People on the Move: CTI Digital; Jackson Lees; Knight Corporate Finance; Farleys Solicitors; St Modwen

Manchester-based digital agency CTI Digital has made a significant investment to expand its client base by appointing a dedicated London managing director to its London office.

The agency, which celebrated 15 years of business last year, has long occupied a small office in central London.

To increase the agency’s capacity to serve London-based clients, CTI Digital is investing in a new Shoreditch-based operation.

The new London MD, Steve Gale, will relocate to London from the Manchester office on a full-time basis starting next month.

Steve will report to CTI Digital Group managing director, Dave Beswick, who will remain at the Manchester head office.

The new London MD will oversee the strategic operation of the expanded office and work directly with clients based in the South of England and Europe.

The news follows a recent acquisition of e-commerce specialists Nublue and appointment of a new finance director.

Steve Gale has long been a director at CTI Digital and joined the CTI Digital board earlier this year. In his new position Steve will play a key role in future acquisitions and the pan-European growth of CTI Digital.

A senior team including head of strategy and digital transformation, Matt Smith, commerce director Ian Cassidy, and Drupal director Paul Johnson will support the growth of the London office.

The cross-department team will operate between both offices as the London team expands to more than 20 people throughout the next six months.

The 150-strong Manchester, London and Lancaster-based agency currently works with clients including Merlin, British Council, McGraw Hill, University of West London and Greater London Authority.

Chief executive Nick Rhind said: “With a fantastic team already in place we’re looking forward to bringing on board a new generation of CTI Digital talent in London.

“Drawn from our proximity to Shoreditch’s Silicon Roundabout we hope to attract some of the capital’s best and brightest, as well as hiring talent from outside London.”

Steve Gale said: “Drawing on 15 years of accomplishments as an independent agency in Manchester, I’m looking forward to driving growth full-time in London.

“I believe CTI Digitals’ strong technology-agnostic approach and digital transformation thinking will appeal well to an expanded London-focused client base.”

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Jackson Lees Group has appointed an experienced litigator, Anna Salisbury, to its commercial litigation team.

Anna specialises in insolvency – both personal and company – general debt recovery, commercial and civil disputes, including breach of contract, and professional negligence claims. She represents individuals, sole practitioners, limited companies and plcs.

With more than 12 years’ experience she has worked across the North West, representing clients at both Liverpool and Manchester High Court on high value complex cases, including being involved in a two-year fraud case recovering assets of more than £18m.

Working from the firm’s Walker House office in Exchange Flags in Liverpool’s commercial district, Anna will join a seasoned team of solicitors headed by the firm’s commercial director Stuart Capstick.

Anna Salisbury

Anna said: “I’m delighted to have joined the Jackson Lees team and to be working alongside such a stellar group of professionals. I’ve known Stuart for many years and have always held the firm in very high regard.”

Stuart Capstick, director & head of personal injury, civil and commercial litigation, said: “Anna is an expert litigator with many years’ varied commercial experience under her belt and we are delighted to have her join Jackson Lees.

“It’s an exciting time for the business and we’re positioning for ongoing growth across departments by bolstering our team and ensuring we have the experience and expertise in place to enable us to continue to deliver outstanding results.”

The Jackson Lees Group is an award-winning firm made up of Broudie Jackson Canter and Jackson Lees. The group provides a full-service legal solution to personal and commercial clients and has more than 280 employees across six offices in Merseyside and Manchester.

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Knight Corporate Finance, the ICT specialist advisors based in Warrington and London, has strengthened its team in line with an increase in deal activity.

Following a landmark 2018/19, which saw Knight complete its 100th deal and celebrate its 10th birthday, Knight has made two key appointments to support and enhance the service it provides to clients.

Chris Collins

Chris Collins joins as corporate finance executive from The Camlee Group where he advised owner managers on the disposal of their businesses.

Prior to this, Chris worked at Acceleris Capital advising high growth technology and biotechnology companies on their capital raises.

Chris said: “Over the years Knight has proven itself to be a leading advisor in the ICT space and I am delighted to be joining the company. I believe this to be a fantastic opportunity to work with some truly great companies within a buoyant and exciting sector.”

Knight also welcomes Nick Townley-Wells to the team, who joins as corporate finance associate from the restructuring services department at Deloitte.

Nick Townley-Wells

Nick said: “It is such an exciting time to be joining Knight. M&A activity in the ICT sector is extremely prominent at present, providing ample opportunity for businesses to prosper in an ever-changing and dynamic environment. I look forward to working closely with our clients to help them achieve their long-term ambitions.”

The two appointments follow a busy period at Knight which has experienced a flurry of recent deal completions.

Knight director Adam Zoldan said: “By increasing our investment and focus on strengthening our team, combined with unparalleled sector experience, we will continue to enhance our service dedicated to realising our client’s aspirations.”

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Law firm Farleys Solicitors has welcomed three new recruits to its commercial property team across the region.

The expansion of the team follows an increase in new instructions from developers, landowners and the private rented sector.

Associate Ashlea Thornton joins Farleys’ Manchester office from Fieldings Porter, bringing with her considerable experience in a wide range of property work including property finance and investment, land acquisition and disposal, the acquisition and disposal of business premises, and commercial lettings.

Ashlea Thornton

The firm has also appointed solicitors Rob Parkinson and Joe McCreadie to its Preston and Blackburn offices, respectively.

Both will be working with the wider commercial property team, dealing with acquisitions and disposals of property, leases and other development work.

Ian Liddle, partner at Farleys, said: “These appointments reflect the increasing demand we’re seeing from our commercial clients across the region.

“Ashlea, Rob and Joe will allow us to further develop our offering to existing and new clients, whilst continuing to provide comprehensive and commercial property advice to a wide range of businesses and sectors.

“On behalf of the firm we wish them all the best in their future success here at Farleys Solicitors.”

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St Modwen has appointed Stuart Murray from Savills in the latest expansion of its new dedicated business unit, St Modwen Industrial & Logistics.

Stuart joins as a development director with a focus on the North West region having been a director in Savills’ industrial and logistics agency team, with more than 20 years’ experience in the sector.

In his new role Stuart will be responsible for acquiring new development sites as well as continuing to build on St Modwen’s national industrial and logistics footprint.

St Modwen has confirmed several appointments across its new business unit in recent months, including Rupert Joseland as managing director of industrial & logistics.

Rupert leads an experienced senior team including Ian Romano as senior development director, David Binks as senior leasing director and Richard Carter as senior construction director.

Stuart will join other development directors with a regional focus, including Nick Kay (South East), Pete Davis (West/Wales) and Gregg Titley (Midlands).

St Modwen has a committed pipeline of more than 1.5m sq ft in 2019, having delivered 1m sq ft in 2018, and expects to commit to up to 2m sq ft annually within the next two years. This is supported by one of the UK’s biggest total pipelines spanning 15m sq ft, 60% of which has planning permission.

Stuart Murray said: “It’s an exciting time to be joining St Modwen as the market is increasingly recognising the company’s ability to identify and bring forward major strategic sites. With such a strong pipeline promised, St Modwen has the skills and knowledge to become a significant player in the UK.”

Ian Romano said: “Stuart brings a wealth of experience and specialist knowledge and his appointment will be invaluable as we continue to drive forward our presence in the sector.

“The newly-formed dedicated business unit is a statement of intent – with sights firmly set on accelerating our identification and delivery of quality schemes, of all sizes, across the UK.

“Stuart will be a real asset to the team – he’s expertly placed to know what occupiers want and can help us deliver to the highest spec.”

Stuart Murray

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