Companies with bases all over the North West have confirmed a range of top hires and promotions over the last seven days
The likes of Social Chain, Grosvenor and Sykes Holiday Cottages and are among those who have made major moves.
Below, BusinessLive rounds up the latest hires and promotions that we feel you should not miss.
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Social Chain
A new chief executive has been named for a company co-founded in Manchester by Dragons' Den star Steven Bartlett.
Dr Georg Kofler is to take over the role on January 1 at Social Chain from Wanja S. Oberhof who will move to lead its US operations as well as the group's M&A activities.
The news comes as the group is cutting its costs by 30% through "synergies, significant savings in HR and structural costs and more efficient organisational structures throughout the group".
Kuits solicitors
Manchester commercial law firm Kuits solicitors has appointed a new head of construction and engineering, Matt Grellier.
He said: "I’m delighted to join Kuits who have a very strong property and construction team. I’m looking forward to working with the lawyers here and their clients, as well as growing the Kuits’ offering in the construction and engineering sector."
Managing partner Steve Eccleston added: "It’s a pleasure to welcome Matt to Kuits. His skills and expertise will complement those of our established property team to further strengthen our offering.
"Matt’s appointment demonstrates our continued commitment to offering a strong commercial advisory service to our clients in the property sector."
Miller Homes
Miller Homes has announced the appointment of a new interim sales manager for its North West developments.
After maintaining a long-term role as development sales manager for the builder, Carrie Leather been promoted.
Before joining Miller Homes, she held sales roles at Bellway, Barratt and David McClean.
She said: "I am naturally over the moon to be recognised for this promotion and I am even happier to accept this position.
"It’s presented me with a a fantastic opportunity to be able to further my career with Miller Homes and I am very eager to begin my role and working closely with the rest of the team."
Sykes Holiday Cottages
Chester-based Sykes Holiday Cottages has appointed a new marketing director.
Chris Algar, who began his career with the holiday home rental agency in 2015, was previously head of owned and earned media.
He said: "It’s great to be able to continue my professional journey at Sykes Holiday Cottages and I’m excited to now move into a new role with fresh challenges and opportunities.
"Our team has made great strides in recent years, including driving double digit growth in brand visibility year-on-year, and I can’t wait to see what we achieve next."
Bell Lamb & Joynson
Liverpool-based Bell Lamb & Joynson has expanded its team with the appointment of a new head of private client.
Jessica Flaherty trained at Levins Solicitors in Liverpool and qualified in 2015. During her tenure with Levins, she progressed to head of department for both residential conveyancing and private client in 2018.
She said: "I am so excited to have joined such an award-winning and respected firm like Bell Lamb & Joynson.
"The firm has such a long and well-respected history serving clients across the North West, and thanks to their forward-thinking approach to using technology, they have grown their client base across the UK."
DCB Legal
Cheshire-based DCB Legal, a specialist firm with a focus on debt recovery and civil and commercial litigation, has welcomed four new senior solicitors.
Neil Smith, Rebecca Dale, David Croot and Katy Long join the company.
Director Jamie Ashford said: "Adding four experienced solicitors with a collective seven decades of experience in litigation allows us to move to the next phase of growth as a business.
"It enables us to considerably increase the number of cases that we can work on and maintains our position as a leading firm in the space."
Dow Schofield Watts
Advisory firm Dow Schofield Watts has made two new appointments in its Daresbury office.
Feona Donnelly-Worthington has joined its forensic accounting arm, DSW Bridge Houghton Forensic, as a graduate forensic accountant.
Madeleine Andrews has joined the transaction services team as an apprentice financial analyst.
Pete Fendall of DSW Capital, the company behind the Dow Schofield Watts brand, said: "Our decision to encourage the recruitment of trainees and apprentices gives candidates greater choice - not only by offering different routes into the profession, but also the opportunity to cut their teeth in areas such as forensic accounting and due diligence rather than the usual audit departments.
"It will also enable the firm to attract a wider range of candidates and develop our own home-grown talent with the specific skills that our specialist teams require."
Cowgills
Cowgills has promoted James Kennedy to partner in Manchester.
Mr Kennedy, who joined the company four years ago from Clearwater International having qualified with Deloitte, is now the sixth partner in the deal advisory team and the 19th partner in the firm.
He said: "To be made partner is a proud moment in my career and I’m very thankful to my fellow partners for the opportunity. We have a great team which continues to reach new heights and my promotion is a clear example of the opportunities that are available at Cowgills.
"The momentum we have built shows no sign of dissipating as we look forward to another office move in the new year to accommodate the growing team."
Big Fang Collective
Liverpool-based Big Fang Collective has named Natasha Waterfield. Natasha as its new CEO.
She has joined after an eight-year stint across two roles at The New World Trading company, as HR director and chief operating officer.
Big Fang Collective is an entertainment venue operator and owner of the Golf Fang brand.
She said: "I am so excited to be joining the Big Fang Collective as their CEO. I’ve long admired the group’s gutsy ethos and I’m looking forward to overseeing its growth as we roll Golf Fang and Birdies Bar, whilst developing new concepts, out across the UK."
Vincents Solicitors
Lancashire-based Vincents Solicitors has appointed Oliver Banks as the firm’s new head of court of protection and trusts within the private client department.
He said: "It is my responsibility to provide the highest quality care and support to clients as their named professional attorney, professional trustee or professional deputy; the buck stops with me.
"This highly personal service is my preferred approach and I’m delighted that Vincents takes the same view.
"It benefits clients much more than a trust corporation which many other companies use, where anyone in the firm can work on that client’s case.
"Court of Protection clients are extremely vulnerable and deserve nothing less than one-to-one support and continuity, and it’s crucial to develop genuine trusted relationships."
Primas Law
North West business law firm Primas Law has announced three new hires across its litigation and real estate departments.
Marta Kuliga and Geraldine Wharton join Primas Law’s litigation department, as a solicitor and associate respectively, while Khuram Iqbal joins as a real estate associate.
Geraldine Wharton has joined the firm’s commercial litigation department and her specialties include shareholder disputes, debt claims and defamation proceedings.
Marta Kuliga has also joined the firm’s litigation department. With more than ten years of litigation experience gained both at high street and international firms, Marta works over a variety of commercial dispute claims. Khuram Iqbal joins the law firm’s real estate department.
Blume
Manchester-based Customer acquisition specialist for the legal sector Blume has appointed Callum Naylor as paid social manager.
He joins from Social Tap where he was responsible for building a team of six to deliver complex Facebook and TikTok campaigns for a range of clients.
Mr Naylor added: "I’m really excited to join such a strong and dynamic team, and look forward to supporting Blume’s customer acquisition strategy with a collaborative, focused and data-driven approach to paid social advertising."
Skuuudle
Manchester-based retail price intelligence specialist Skuuudle has added to its senior team.
The business has hired James Pogson as head of marketing having worked at Choice Hotels, LateRooms.com and Co-op Power.
He said: "Without Skuuudle, a business will never know how pricing has impacted their potential sales.
"Many of the best performing businesses use Skuuudle, giving business leaders the confidence their pricing is competitive, helping protect and grow market share.
"I’m driven by helping more businesses get the tools they need and build the confidence to grow again in uncertain times."
Grosvenor
Grosvenor has appointed Chris Jukes as its director of Liverpool ONE, succeeding Alison Clegg who is retiring after leading the destination for 15 years.
Mr Jukes joined in 2005 and has held various finance positions in Grosvenor Property UK and the broader Grosvenor business.
In his new role, he will work closely with Iain Finlayson and Donna Howitt, Liverpool ONE’s estate director and place strategy director respectively.
Mr Jukes said: "The opportunity to lead Liverpool ONE is a hugely galvanising prospect. I joined Grosvenor in 2005 to work on the project, so to return and lead the team into the 15-year anniversary of Liverpool ONE is very rewarding.
"Whilst the retail sector faces many challenges, well-managed and curated destinations will continue to perform. With Eurovision coming to Liverpool next year, as well as our own milestone, it is set to be an exciting time for the UK’s most sociable city."
Trident Building Consultancy
Louise Logan has stepped up to become finance director at chartered surveyors Trident Building Consultancy after a 21-year stint at the company.
Mrs Logan, who is based at Trident’s Liverpool office, joined the business in 2001.
Vanessa Darce, also from the firm’s Liverpool office, has been promoted from finance administrator.
Trident Building Consultancy provides services to construction industry in the UK and Ireland, including building surveying, cost consultancy, project management, and rights of light practice.
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