On the move: the latest East Midlands hires

Accountancy firm Smith Cooper has appointed Andrew Stevens as insolvency director to work across the firm’s offices.

Stevens’ career, spanning 29 years, is built on advising distressed and underperforming owner managed businesses in the SME market and for the last 15 months he has been involved in his own boutique insolvency practice.

Stevens said: “I’m am thrilled to be joining Smith Cooper’s highly regarded practice. My experience will compliment Smith Cooper’s existing offering and I am looking forward to assisting businesses and individuals who are experiencing difficulties in this uncertain market where margins remain tight.”

Laura Wiles has joined SDL Auctions Graham Penny as a residential valuer across the East Midlands.

Wiles was recruited from Hammond Property Services in Nottingham, an estate agent where she spent more than four years as a valuer.

Before that, she spent more than seven years with Santander Bank, working up from a cashier clerk to a post as

Laura Wiles

customer relations manager for 13 branches.

Andrew Parker, managing director and auctioneer at SDL Auctions, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Laura to our team. From the moment I interviewed her I quickly decided she was the sort of person whose experience and passion would help our operations across the region.”

Wiles is based at SDL Auctions Graham Penny’s Chilwell office, working in both Leicester and Nottingham. She is also supporting the company’s Birmingham and Stoke offices.

She said: “I love the fast-paced nature of property sales in the world of auctions, as opposed to how slow they can be via private treaty sales.

“I enjoyed my last job but felt there were not many other roles to move to. I’m really pleased to be joining SDL Auctions Graham Penny as it’s a company that’s growing, and they shaped a position they felt matched my skills.

“I’m excited by how the property world is forever changing. In the world of auctions you have no idea what you’re coming into from one day to the next, viewing properties all over the country.”