intellectual property division at a mid-tier firm and primarily deals with privately owned businesses, supporting clients with tax opportunities and challenges.
He started his career with HMRC where he qualified as a senior tax inspector, completed his ACCA qualification and worked in Whitehall. He will be based from Azets’ Nottingham and Coventry offices.
Alex Bolton’s specialisms as a qualified chartered financial planner include retirement advice, investments, trusts and inheritance tax planning.
IMA Architects
IMA Architects (IMA), based in Blaby, Leicestershire, has promoted Joe Travers to associate director and Jack Mellor to associate.
They have both been with IMA since 2011 and have amassed experience across a range of UK-wide construction projects.
Joe Travers has increasingly specialised within the commercial and industrial sectors and has worked on a number of high-profile projects including the Marks and Spencer Distribution Centre in Castle Donington, the Co-op Distribution centre in Sutton and Ashfield and the Redrow Homes East Midlands Office, also in Castle Donington.
Working on projects for companies including Clowes Developments, Jessup Partnerships, Vaillant UK, Modus Partnerships, Avant Homes and Venture Properties amongst others, Jack Mellor has worked on schemes across the residential, commercial and industrial sectors in the Midlands.
