Companies from across the South West are continuing to promote and hire staff, with a number of firms making significant announcements in recent weeks.
Businesses in sectors including law, recruitment, accounting, communications and property are among those to have made announcements.
Here, BusinessLive runs through the latest South West appointments you shouldn't miss.
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Coaching Focus
One of the British Army’s most senior ranking leaders has joined a Devon-based professional development firm, bringing his expertise on the world’s battlefields to its boardrooms.
Former British Army commander Lieutenant General Ivan Jones, 55, from Taunton, has become a senior partner with Coaching Focus.
The firm has been based on the outskirts of Exeter since its foundation in 2009 and has clients including Tesco, McDonalds and OVO Energy.
“I wanted to join an organisation that shares my passion for empowering people and unlocking their potential, while helping organisations make an impact beyond performance in the workplace,” he said.
“The Army gave me the opportunity to lead at every level, from battlefield tactics in the most demanding and hostile environments around the world.”
Stags
Stags, the West Country property experts, has announced three partnership changes for 2022.
Tracey Hill and Kevin Clarke, who have been with the firm for a number of years, have both been promoted.
Ms Hill, head of finance, joined Stags in 1995 and was part of the estate agency board for 10 years before joining the partnership.
Mr Clarke joined Stags straight from college and completed a distance learning RICS degree before qualifying as a chartered surveyor. He has worked in a number of positions in the firm, including Exeter residential sales, farm agency and professional services.
Meanwhile, Simon Cooper has decided to retire from the partnership but will remain in the firm. Mr Cooper joined the business in 1987 and was made a partner in 2003.
Alex Rew, managing partner, said: “We welcome both Tracey and Kevin and look forward to working with Simon in his new role.”
The firm has also promoted 14 colleagues to associate and associate partner.
Avon Group
Bristol-based specialist manufacturing and engineering business Avon Group has appointed a new finance director to support the group’s ambitious growth plans.
Charles Toosey has previous experience in financial management and business consulting as finance director for Alvance Aluminium Group and as an associate director at Grant Thornton.
He will be responsible for managing Avon Group’s financial performance as the business embarks on its next phase of growth.
The last two years have seen the group acquiring two additional businesses - Corby-based Scandura and Cheltenham-based Edgewest Plastics (UK).
Mark Rushin, group director of Avon Group, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Charles to the team at a really exciting time for the group. We have emerged from the challenges of the pandemic in a strong position and we’re seeing growing demand for our products across the industry sectors we serve.”
Perivoli Schools Trust
A woman who became a nursery training programme’s first recruit has been appointed joint chief executive of the organisation alongside her husband.
Maya Kafuwa and Titan Madomba are the husband and wife duo helping the Perivoli Schools Trust (PST), an organisation run by a Somerset entrepreneur that trains thousands of nursery school teachers across Africa.
As members of the organisation’s senior leadership team, the pair previously covered Malawi and Zambia, managing a number of regional coordinators.
But their new roles as joint-CEOs mean they will now oversee the full operation across Sub-Saharan Africa.
James Alexandroff, programme director of the PST and an investment fund manager based in Somerset, founded the Trust in 2013, and oversees it from his home in the South West.
In December, the Trust was named among the West Country’s “nicest businesses” of 2021 by BusinessLive.
Ms Kafuwa originally started at the PST in 2017 becoming the organisation’s first trainer in Malawi.
Trowers & Hamlins
Law firm Trowers & Hamlins has bolstered its commercial litigation team in Exeter with new recruit Charisse Crawford.
Ms Crawford specialises in private wealth disputes and contentious asset protection issues.
As part of her new role, she will work closely with Helen Briant and the private wealth team in Birmingham. A qualified lawyer of 12 years, Ms Crawford joins Trowers from Stephens Scown.
Lucy James, head of commercial litigation, said: "We are really pleased that Charisse has joined our commercial litigation team in Exeter. She brings a vast wealth of knowledge and experience to the team and will play a key role in our growth and development."
Ms Clarke added: "I'm excited to be joining the partnership at Trowers and stepping into this varied role.”
JLL
Real estate services specialist JLL has appointed Simon Peacock as head of regions, with responsibility for the firm's 10 regional offices across the UK.
Mr Peacock will join the firm's UK executive board and continue to oversee JLL's South West and Wales regions, across offices in Bristol, Exeter and Cardiff.
He joined JLL in 2011 and has also grown the firm's UK-wide project management business.
"I have been fortunate enough to work across a number of regions during my time at JLL and look forward to using this experience to help drive change and innovation across the country,” he said.
In light of the appointment, former head of regions and the Midlands, Ian Cornock, is taking on a new role and will head the business' regeneration growth initiative. Stuart Smith will take over as lead in the Midlands.
"Regeneration and the levelling up agenda will be a key focus area across the regions going forward, so it is great to have someone as experienced as Ian working with us to help us achieve our ambitions in this area," added Mr Peacock.
The roles took effect from February 1.
Optimum Professional Services
Professional services company Optimum has appointed a new board member.
Tracey Heath, the Swindon-based firm’s practice manager, has become practice director. She joins the existing directors, including accounts director Michael Blaken.
“We are delighted that Tracey has agreed to join the board,” said Mr Blaken. “As our practice manager, who has been with us from the outset, she has a fantastic overview of the entire business.”
Ms Heath began her career in office management with Allied Dunbar (which later became Zurich), and has worked with a number of accountancy practices, as well as Swindon Council and Helen Browning’s Organics.
She said: “Being on the board will enable me to get involved in the running of the business, as well as better communicate what is happening to the rest of the team."
Cubex
Bristol property developer Cubex has appointed Joe Downey as director and Tom Lewis as development manager.
Mr Downey, who has also bought into the business as a shareholder, will head up the company alongside managing director Peter Walford.
He joined Cubex a year ago having previously been managing director of London-based property investor and developer Queensbury Capital, which he founded and was later backed by Fiera Real Estate. Before this, Mr Downey acquired and developed property for FTSE-listed Fraser Group.
Meanwhile, Mr Lewis will join Sarah Trahair-Williams in leading external pre-construction and construction for future Cubex projects.
Before joining Cubex, Mr Lewis worked in consultancy and client-side roles as a project manager and development manager. His experience spans sectors including office, retail, leisure and residential schemes of varying size and complexity.
Mr Walford said: "Joe brings with him significant property expertise and business acumen which will be invaluable in leading and shaping the future of Cubex in the years to come.”
He added: "2021 was a hugely successful year for the business, and we look forward to having Tom on board to help us continue to grow our development pipeline in 2022".
Five Valleys Shopping Centre
A new centre management team has started at Five Valleys Shopping Centre in Stroud.
Jessica Derham moves into a centre manager role, a promotion from her former position as markets and events manager.
Her new job will involve the development of the new medical centre.
Meanwhile Molly Wise has become the new markets and events manager and will lead on promotions and events, including live music, cooking demonstrations and community-based experiences.
Ms Derham said: “I couldn’t be more excited about what we have planned for 2022. Five Valleys Shopping Centre is a vibrant community where our customers receive a warm welcome and consistently good service.”
Ms Wise, who has previously worked within the markets, added: “I am so pleased to join the Five Valleys team and excited by the potential we still have to grow and improve the experience for everyone.”
Socius
Socius, the mixed-use developer and specialist in urban regeneration and placemaking, has appointed Luke Martin as project manager in Bristol, where he will lead on two of the firm's flagship projects - Soapworks and St Christopher’s.
He will be focused on leading on the construction of the £175m redevelopment of Soapworks in Old Market which will restore one of Bristol’s landmark buildings and create a new green mixed-use district in the heart of the city, delivering new homes, Grade A workspace, a food hall and public space.
He is also directing the planning application for St Christopher's, which is set to deliver the first extra care community in Bristol to deliver homes for older people in partnership with ethical investor FORE Partnership and extra care operator Amicala.
Barry Jessup, managing director of Socius, said: “Luke is joining at an incredibly exciting time for Socius as we work to bring forward our near £1bn pipeline of urban regeneration projects across Bristol, Brighton, Cambridge and Milton Keynes.”
Purplefish
Bristol-based communications consultancy Purplefish has hired employer experience and brand expert Lucy McKerron to head up a new division of the business focusing on employee experience communications.
She will join the Paintworks-based, 10-strong Purplefish team as associate director.
With 15 years’ experience in agencies, Ms McKerron joins Purplefish from McCann Synergy where she was head of business development and marketing.
Purplefish, which celebrated a decade in business last year, provides brand communications, PR and social media to a range of clients in the technology, property, business and consumer sectors.
Jo Randall, founder and managing director of Purplefish, said: “Lucy has exceptional experience and we’re very excited to be welcoming her to the team."
Hangloose
Cotswold based adrenaline activity company Hangloose Adventure has appointed Helen Webb, former Air Tattoo marketing lead, as sales and marketing director.
Ms Webb spent 14 years heading up the marketing, ticket sales and customer experience for the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford. Her new role with Hangloose Adventure is based near Cirencester, Gloucestershire.
The company designs, builds and manages adventure parks, including England’s longest zip line at the Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent and England’s fastest zip line over the Eden Project in Cornwall.
She said: “I’m joining Hangloose Adventure at a really exciting time, we opened England’s longest zip line a few months ago and take up has been fantastic.”
Hangloose Adventure’s managing director, Brian Phelps, added: “It’s great that Helen has joined us at this important time in our growth."
Airmec
Bristol-based air hygiene and water specialist Airmec Essential Services has welcomed Diana Beavon to head up marketing activities.
Her goal is to introduce more organisations and businesses to Airmec Essential Services’ specialist, compliance-driven air and water services, the firm said.
Working throughout the UK, Airmec Essential Services specialises in helping companies remain compliant, meeting the health and safety guidelines governing all aspects of air and water hygiene.
Ms Beavon has previously worked with businesses and brands in travel, financial services, design engineering and recruitment.
She said: “I’m especially excited to be working with an independently owned business with customers in both the private and public sector across England and Wales.”
Stephens Scown
The employee-owned law firm has appointed Mark Shepherd as its first people development director.
Mr Shepherd previously held a range of senior leadership roles across the John Lewis Partnership – including regional branch manager and integration lead for John Lewis and Partners.
In addition to his professional career, he also holds senior roles within the broader business community in the South West, including chair of the Greater Exeter Skills Partnership; board member of the Local Enterprise Partnerships Skills Advisory Panel; and deputy wing chair of Devon and Somerset Air Cadets.
He said: “I look forward to nurturing our talented people so they can realise their true potential, all within an employee-owned business that puts people first and involves the workforce in key decision-making.”
Stephens Scown’s managing partner, Richard Baker, added: “Mark’s appointment will help us to forge a path through the continuing challenges of Covid and onto an exciting time of growth.”
Social
Bristol communications consultancy Social has made two new appointments and promoted two colleagues in its South West team.
Tom Jones and Sam Bessant join Social’s South West team to bolster the team’s work across public relations, stakeholder engagement and creative design disciplines.
Mr Jones, a senior account manager, joins Social from English Heritage, where he was responsible for stakeholder engagement for some of the charity’s most important projects. Mr Bessant joins as Social’s new senior graphic designer. His 15-year career has seen him work with Bristol Zoo, Pink Lady apples and Unite Students.
In addition, Tori Madine, who joined the company in 2020, has been promoted to account director, while George Heal, who joined Social at the beginning of last year, is now a senior account executive. Sarah Mahoney joined social as an account manager in September last year.
Ben Lowndes, South West managing director at Social, said: “Last year was a hell of a time for us, and the team has responded to it brilliantly with consistently good work and impressive results for our clients."
Thomas Westcott
Thomas Westcott Chartered Accountants has expanded its payroll team by appointing Jake Elms as payroll operations manager. The South West firm has created this new role in response to growing demand from businesses for specialist payroll support, it said.
A graduate of the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals, Mr Elms was previously payroll manager at Devon firm Darnells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors, where he worked for six years. Before that, he spent six years as payroll administrator at Bishop Fleming.
Based in Thomas Westcott’s Exeter office, he will work with payroll manager Liz Marker to manage and develop the firm’s payroll offering for businesses.
Thomas Westcott’s payroll department has doubled in size in the last five years and now serves around 1,600 clients ranging from small owner-managed businesses to large companies.
Thomas Westcott Partner Keith Clay said: “I would like to extend a very warm welcome to Jake, who joins our payroll team at an important time."
Beard
Construction firm Beard has appointed Melissa Barber to the newly created role of head of people and communications.
According to the firm, the position will bring together employee and customer experiences and provide a connection with the vision and values of the company, which operates across the south of England with offices in Swindon, Guildford, Oxford and Bristol.
A professionally qualified marketer with over 15 years’ experience in the construction and housing sectors, Ms Barber takes on the role after working for two years as head of communications at Beard. She is also a board member at Elim Housing Association, which owns and manages around 800 homes in the South West of England and south Wales.
Beard deputy chairman Neil Sherreard said: “This new role has been created to help us take the business forward under our ambition to be better tomorrow than we are today.”
Beard was established in 1892, and undertakes design and build, new build, restoration and refurbishment on a range of projects.
Launch
Exeter-based paid media agency Launch has appointed Stephanie Iles as sales director. She joins the agency from SearchStar (now Adapt Worldwide), where she worked for more than five years as a new business director.
Ms Iles will help Launch to reach new prospects, aligning the agency’s services with individual business goals, and be a first port of call for brands, the firm said.
She said: “I’ve worked and travelled across the world during my career, but my heart is in the South West. I’m very excited to have joined Launch, where the team has the same passion as I do for championing businesses across the region.”
Jaye Cowle, managing director of Launch, added: “Steph is an experienced operator who is perfectly placed to continue the excellent growth we have experienced over the past few years.”
Ms Iles is the latest appointment in a year that’s seen Launch grow from seven to 20 people to meet the growing demand for digital marketing services.
Cathedral Appointments
Cathedral Appointments, the Exeter recruitment consultancy, has appointed Clodagh Murphy as a director.
Her role will focus on spearheading the strategic support systems which aim to accelerate the company’s growth plans for 2022 and beyond.
According to the company, the appointment will also strengthen the firm’s senior team and board.
She said: I am truly excited to be joining such a prestigious company. Cathedral Appointments is a name that is well known in the Exeter region and one that is well-respected.
“The vision for the company in the next year is a fast-paced one, but one that will undoubtedly add another dimension to an already brilliant business. I look forward to getting stuck in.”
Dorset LEP
Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) enters the new year with the arrival of four new board members: May Palmer, Dr Liz Williams, Prof Paul Gough and Phil Sayles.
The new members come from a variety of backgrounds in skills, education, business support, international affairs and housing.
Dorset LEP’s board represents the views and opinions of Dorset’s business, education and public sectors. To date, it has secured £170.5m of government funding which has been invested in 74 projects across the county, including supporting more than 4,500 businesses.
The LEP said Dorset firms had also been supported in securing more than £1.5m of Innovate UK funding through its bid-writing service.
Cecilia Bufton, chair of Dorset LEP, said: “These exciting new appointments are bringing their expertise to us at a crucial time for Dorset LEP. Over the next year our focus will be on levelling up opportunities to drive talent, innovation and productivity in the region."
Emma Hunt and Diane Grannell pass on their board of director mantles, having moved on to new ventures.
Keystone Law
Keystone Law has appointed Toby Ward as a partner to the firm’s commercial team.
Mr Ward, who is based in Somerset, previously worked at CMS and Alden Legal.
He has over 20 years’ experience advising businesses in high-tech and regulated sectors, including finance, telecommunications, and the growing space and satellite industry.
He also assists with the structuring of commercial arrangements and procurement strategies.
The team has now grown to over 35 senior lawyers.
James Knight, chief executive and founder of Keystone Law, said: “I am delighted to welcome Toby to the firm. Toby’s breadth of experience is a great addition to the services we offer to our commercial clients across a number of specialist sectors."
24-7 Staffing
South West recruitment company 24-7 Staffing has appointed Sandie Rutter to its team of directors. She takes up a new role as director of care and commercial recruitment.
Ms Rutter has 34 years in the industry, with the past 10 specialising in health and social care. She has worked in the recruitment industry since 1988.
“I’m thrilled to be joining 24-7 Staffing, and I look forward to supporting my team, clients, and candidates," she said.
Managing director Julian Thompson added: “We’ve been looking for the right person to fulfil this role in the business for a few years now and when Sandie came along, we knew she was the perfect fit."
The team at 24-7 Staffing specialise in recruiting for the driving, commercial, healthcare, and industrial sectors with offices in Chippenham, Bristol and Salisbury.
Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton UK LLP has promoted its head of employee benefits to partner.
Ben Rowntree heads up the national consultancy team supporting 120 clients and has more than 20 years’ experience in people advisory roles, four of which have been with Grant Thornton.
Previously situated in London, he will be moving to join the firm’s Bristol office as part of his recent appointment.
During his career, Mr Rowntree has advised clients with regard to both UK and global employee benefits, having historically worked for large multinational advisory and brokerage businesses.
He said: “I am incredibly proud to progress to partner at Grant Thornton and continuing to head up the employee benefits side of the business.
“It’s an incredibly exciting time for the firm as the scale of investment by businesses in the South West continues.”
Quantuma
Business advisory firm Quantuma has appointed new managing director Tim Sloggett to further strengthen its offering in the South West and Wales region.
Mr Sloggett helps businesses that are underperforming and/or facing a cash flow crisis, according to Quantuma.
He has spent most of his career working in Big Four firms, as well as five years at Barclays Bank in its turnaround and restructuring team.
Louise Durkan, head of the firm’s national financial advisory team, also takes over as head of the region following the retirement of outgoing head, Graham Randall.
Mr Sloggett said: “This is a really exciting time to be joining Quantuma, helping it to continue the impressive growth journey and expand its capabilities. It is inevitable that businesses are going to need vital support in the coming months and years as they face unprecedent challenges from the pandemic and Brexit.”
PinPoint Media
Cheltenham creative agency PinPoint media has announced a number of appointments and promotions for 2022.
Doug Hurcombe, an award-winning creative and film director, has joined as creative director.
Ian Smalley has also joined as the new head of content strategy and will be based in the London office, overseeing a team of strategy, social and data experts.
Paula Bond has joined the company's marketing team as marketing manager, while Amy Green steps into the role of business development director. She will also be working from the London office.
PinPoint Media’s chief executive, Oliver Bruce, said: “It’s really exciting to be able to appoint so many senior-level positions in such a short space of time. If we’re to double revenues annually we need the very best talent to help us do this!”
Earlier this month, PinPoint announced it had secured a deal to help market the world’s largest military air show, which is set to return to Gloucestershire this year.
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