There have been changes at the top at a number of the region’s big businesses – here is the latest:
Michael Cummins Employment Solicitors
New specialist law firm Michael Cummins Employment Solicitors has welcomed its first new partner, Fabienne McAllister (pictured above with the team).
Fabienne has moved from her role as a partner at Knights to join the growing Leicester venture launched by Michael Cummins.
It’s a reunion for the pair, who worked together at Knights following its acquisitions of their previous firms – Cummins Solicitors and Emms Gilmore Liberson.
Bilingual in French and English, Ms McAllister will work alongside Mr Cummins and the rest of the team at the legal firm, providing employers with advice and representation on all aspects of employment law.
She said: “It’s exciting to be involved in the early days of this new venture. I am enjoying being part of a small team as it grows.
“Michael is a very collaborative person and an ethos of the firm is to enable flexibility and autonomy.
“I was previously based in Birmingham, so it is also great to be meeting lots of new clients in the East Midlands and beyond.”
Fabienne qualified in 2002 and has specialised in employment law since 2008, developing on her early work in commercial litigation at the international law firm Ashurst in London and Paris before moving back home to work in the Midlands.
Surescreen Diagnostics
Derby-based SureScreen Diagnostics says the appointment of Andrew Wilcher as its new chief executive will pave the way for growth following strong performance over the past two years.
The company was established in 1996 and has long been at the forefront of medical testing in the UK – particularly during the pandemic. Mr Wilcher’s appointment follows a significant investment in facilities in at Sherwood Business Park at Annersley, near Hucknall.
Recent new developments include a 10-minute lateral flow test for Mpox – the World Health Organisation’s new recommended name for Monkeypox – and the first UK-approved lateral flow test to detect both flu and Covid-19 at the same time.
Mr Wilcher has worked in healthcare his whole career, spanning pharmaceutical and medical device sectors before joining SureScreen.
He said: “Over the years, SureScreen has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of research and development when it comes to diagnostic technology, and I am thrilled to be joining as chief executive at such an important and exciting time.
“Rapid result tests have got a huge part to play in ensuring the healthcare systems such as the NHS can continue to respond to the needs of the patients because they are able to give immediate diagnoses and markers without the need to send samples to labs, which would save a huge amount of time and money each year, not least in critical care settings such as accident and emergency departments.”
SureScreen director David Campbell, who runs the company alongside his brothers, Alastair and Alex, said: “We are delighted to be working with Andrew to build on our 25-year history.”
Light Science Technologies
Two members of staff at AgTech company Light Science Technologies (LST) have been promoted to senior roles across two key departments, as the business goes from strength to strength.
Linzi Naisbitt has been promoted to business development manager after two years with the Derby-based firm that provides sensor and lighting technology for indoor farming, including vertical farming and greenhouses.
Linzi joined the team in newly created role internal sales executive in early 2021 during the pandemic, using her extensive sales experience in the hospitality and events industry to support growth and development for LST and UK Circuits and Electronics Solutions Ltd (UKC), both Light Science Technologies Holdings (LSTH) group companies.
UKC manufactures and supplies circuit boards for LST’s products at its Manchester-based site.
Daryl Hollands becomes group financial controller after working across LST & UKC as group management accountant for the past four years.
An ACA chartered accountant, Daryl has been involved in every aspect of accounts including upgrading and implementing new finance systems, and will oversee all finance and accounting operations while reporting to the board.
IMA Architects
An architectural firm based on Lutterworth Road in Blaby, Leicestershire, has announced changes to its management team that will see two longstanding members of staff promoted to senior positions within the company.
Former director Anthony Day has been promoted to managing director and Ben Hall, formerly an associate director, has been promoted to director.
Ian McCann, who co-founded the practice in 1997 remains a senior member of the management team at IMA as a director.
His new role will see him focus on the marketing and business development functions of IMA with Mr Day and Mr Hall overseeing the successful delivery and management of client projects, alongside all other functions of the company.
Anthony Day said: “I am very proud to be managing director of IMA Architects at what is an exciting time for the business. With numerous high profile client projects underway and the development of our own, UK first, technology with the IMA Digital Pods, I am looking forward to growing the company further and ensure that IMA is one of the best architectural companies in the UK.”
The firm, which celebrated its 25th anniversary earlier this year, has completed more than 200 projects nationally and is actively working on 75 large-scale projects across the UK, Ireland and further afield.
Fluid Ideas
Three members of staff at creative agency Fluid Ideas have been promoted to newly-created leadership roles heading key teams.
Sarah Bowler has become the head of support and delivery at the Derby firm, Michelle Hazelgrove has been appointed head of people and culture, and Jamie Hovell has taken up the position of head of image and motion.
Joint managing director Phil Harvey said: “These are all new positions created through the expansion of the business and reflect the brilliant work that Sarah, Michelle and Jamie have been doing in supporting and enhancing the standards of creativity and service delivered to our clients.
“All three are deeply protective of our culture and values, and they are the ideal people to take up these new positions as we continue to develop.
“Our strategy is to always promote internally whenever possible to help our team progress their careers. We’re very proud of the fact that we have a 90 per cent employee retention rate, more than double the industry average, and our approach of nurturing and promoting our own people is ingrained in the fabric of Fluid.”
Timms Solicitors
A newly-qualified solicitor, who has trained with Timms Solicitors, has been rewarded with a permanent position in the firm’s family law team.
University of Derby graduate Leonnie Watson joined Timms in an administrative role to support the Family Law team in 2018 and went onto complete the legal practice course at Nottingham Trent University whilst working at Timms.
She was then promoted to the role of paralegal in the family team based in Burton-on-Trent and was awarded a training contract with the firm two years ago – working with the family, wills and probate and conveyancing teams.
Having qualified as a solicitor, she has joined the family law team on a permanent contract working alongside Adrian Rose and Jessica Barnett.
She will be based in the Swadlincote office helping clients with divorce, separation, children and financial matters.
She said: “I am delighted to have qualified and been offered a permanent position with Timms who have put their faith in me and supported me through my academic studies since the day I joined the team.
“It has been a privilege to gain experience with colleagues in other departments throughout my training and I know that my passion is in the area of Family Law.”
Timms managing partner Fiona Moffat said: “Leonnie has shown a real commitment and passion for both the profession and her studies. She is committed to client care and genuinely wants to help people.”
