Businesses with operations across the North West have announced a string of top hires and promotions over the last weeks.
The likes of Hill Dickinson, Peel L&P and UrbanChain 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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Peel L&P
Peel L&P Retail Parks has appointed Bruce Edmondson as associate director for retail development.
The company's portfolio is made up of nine retail parks across the UK, with locations including Straiton, Stockport and Barnsley.
Manchester-based Mr Edmondson has previously worked at St Modwen and British Land.
He said: "A key part of my new role at Peel L&P will be enabling future development and unlocking opportunities for our partners and occupiers within the retail sector.
"I am looking forward to working with our current and future partners to continue developing Peel L&P’s Retail Parks as retail destinations our communities love to visit and use."
BrightHR
Manchester-based BrightHR has hired Thea Watson as chief international growth and marketing officer.
She joins from Hays, where she spent 10 years, most recently as global customer experience director.
She said: "I am excited to join BrightHR and the Peninsula Group. BrightHR’s customer centric approach to addressing real business challenges, and commitment to adding value to the customer in the areas they need it, matches my ethos in marketing and really sets them apart.
"The speed to which the business operates means they are equipped to move with the market as required while the world deals with unprecedented change."
UrbanChain
Manchester-based UrbanChain has hired Steven Prusinski-Stills and Rebeka Fiona Lucas as operations manager and customer relationships manager respectively.
It comes as the energy technology company continues with a Series A fundraise.
CEO Dr Somayeh Taheri said: "It’s great to now have both Steven and Rebeka in the team.
"They join UrbanChain during what is an exciting period in our evolution and I’ve no doubt that they will add further value to our operations and client base as we continue to grow."
OCU Group
OCU Group (OCU), the parent company of O’Connor Utilities and Instalcom, has appointed David Taylor-Smith as its non-executive chairman.
Based in Stockport, OCU operates within regulated and non-regulated infrastructure markets, including electricity, rail, water, gas, and telecoms.
The business, which was founded by two brothers in 1994, was sold to an investment giant in a deal said to be worth £400m earlier this year.
Mr Taylor-Smith said: "OCU is going through a hugely positive period of growth so being part of the team driving this forward is really exciting.
"I’ve had a really varied career to date and been heavily involved in the significant growth of several h businesses so I’m extremely interested in seeing how I can support OCU’s ambitious future plans."
Fletchers Group
Fletchers Group, which has offices in Southport and Manchester, has appointed Caroline Morris as director of serious injury.
She said: "Heading up the serious injury team is a compelling opportunity and I am confident that we can accelerate our market presence.
"Growth also means people, and I am keen to recruit the best talent into our team, which is based in Manchester as well as our main office in Southport."
Jackson Lees
Law firm Jackson Lees, which has offices across Liverpool, Manchester and Wirral, has appointed three new directors to the Jackson Lees Trust Corporation, a body set up to ensure continuity, availability and professionalism for those accessing the firm’s private client services, including Court of Protection services.
Danielle Carter, Chris Stone and Heather Horsewood have joined the board of directors, taking its total to nine members.
Launched in 2019 the trust corporation can act as executor, attorney, trustee or property and financial affairs deputy.
Esther Leach, managing director at the Jackson Lees Group, said: "We are really excited to have Danielle, Chris and Heather join the Jackson Lees Trust Corporation board of directors.
"As experts in their fields and with years of experience assisting clients, they each bring something incredibly valuable to their new roles."
Hill Dickinson
Law firm Hill Dickinson has announced a raft of new partners as part of the firm’s Accelerated Partner Promotion Scheme.
Legal directors in its Manchester and Liverpool offices have been elevated to partner status. They join the ranks of the firm’s existing partners, boosting overall partner numbers to over 150.
In Manchester they are James Down, Sean Lightfoot, Richard Allingham and Helen Evans and in Liverpool they are Elan Iorwerth, Helen Penfold and Kate Steele.
CEO Peter Jackson said: "The scheme is another example of Hill Dickinson’s decision to embrace better, more inclusive and diverse ways of working, opening up access via apprenticeships for new entrants at the start of their careers and rewarding talent higher up the chain with the possibility of fast-tracked career progression including a more open and increased full equity model. Lawyers invited to become partners via the scheme will be supported with an ongoing programme of practical support and mentorship."
Cullimore Dutton
Chester legal and financial services firm Cullimore Dutton has appointed a new independent financial advisor.
David Gaweda has joined the company’s in-house financial services team, which is headed up by Dominic Richmond.
He said: "It’s great to join the Cullimore Dutton team at such an exciting time with the recent new office move and the continuing expansion of the services the firm is able to offer clients.
"I hope to add to the team’s broad wealth of expertise and to help broaden our client base across Cheshire and into Shropshire."
JMW Solicitors LLP
Law firm JMW Solicitors LLP, which has offices in Manchester and Liverpool, has appointed Andrew Lilley and Gordon Cartwright as joint heads of its personal injury team.
Cathy Leech has also joined as partner and head of catastrophic injury from Irwin Mitchell where she was a partner for over eight years.
She said: "I am very pleased to have joined the personal injury team at JMW especially at an exciting time when Andy and Gordon have taken over leadership of an already successful team.
"I am looking forward to helping to strengthen and grow the team’s charitable partnerships. I know at JMW I will be able to continue to help my clients get the outcomes they deserve."
Capital&Centric
Manchester-headquartered developer Capital&Centric has made a new appointment.
Scott Mallinson has been brought on board to deliver its design-led communities in and around Greater Manchester.
Mr Mallinson joins from DeTrafford, where he led on delivery of 400+ home projects in Manchester city centre.
At Capital&Centric he’ll head up projects including the rebirth of Farnworth Market in Bolton as well as Ancoats Works and the restoration of Talbot Mill in Manchester.
JLL
JLL has expanded its property management team in Manchester.
The team, which specialises in the management of retail and industrial properties on behalf of a range of clients, has welcomed Gaby Haugh as a senior surveyor in property asset management who previously spent four years at Colliers.
She will be responsible for the management of a number of retail assets across the North West.
Louise Ashall, head of surveying services at JLL in the North West, said: "We’ve seen increased demand for our services from clients over the past few years, as property owners look to keep up with the ongoing changes in sustainability and consumer habits."
UM Terminals
Liverpool-based bulk liquid storage firm UM Terminals has appointed a new managing director.
Phil McEvoy takes up the job after having held several senior roles in the UK and Europe.
Most recently, he was operations director for the UK, Ireland and Northern Europe at global chemicals distributor Univar Solutions.
He said: "This is an exciting time to join UM Terminals. While we are not the biggest company in our sector, we believe our unrelenting customer focus, ability to flex and add value sets us apart."
Sodexo
Food and FM provider Sodexo has appointed Seb Thompson as its new head of communications for its corporate services, Ireland and Sodexo Live! businesses.
He joins Sodexo from Manchester Airports Group (MAG). As head of media at MAG, he was responsible for a small team and led on reputation management, stakeholder engagement, PR, external relations, crisis, social media and CSR comms.
During his career, which also includes roles at agencies such as Weber Shandwick and Brazen PR.
He said: "Sodexo is a large complex organisation and I am looking forward to driving the internal and external communications plans to support the organisation’s business plans and growth.
"I will be working closely with the company’s external PR and campaigns team as well as the employee communications team to enhance its brand reputation and deepen employee engagement."
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