People on the move: Momentum Pensions; MHA Moore and Smalley; Gazprom Energy; Country Gates and Barriers

Craig Cheyne

Momentum Pensions, the growing pension specialist and SIPP (self invested personal pensions) provider, based in Sale, Greater Manchester, has appointed Craig Cheyne as UK managing director as it builds for UK expansion.

Cheyne joined Momentum Pensions in August 2013 and has worked in financial services for more than 25 years, building his career as an IFA, with extensive international experience built in Singapore and South East Asia with Royal Skandia International and in the UK with Zurich Life.

Mark Gaywood, group chairman, Momentum Pensions said; “Craig is the ideal candidate to lead our UK business and will drive our ambitious growth strategy centred around deep technical knowledge, focused and personal service to the adviser community and a transparent operating model.”

Cheyne said; “I am excited to be joining Momentum Pensions Manchester operations at this stage in its development. Our goal is to become a dominant player in the specialist pensions sector and our growth to-date validates our commitment to building trusted adviser relationships.”

The UK and international specialist has achieved growth of around 120% in total UK SIPP accounts in the past 12 months as group assets under administration have hit £1.6bn.

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North West accountancy firm MHA Moore and Smalley has appointed Keith Porter as a partner in its Southport office.

Porter, who joins from Champion Accountants, will play a lead role in managing and growing the team in Southport, as well as advising a wide-range of clients.

A specialist in accountancy, audit and tax services, Porter has worked for a number of accountancy firms in Southport, Liverpool and Preston over the last 25 years.

Graham Gordon, managing partner at MHA Moore and Smalley, said: “Our Southport office has grown in terms of staff numbers, clients and geographic reach over the last few years.

“Keith is a well-known professional in the region and he has forged strong links with the business community over many years. His experience will be invaluable as we manage our ongoing growth.”

Porter added: “I grew up in Burscough and have lived in Southport for more than two decades. It’s a patch I know very well and there are some truly great businesses here of all shapes and sizes.

“MHA Moore and Smalley has a great team in Southport. The firm is successful because of its proactive approach and the breadth of expertise it can offer clients. It’s great to be onboard.”

MHA Moore and Smalley has a team of 18 in Southport and more than 300 staff across eight other offices in the region.

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Gazprom Energy, a specialist business gas and electricity supplier, has announced the appointment of Grace Rothery as head of UK retail and Mark Eccles as general manager retail.

Rothery, previously head of legal, brings more than seven years’ experience at Gazprom Energy to the new role.

She will oversee the UK commercial and operational functions based in Manchester, applying her existing knowledge of the business and commercial energy sector to meet this new challenge.

Eccles also has a wealth of experience in the industry and knowledge of the business after holding several senior positions at Gazprom Energy over 12 years. In his new position Eccles will expand his role from a solely UK focus to include France and Netherlands business operations.

Gazprom Energy has celebrated another successful year after it was named the UK’s largest business gas supplier (based on volume) for the second time by market analyst Cornwall Insight, continuing to widen the gap between itself and the competition.

Rothery said: “Gazprom Energy provides great career development opportunities to its employees, supporting them with new roles and skills, and I’m looking forward to my new challenge.”

Eccles added: “Gazprom Energy has experienced another impressive year and being named as the largest non-domestic provider in the market again is testament to our continued investment in both customers and market strategy.

“This is something that I aim to uphold in my new role – driving business growth even further across our key territories.”

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Specialist perimeter protection company Country Gates and Barriers has appointed a new business development manager to spearhead its ambitious expansion plans.

The Stockport-based business has invested £100,000 in a new showroom at its Bredbury base, where it is showcasing a new range of products from premium French gates brand Horizal.

As well as its own expansion plans, Country Gates and Barriers has signed an exclusive deal to become the only distributor for the brand in the UK and Ireland.

This is expected to accelerate its growth, and new business development manager Darren Weatherill will be instrumental in putting these plans into action.

Weatherill, from Burnley in Lancashire, has a wealth of experience in business development, business planning and sales management.

He said: “I am delighted to join at such an exciting time for the company, and am looking forward to the challenges ahead.

“Country Gates and Barriers is well respected, family-run business that employs skilled craftsmen, and I am proud to be working for them.”

Nick Corbett, managing director at Country Gates and Barriers, said: “We could not be more pleased that Darren has come on board as our new business development manager.

“With this new European deal pushing the business forward it is a crucial time for us, and I know Darren will be able to maximise the success of the brand.”

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