People on the move: Carter Corson; McLintocks; Apadmi; Lancashire County Cricket Club; Stagecoach; Knight Knox

Cheshire-based business psychology firm Carter Corson has expanded its board with two key appointments.

Former regional head of Grant Thornton John Shinnick has joined as a non-executive director and psychologist Hannah Johnson has been promoted to lead the digital development of the business.

The news follows plans announced last year to grow the Carter Corson into a £1m operation in 2017, and the appointment of psychologist Sara Duxbury, former people director at Fletchers Solicitors.

Managing director and founder Hazel Carter-Showell said: “It’s an exciting time for the growing team, as the business turns 18 years old this year.

“John brings with him a wealth of experience in professional services, and as an advisor to small businesses. He is well placed to support our growth strategy and he’ll challenge us to be the best we can be.”

Promoting Hannah to director signals an important move towards making psychology accessible to more people, she added.

“Hannah has been heading up our contribution to an international innovation research project, and developing our online tools,” said Carter-Showell.

“Digital technology is a key part of the future for every business, and it’s important we continue to translate our development programmes and behavioural support, to clients online as well.”

Carter Corson, which helps people and businesses to develop through an applied understanding of human behaviour, is based in Wilmslow and boasts a 12-strong team including organisational psychologists and coaches.

It works with high profile public and private sector organisations, in addition to a raft of entrepreneurial growth businesses, and supports individuals, teams and Boards.

Last year, the business moved from Altrincham to Wilmslow and made several senior appointments, including former regional business journalist Rupert Cornford as head of business, and senior psychologists Clare Mulligan and Dr Mandi Sherlock-Storey.

(l-r) John Shinnick with Hazel Carter-Showell and Hannah Johnson

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McLintocks Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors has welcomed a new director to its management team.

The independent accountancy firm, which operates three sites across Chester, Wirral and Wrexham, has appointed Aaron Phillips, 40, who has worked as a chartered tax adviser at the firm for the past three years, following an 11-year stint at a large regional practice.

Phillips joins a team of seven directors and more than 50 staff members and will be responsible for overseeing the firm’s tax services including personal and business tax planning.

He said: “Having worked in the industry for almost two decades, it is a real career highlight to have been appointed as director.

“My wealth of knowledge heavily revolves around personal and corporate taxation, meaning that my focus will be to ensure that all clients receive the best and correct advice surrounding inheritance tax planning, capital gains tax planning, business reorganisations, business succession and exit strategies.”

McLintocks chief executive  Mike Caputo said: “Aaron’s appointment as director is certainly a major development in the firm’s stance as a market leader in the region.

“His impeccable knowledge and delivery of specialist taxation areas will not only further our varied umbrella of services, Aaron’s new senior position will heavily impact the strategic plan to make McLintocks the ‘go to’ firm for all accountancy requirements.”

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Manchester-based mobile technology group Apadmi has appointed a new chief strategy officer to help achieve its ambitious growth plans.

Marcus Hadfield joins from McCann Manchester, with two clear tasks – to add even more customer insight to Apadmi’s 18 years’ mobile experience and to help its expansion into full service mobile solutions.

Prior to six years at McCann, where he was managing partner, Hadfield held senior digital roles in London, with MRM Meteorite and Omnicom.

With nearly 25 of integrated agency experience, he has delivered award-winning campaigns in multiple channels and markets, for clients including American Airlines, Expedia, Costa Coffee, CrossCountry Trains, Wyndham Vacations, Which?, Argos, and Homebase.

Hadfield said: “I’ve always loved working with innovative clients to help find creative solutions to their business problems. It’s no secret that mobile is permanently changing the way that organisations and customers do things, so to be part of the team who I think have the best mobile talent and experience in the UK to deliver new kinds of solutions is really exciting.”

Garry Partington, Apadmi founder and chairman, said: “Bringing Marcus on board is a huge accomplishment for the company. Marcus was the managing partner of one of the most respected digital and marketing agencies in the UK, and it’s fantastic that he has decided that Apadmi is the place to go for his next venture.”

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Lancashire County Cricket Club has appointed David Hodgkiss as its new chairman.

He succeeds Michael Cairns, who announced his decision to retire after nine years as chairman last Monday (April 24).

Hodgkiss joined the Lancashire CCC committee in 1998 and has been an integral part of the board as a non-executive director for the last two decades, including as honorary treasurer between 2003 and 2013, and vice chairman since 2013.

He is chief executive of William Hare Group, which was established in 1945 and is the independent steel fabrication company in the UK, with an annual turnover in excess of £190m.

Hodgkiss has been involved and played an integral part in the entire development at Emirates Old Trafford, playing a key role in recent major milestones and achievements at the club, including the construction and opening of The Point, the LCCC Cricket Bond that raised £3.4m, the £9m of additional public sector funding that was raised to underpin the financing of the new hotel under a prestigious franchise with Hilton, the design of the new hotel and the appointment of the main contractor, and the awarding of the major matches at the venue through to 2019.

Hodgkiss said: “I am honored to be appointed chairman. It is a sporting institution that is at the heart of the cricket landscape, as well as the North West region, and it is renowned around the world for its history, legacy and achievements both on and off the pitch.”

Sir Howard Bernstein, President of Lancashire County Cricket Club, and recently retired Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, commented: “David has achieved so much, both as part of Lancashire County Cricket Club and William Hare Group, and is the right person to take on the role of Chairman of this great Club.

“He has a deep understanding of the Club’s operations through his role as a non-executive (and Treasurer) and recent position as Vice-Chairman, and a strong empathy with our culture and commitment to serving our members, players, supporters, partners and growing the off-the-field business. We are all delighted that he will be the Chairman over the coming years.”

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Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire has bolstered its team with the appointment of a new marketing manager.

Laura Houghton joins the bus operator with more than 10 years’ experience managing marketing campaigns for some of the North West’s biggest brands, including Liverpool ONE, where she held the role of head of campaign.

In her new position, she will be responsible for driving passenger growth through communications and campaign activity across Merseyside, Cheshire and South Lancashire.

She will also work as part of the Bus Alliance marketing group, alongside Merseytravel and Arriva, to raise the profile of travelling by bus in the Liverpool City Region.

Houghton will be based at the firm’s head office in Liverpool and will report in to Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire managing director, Rob Jones.

She said: “Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire is a great business that plays a valuable role in connecting communities across the North West.

“The company has an innovative approach to communications and is pioneering a number of key initiatives to make the customer experience seamless and straightforward, so it’s exciting to be part of that journey.  I’m delighted to be joining this dynamic, ambitious company and look forward to working closely with the great team it has in place to drive growth in passenger numbers.”

Rob Jones, managing director of Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire, added: “It’s fantastic to have Laura on board. She has a wealth of quality experience that will enable us to further develop the business and ensure we’re promoting Stagecoach’s great offering to current and potential passengers across Merseyside, Cheshire and South Lancashire.”

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Property investment consultancy Knight Knox has appointed a new land director as it looks to expand its portfolio across the North of England.

Working alongside Knight Knox’s joint venture partners, Richard Dean will be responsible for identifying, assessing and acquiring sites suitable for development in Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Sheffield. He will also work with architects and planners to secure planning consent for the sites.

Dean brings more than 20 years of experience in the property industry, having been a land director for companies including McCarthy and Stone, Elan Homes and David McLean, where he was also managing director.

He said: “Having built up a strong track record of sourcing and acquiring land suitable for development, I’m excited to have joined the Knight Knox team and look forward to applying my skills to the buzzing private rented sector. The company has helped deliver some truly landmark schemes in major UK cities so I’m proud to now be assisting them with their ambitious plans for growth.”

Knight Knox provides buy-to-let developments to the private investor market, sourcing investment opportunities in both new-build residences and high-end refurbishment projects.

Working exclusively with four developers – X1, Fortis Developments, Forshaw Land & Property Group and Crossbow Investments – the company has built a portfolio of 75 successful projects across the UK since its inception, with a combined value of over £835m.

Andy Phillips, commercial director at Knight Knox, said: “The Knight Knox service starts at the pre-planning stage of the development process, so it’s vital that we have a senior consultant in place to work with our trusted partner developers from the off. Richard has demonstrated his expertise in identifying appropriate land and managing the process through to acquisition, so we’re certain he’ll thrive in his new role and help take us to the next level.”

Knight Knox recently celebrated the topping out of the first tower of its landmark 1,100-apartment X1 Media City scheme in Salford Quays, which joins 15 other developments currently under construction.