People on the Move: Dept; Imagile Professional Services; AlphaBiolabs; ICE (NW); Legat Owen; Pearson

International digital agency Dept is expanding its senior team in Manchester with the appointment of Farooq Ansari as business development director and senior UX designer Phil Williams.

Ansari joins Dept with more than 13 years of varied experience in the digital sector comprised of roles in senior management, business development, strategy, production and project management.

Before joining Dept, he was the CEO of Reason Digital for three years prior to moving into a commercial director role at Manchester’s Space 48.

Ansari said: “It’s a great time to join Dept with the agency thriving and going from strength to strength. Dept has been on my radar since the agency’s inception – I’ve always admired their varied projects from web and app development to digital marketing campaigns and enterprise-level software.

“There is so much to mention when speaking about Dept, I won’t be short for words with their integrated proposition, which makes my new position very interesting.”

Williams joins Dept with more than 12 years of experience in digital design and user experience. He was most recently the head of UX and optimisation at PRWD and is looking forward to integrating himself in the complex builds within the larger agency.

He said: “The bar is set high when you join an international agency, especially when you’ll be working within a multi-award winning creative team, but I’m very excited for the challenge ahead.”

Managing director of Dept UK & US, Jasper van de Luijtgaarden, said: “In an industry that is so reliant on talent, we are extremely fortunate to have secured Farooq and Phil. The pair enter Dept with extensive knowledge in the digital sector that will be fundamental in propelling the business forward.”

These two new hires join Dept during a period of growth, as the UK team has doubled its workforce in the past six months through the acquisition of Manchester digital agency e3creative, alongside organic growth.

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Independent infrastructure asset management consultancy firm, Imagile Professional Services, has appointed Laura Evans as its new business development manager to strengthen its growing team.

The firm was established just over two years ago and has seen impressive growth, having completed more than 1,400 projects in that time.

Laura joins the firm from infrastructure magazine Partnerships Bulletin and has extensive experience in the industry, having previously held similar roles at other advisory organisations over the past five years.

She said: “I am incredibly excited to join the IPSL team and it’s great to be a part of such an ambitious company. I truly believe that the skills I can offer will bring a new dimension to an already well-established and highly-regarded firm.

Laura Evans

“My focus will be on continuing to build and maintain strong client relationships to best support further expansion and growth across all areas of the business.”

After studying mathematics at the University of Southampton, Laura went on the work for a number of companies within the PPP sector, including DWPF and Mazars before moving to a role at Partnerships Bulletin.

Managing director Gary Brown said: “We are pleased to be able to welcome Laura to the team at IPSL. This appointment is part of our ongoing focus to grow and develop while ensuring we maintain strong relationships with our customers and trusted partners.

“Laura is very well connected in the industry and her experience in building strong networks, ensuring client satisfaction and her all-round knowledge of our sector will be huge assets to us. We look forward to building on our success so far with Laura’s support.”

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AlphaBiolabs, the Warrington-based DNA, drug and alcohol testing company, has expanded its marketing team with three appointments to support its growth.

Sam Burgon has joined as digital marketing manager. He has more than 10 years’ experience in graphic design, website development and digital marketing and has moved from Eversmart Energy in Manchester.

Elizabeth Sherratt has been appointed pay-per-click manager after joining AlphaBiolabs from I-COM in Manchester. Her role at AlphaBiolabs sees her manage Google Adwords campaigns for the company’s UK and US websites.

Anna Leaver has joined as bid writer, focusing on legal DNA and drug and alcohol testing services. She has joined from Indepth Managed Services, based in Warrington, where she worked on high-value public and private sector bids across the UK.

From left: Elizabeth Sherratt, Sam Burgon and Anna Leaver

Anna also has extensive marketing, communications and public relations experience with a range of businesses from start-ups to large corporates.

The trio’s arrival takes the number of people in AlphaBiolabs’ marketing team to nine.

Commercial director Rachel Davenport said: “As the business continues to expand, these new roles will support our growth.

“Sam, Elizabeth and Anna each bring a great deal of technical expertise and experience in specialised areas of marketing, which is a key part of the business.

“The team is focused on helping with the customer journey and experience, and increasing leads into the business to help drive sales.

“We are thrilled to welcome the trio as we expand our marketing activities in line with our growth strategy and we will be looking to recruit further across other areas of the business in the coming months.”

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Altrincham-based civil engineer, Jason Hyde, has been announced as the new regional chair of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) North West.

Hyde, a chartered civil engineer at Mott MacDonald, takes up the year-long role this month. It will see him promote civil engineering as a career choice and encourage continued professional development in engineering across Cumbria, Lancashire, Isle of Man, Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire.

He said: “Civil engineering is my job but also my passion, so it is a real privilege to be able to represent and promote the North West’s skills and expertise in civil engineering.

Jason Hyde

“Our region is steeped in engineering history meaning that we have a fantastic pedigree to draw on as we look to what the future of engineering holds.

“I’m looking forward to spreading the word about the impact that civil engineering has on every corner of society and, in doing so, hope to inspire some future engineers along the way.”

Hyde has been recognised previously for his career achievements including winning ICE’s Volunteer of the Year award and winning North West Young Structural Engineer of the Year in IStructE North.

He has worked on a number of high-profile projects including as an engineer for new structures on the Ordsall Chord scheme.

Hyde will now start working closely with ICE North West director, Emma Antrobus, in progressing civil engineering across the North West.

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Chartered property surveyors Legat Owen has expanded its property and asset management team with the appointment of two new members of staff.

Hannah Baker joins to support with day-to-day property management.

Hannah Baker

Born and raised in Cheshire, Hannah has extensive knowledge of the area and spent eight years dealing with high-end residential rentals and property management at Denton Clark Rentals before joining Legat Owen’s Chester office.

Janet Mellor comes to the business having previously worked in the accounts at Matthews of Chester.

She has been recruited to work in the management accounts team at Legat Owen as part of the continued growth of the department.

Janet Mellor

Director Mark Hopley, head of property and asset management, said: “Both Hannah and Janet will be valuable assets due to the experience they bring with them.

“This is an exciting time for Legat Owen as we expand and invest in new technology to enable us to continually improve the service we offer to clients. These two appointments will support us in achieving these aims and we look forward to seeing Hannah and Janet succeed in their new roles.”

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Pearson has strengthened its family team with the appointment of solicitor Emma Kendall.

A solicitor with 10 years’ experience, Emma will be specialising in divorce and all aspects of matrimonial law with a resolution-friendly approach to clients, as well as considering closely the financial implications of divorce for her clients moving forwards.

Emma said: “I have always been interested in family law, every day is different and it makes a difference to people’s lives – helping them when they are at the lowest ebb.

Emma Kendall

“I really am focused on achieving the best result for my client, but ensuring that it is dealt with in a respectful way and having worked in Oldham I always admired the way Pearson worked and wanting a new challenge it seemed the perfect opportunity to grow an expanding department.”

She joins a team of eight in the family department at Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers, alongside specialist childcare and child proceedings solicitors and other divorce lawyers.

The Oldham-based firm, with offices also in Tameside and Hollinwood, North Manchester, also has in-house financial advisers who work alongside the family team advising clients on pensions, as well as conveyancers and a will team to help guide clients holistically through the divorce process.

Welcoming her to the firm, practice manager Joanne Ormston, said: “Emma is a well-qualified and very professional solicitor and great addition to our team. She brings with her not only experience, but a very kind, gentle and welcoming presence, something essential when working in the field of family law and is able to put clients at their ease.”