People on the move: Naismiths; Freeths; FPE Global; Bella Design and Marketing; Napthens; Bridging Finance Solutions
People on the move is sponsored by family law firm Hall Brown
Property consultant Naismiths has strengthened its Manchester team with a new appointment who is sure to hit the right notes.
Chris Flanagan joins the firm as a senior consultant, bringing with him 10 years’ experience working with household names including McDonald’s and The Co-operative Group, delivering new stores and refurbishments throughout the country.
He joins from the Co-op, where he was pre-construction costs manager. He said he is looking forward to tackling the many different challenges his new role presents – including the development of a new trampoline centre.
Flanagan, the lead singer in a band that plays at weddings and charity events, said: “Naismiths provided an excellent opportunity to join an expanding team, working on a variety of projects for an impressive list of clients. My experience, particularly in the retail sector, will hopefully bolster an already broadly experienced team in Manchester.
“The variety of projects means different challenges each day of the week. In my first two weeks for example, I have looked at housing developments, the construction of an office and distribution warehouse, and a new-build trampoline centre.
“No two days are ever the same and I’m sure of an exciting and fulfilling future with Naismiths.”
The former Level 5 football referee, who has officiated matches in the prestigious FA Cup, first took up a post as a quantity surveyor for a main contractor in 2007. He was a part of the team which completed social housing refurbishments, and the installation of solar panels.
He graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a BSC (Hons) degree in Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying.
Jim Loftus, director of Naismiths in the company’s Manchester office, said: “ Chris is a great addition to our Northern team whose specific experience will further enhance our already comprehensive Client service offering.”
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National law firm Freeths has announced the promotion of Graeme Danby to director at its Manchester office.
Danby joined Freeths in 2013 to head up and develop the National Creditor Services team. He has significant experience in volume recovery, advising creditors in relation to their position when affected by insolvency and providing advice to creditors on implementing effective credit control strategies and the best course of action based on debt profiling.
Joey Byrne, national head of insolvency and restructuring at Freeths, said: “This is a tremendous achievement and recognition of Graeme’s hard work. Graeme is active in supporting our insolvency practitioner clients nationally to land work by providing proxy and other support and has built up a considerable client base in a short time due to his dedication and focus.”
John May, managing partner for the Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield offices, said: ”We are pleased to announce Graeme’s promotion which is in recognition of his dedication and commitment to the firm.
“He has played a pivotal role in developing our new credit management platform, CMS21, which has helped secure a number of key national clients for the team over recent months, and I am sure the team will continue to develop and grow.”
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Manchester-based specialist engineering firm FPE Global has appointed ex-Gericke managing director Peter Brickenden as key account director to take lead on some of the firm’s highest-profile brands.
He will join the business on April 1, 2017.
With more than 35 years’ experience in materials handling solutions, Brickenden joins FPE having built an industry-leading reputation within the international powder processing industry.
He has previously held positions at Gericke, Californian Pellet Mill (CPM), Clyde Pneumatic Conveying, Solitec and one of FPE’s most established brands, Neu Engineering.
Brickenden will work with some of the firm’s highest-profile clients across its target sectors of food and beverage and chemicals and detergents.
These include a number of major blue-chip brands, with the aim to deliver value added turnkey solutions, including bulk storage, size control, mixing, pneumatic conveying and process automation.
His appointment follows a number of high-profile acquisitions for FPE. New staff welcomed to the firm in recent months include Gareth Durdin as food and beverage sales manager from Gericke, Sylvain LeMézec as export sales manager from Matcon and Peter Slee-Smith as technical industry expert.
Dave Cooper, chief executive at FPE Global, said: “Peter brings with him an exceptional level of technical and commercial credibility, as well as a mature network of high level contacts.
His experience working with some of the largest brands in the industry and familiarity with our existing clients will be a huge boost to us. The relationships he has built over the years will help tremendously as we aim to further expand our reach.”
Brickenden said: “FPE has built a strong management team and continues to demonstrate ambition in competitive markets. My experience working with major brands will help fuel that ambition – strengthening valuable relationships with major brands both domestically and internationally. I am delighted to join FPE and look forward to working with its talented team to seize opportunities in growing markets.”
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Knutsford, Cheshire-based creative agency Bella Design and Marketing is expanding with new Manchester offices and key appointments. Coupled with this growth the agency launched a brand new responsive website.
Joining the creative team at Bella’s Knutsford office are Vicky Pulman, social media and PR account manager, and Sarah-Louise Taylor, account manager.
With four years at McCann Manchester, working on the acclaimed Aldi account and holding a marketing degree from Liverpool University, Bella says Taylor is perfectly positioned to help manage Bella’s client base and brings fantastic energy to the role.
Managing director, Paul Watson said: “The opening of our Manchester office marks an exciting milestone for the agency, enabling us to expand upon and add value to our commercial property clients in the city centre, as well as developing our portfolio of B2B clients in a range of sectors.
“We will also retain and build upon our team in Knutsford, Cheshire, drawing on new talent from both locations as we roll out our expansion plans.”
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Experienced solicitor Karen Yates has joined the wills and estate planning team at regional law firm Napthens.
Yates, who will be based in Preston, joins from a Bolton law firm and has 10 years’ experience as a qualified solicitor.
A full member of STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), and a member of Solicitors for the Elderly, Karen, who lives in Bury, advises clients on estate planning matters including making and reviewing wills, and lasting powers of attorney.
Kathryn Harwood, head of wills and estate planning at Napthens, said: “Growth in demand for advice on estate planning matters has continued to be strong, and following a number of appointments last year we are once again strengthening the team.
“Karen has valuable experience and will play an important role in ensuring our clients continue to have access to the high quality advice they expect.”
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Corporate and commercial banking specialist Lee Gilmore has joined the team at Wirral-based Bridging Finance Solutions as consultant.
Former relationship director at HSBC Gilmore will support the growing business development team, further raising the profile of the business in the North West and identifying new business opportunities with the financial sector.
Tapping in to Gilmore’sextensive background and experience in the banking industry, he will also provide the team with effective coaching and mentoring whilst supporting the team in making informed investment decisions within the business.
He said: “I intend to utilise my in-depth knowledge of the banking sector to support BFS’s strategy on receiving more referrals from the banking industry.
“I have constantly been involved in business development with the north west professional sector for more than 20 years and it is this experience and depth of contacts that will assist my BFS colleagues with their own business development.”
Steve Barber, managing director at BFS, added: “Lee joining the BFS team is a definite coup for us. He is a well-established and recognised figure within the North West banking sector and his experience, contacts and wider understanding will undoubtedly support us in terms of our ambitious future growth plans.”
