People on the move: BDP; Adroit; Stephensons Solicitors; Law Society of England Wales; RSM; BT

BDP, the international interdisciplinary practice of architects, designers, engineers and urbanists has appointed two new Principals from its Manchester studio.

In March 2016, BDP combined forces with Japan’s leading engineering practice Nippon Koei to form an integrated design group of genuine international reach.

Now, architect Ged Couser and building services engineer Robert Ferry have joined the practice’s leadership team which is embarking on an ambitious expansion worldwide of its projects and studio network.

Couser leads the architect profession group in Manchester and is also president of Manchester Architects. His work is primarily focused upon healthcare and he was the project director for the new Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and is currently leading the new Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Project.

He is on the Places Matter North West Design Review panel and in 2015 he was appointed as a built environment expert by Design Council Cabe.

Ferry leads the BDP environmental design group/building services team in Manchester and is a former chairman of CIBSE North West, involved in various initiatives aimed at bringing young people into engineering.

His major projects include the engineering of the Manchester Town Hall extension and Central Library transformation programme, bringing the Grade II-listed buildings up to modern environmental standards.

Chief executive John McManus said: “We are delighted to welcome Ged and Rob to the leadership of the practice and we are confident that their governance and direction will enhance its continuing good health.”

“We are now embarking upon a new and more ambitious international development plan that will not only strengthen and consolidate the practice’s current international studio network but will lead to the establishment of more BDP studios outside the UK.”

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Adroit, the independent financial advisor, has unveiled a new team at the top after recruiting four leading experts from rival Frenkel Topping.

Neil Brownhill, Andrew Taylor, Paul Rosson and Stan Coupe have joined the Manchester city centre firm, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

It is headed up by Neil Jefferies who brings more than 30 years’ experience in the industry including almost a decade working at private bank and wealth manager, Coutts and Co.

Adroit is a team of independent financial advisors dealing with investments, protection, retirement and estate planning among its services.

It is best known for its work with law firms, for example, advising on divorce settlements or assisting victims of serious injury, medical negligence or Court of Protection clients who can no longer look after their own affairs.

Jefferies said: “Our expertise means we can help people understand their entitlements and assess their financial losses. Once the case is settled, we can advise them on how to invest funds in the most efficient way.

“For someone who has been injured and forced to give up work after an accident that wasn’t their fault, the settlement they receive has to last a lifetime so it’s important to get it right.”

Adroit, which was recently rebranded to mark the company’s 20-year milestone, currently looks after more than £100m in savings and investments for clients.

Paraplanner Jatin Mistry has also moved from Salford-based Frenkel Topping to join the team which includes Veronica Gavin McNulty, compliance manager since 2000.

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A senior lawyer at Greater Manchester-based Stephensons Solicitors has been appointed to a high profile post within the Law Society of England Wales.

Ann Harrison, chairwoman of Stephensons has been named as the new vice chair of the law management section of the Law Society, the representative body for solicitors.

The law management section supports those responsible for the management of the business, including managing and senior partners, practice managers and suppliers of financial or management service to legal practices.

It provides members with support, advice, networking opportunities and enables the sharing of best practice.

Specific areas of focus for the section include talent management, cyber security, IT, financial management and client relations.

Harrison said: “I am delighted to have been appointed in this role and look forward to working with the Law Society as well as its members on growing and improving the support being provided by the Law Management Section. It is more important than ever for those managing law firms to adapt and innovate to ensure they weather the period of change and uncertainty ahead of us in the legal sector.”

Robert Bourns, president of the Law Society added: “We welcome Ann and look forward to working with her to further strengthen our member offering.”

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Audit, tax and consulting firm RSM has strengthened its tax practice by appointing a new associate director in its Preston office.

Pam Maddock is a chartered tax adviser and joins RSM from a ‘big four’ firm where she worked within the private client team, specialising in advisory and compliance tax services to a wide range of individuals, family owned businesses, partnerships and trusts.

In her new role, Maddock will provide support to a growing number of private clients – advising on personal tax, trust, estate and succession planning issues, whilst working closely with the team to grow the practice and its offering.

Kevin Duffy, RSM’s office managing partner in Preston, said: “It’s great to have Pam on board. She joins at an exciting time as our private client tax practice continues to grow and drawing on Pam’s extensive experience we will further strengthen our offering – allowing us to support more high net worth individuals with complex tax planning needs.”

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BT has appointed a new senior executive Simon Yellowley to head up its public sector business in the North of England and implement a new strategic direction to increase local presence across the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humber regions.

Yellowley has worked at BT for 19 years, in which time he has built up a wealth of experience in BT’s public sector business – working on everything from consultancy to major deals and sales management.

He will lead a team of 20, with a strategic focus on building local relationships with customers in the North of England such as local authorities, local NHS organisations, universities and housing associations.

BT has 300 public sector customers across the North of England and Yellowley will be focused on helping customers to connect, collaborate, integrate and transform citizen, patient, tenant and student services.

He said: “BT’s technology and expertise can help the public sector reduce costs and drive efficiencies, as well as supporting them to take a more digital approach to their customers.

“Throughout the North of England BT is making massive investments in technologies and innovations, customer service and, not least, fixed and mobile networks, which gives us a great opportunity to combine services for our public sector customers.”

“We understand the need for the public sector to make more localised decisions which give the maximum benefit for the local people using their services.

“Having a team of people who live and work in the North of England and understand the landscape is going to be hugely advantageous. I’m proud to be leading the team and look forward to strengthening BT’s relationships with our colleagues in the public sector.”

He will work closely with BT’s regional boards in the North East, North West and Yorkshire & Humber.

North West board chairman, Mike Blackburn, said: “Simon’s appointment marks a new strategic direction for our Public Sector division, with significant investment and focus at a local level. Simon has massive experience and a strong track record which will undoubtedly revitalise our public sector business and drive innovation.

“I’m sure our public sector customers will welcome this renewed focus and commitment from BT as they negotiate the major IT infrastructure and digital transformation programmes that will be necessary in the years ahead.

“With such a strong presence and unrivalled capabilities across the North of England, we’re ideally placed to support them.”