People on the Move: Manchester Junior Chamber International; PHMG; Godel; LUV Financial Solutions; Kolodo

Steph Peña

Paralegal Steph Peña has been made social director of Manchester’s Junior Chamber International (JCI), a network for young go-getters.

Steph, who works for the Manchester office of national law firm Clarke Willmott, will be in charge of planning, preparing and promoting a series of JCI events over the coming year.

JCI is a global, not-for-profit organisation, for 18- to 40-year-olds with a mission to provide development opportunities to empower young people to create positive change.

“We are excited to have this opportunity to be more involved with JCI,” said Steph, a member of Clarke Willmott’s construction law team.

“Since our office has expanded this year there are nearly 20 members of staff eligible to network, attend training and join the community JCI have built.

“It will be great for our ‘up and coming’ lawyers and paralegals to start building their networks and reap the benefits JCI has to offer.

“Clarke Willmott is committed to nurturing the next generation of lawyers, providing them with a forum to build relationships by networking, training and peer support.”

JCI’s Manchester branch offers its members opportunities to develop their management and leadership skills by heading up projects.

“I’m really looking forward to the next 12 months on the board. Being part of JCI will broaden my network of contacts and develop my networking skills,” added Steph.

Members, who combine annual black-tie dinners with fundraising for charity, can also practise their public speaking and presentation skills in front of fellow members.

JCI has an impressive list of prominent international alumni, including presidents Jack F Kennedy and Jacques Chirac of France, and UN secretary general, Kofi Annan.

The British Junior Chamber has members in branches across the UK, with the JCI present in more than 100 countries across the globe.

Clarke Willmott has seven offices across the country, including Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton and Taunton

The Manchester construction team advises in sectors including renewable energy, transport, local government, infrastructure, social housing, retail, and facilities management.

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Audio branding agency PHMG has appointed Gareth Watt as head of talent acquisition and development.

Watt joins the Manchester-based company to support ongoing global growth plans and will be both spearheading the entire recruitment process, while managing the continual development of staff across the business.

He brings more than 12 years of experience in blue chip and digital media businesses to the role, having previously worked for Dentsu Aegis Network as UK head of recruitment, and Barclaycard in senior people resourcing positions.

“PHMG has earned an enviable reputation for the quality of its personnel – passion, hard work and people lie at the core of its ongoing success,” said Watt.

Gareth Watt

“I will be working to further raise the bar with the service we deliver and help PHMG take the next step in their evolution.”

Chief financial officer Matthew Toynton added: “PHMG is a global market leader and we continue to work hard to ensure that our pole position is maintained.

“Attracting and keeping the star performers in our industry is the bedrock of our success, so Gareth’s appointment represents a significant investment in our people.

“With an innovative approach to talent strategy, from process design to HR technology, he will be helping us to better support our clients and deliver market-leading products and services.

“We are confident he will help the company continue to go from strength to strength.”

Established in 1998, PHMG is the world’s leading audio branding agency with more than 32,000 clients in 39 countries worldwide, including Coca-Cola, Audi and Adidas.

PHMG was recently placed 10th in the ‘Leadership and Culture at Work: the CMI/Glassdoor Top 20’ list. The company was also featured in the ‘1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain’, FT 1000: Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies’ and the ‘Greater Manchester Ward Hadaway Fastest 50’ lists.

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Godel, the nearshore software development firm has appointed Neil McMurdo as its new managing director, effective immediately.

He takes the step up from the role of UK operations director.

Neil Turvin takes up the role of executive chairman and will continue to focus on Godel’s strategic global expansion with McMurdo taking on the day-to-day running of the business.

Having joined Godel in 2015, McMurdo has been instrumental in working with Neil Turvin and the board in scaling the company from around 200 technology specialists to its current headcount of 750 specialists across six locations in the UK and Belarus.

As well as playing a key role in operations, McMurdo has also been a driving force in the enhancement of Godel’s service delivery function which has become essential to growth and quality delivery.

Neil McMurdo

He’s also been actively involved in the firm’s business plan which aims to have a 1,000+ strong headcount by 2020.

Prior to Godel, McMurdo held roles in product development, operations, service delivery and trading within the technology, online gambling and logistics industries.

Neil McMurdo said: “Godel has enjoyed fantastic growth over the last few years and our focus on continued progress in our strategic plans allows me to put my years of experience into action in the day-to-day running of the company, whilst providing Neil Turvin with the opportunity to focus on global operations and expansion.

“I am incredibly excited about our future.”

Neil Turvin said: “Demand for Godel’s services continues to be unprecedented, with some exciting wins for the company in 2018.

“Having grown operations in five delivery centres across Belarus, we aim to continue this to ensure that we can provide our clients with the highest quality software engineering and ensure that our culture and our core values are embedded into those new locations and new members of staff.

“I am delighted that Neil has taken up the role of managing director – he has a detailed understanding of our business, our team and our clients, and he’s an outstanding people person – he has all the components necessary to make a success of the role.”

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Warrington-based LUV Financial Solutions have announced the appointment of Mike Nolan as a non-executive director to create an own book facility to complement the company’s asset finance brokerage and used car finance operation.

Mike was a founder director of Academy Leasing and when the company was sold to 1pm plc in August 2015 he stayed on as a main board member for three years with responsibility for the asset finance division and identification of acquisition opportunities.

During his tenure the group turnover rose from £12.5m to £30m, with a pre-tax profit of £7.9m, from £2.5m, and now comprises seven group companies, all of which serve SMEs in the UK.

Mike Nolan

Mike Nolan said: “This is a great time to be involved in a business with a young, enthusiastic team which is well supported by its ambitious shareholders.

“My objective is to help LUV FS develop a more comprehensive range of financial products to offer to both individuals and SMEs throughout the UK.”

Steve Hibbert, LUV FS chairman who, like Mike, has more than 30 years’ experience in growing businesses, said: “I am delighted that Mike Nolan has decided to join the main board of LUV FS as non-exec director.

“His expertise and industry knowledge after building one of the UK’s largest independent leasing companies, Academy Leasing, will help push LUV on to the next stage of its growth plan to be a leading independent ‘go to’ finance house specialising in motor, asset and development/bridging finance.”

Steve Coulthard, managing director of LUV FS, said: “LUV FS has achieved rapid growth to date and has exciting future expansion plans. This is an amazing opportunity for both Mike and LUV FS and we welcome him on board.”

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Liverpool digital marketing consultancy Kolodo has appointed its first commercial director, Martin Sylvester, as it eyes further growth opportunities.

Martin, who previously worked for Reckless where he was a digital strategist, will join part of the senior team working alongside managing director Josh Diamond and creative director Mark Parsons.

His remit will be to identify new business opportunities, help develop new products, and look after the commercial side of the business, as well as lead on client’s digital strategy.

Martin Sylvester

Josh Diamond said: “It is an exciting time for consultancy, we’ve grown rapidly – especially towards the end of last year.

Martin brings with him a wealth of experience to the business and shares our vision as to where we want to take the consultancy.

“His passion, strategic thinking and commercial acumen make him the perfect fit as the business looks to grow.”

Martin added: “I’m looking forward to working with a great bunch of people, drawing on their talent and expertise to help build and shape the consultancy into 2019.”

Kolodo’s clients include The Mission to Seafarers, Grosvenor Furniture, Thornton Manor, Callabco UK, and Cheshire Young Carers.

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