Appointments: Chase Templeton; NJL; MHA Lighting & more

CHASE Templeton, the Lancashire-based private health insurance group has recruited former Aon executive David Williams to lead its Group Risk department.

The key hire follows a period of rapid growth for the business – in 2013  it made 10 acquisitions – and also moved to a new headquarters.

Mr Williams, 40, said: “The new role at Chase Templeton will build on my experience at Aon where my role required not just extensive technical expertise but the ability to identify and conquer new business opportunities.

“Through its many acquisitions the company has a requirement to nurture its existing group risk client base and the opportunity to attract new business through a strong and growing presence in the SME PMI market.”

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MIKE Stone, formerly of The Co-operative Estates, has joined south Manchester planning and development consultancy NJL Consulting as a senior consultant.

Mr Stone spent two-and-a-half years at the Co-op as regional planning manager, with responsibility for new and extended stores across South West England, Wales and Scotland.

He joins a 14-strong team at NJL and said: “I hope to add value to the already impressive team through my experience of delivering planning consents on both the client and consultancy side of projects. I am looking forward to helping our clients push forward their development projects and unlocking potential partnering opportunities.”
                
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ATHERTON-based LED lighting manufactuer MHA Lighting has beefed-up its sales team with three new hires.

Nicola Gill and Mike Edmond join the company as field sales managers while Colin Campbell also joins the technical sales team as an applications engineer.

Managing director Tom Harrison said: “I am delighted to welcome these new faces to MHA Lighting as each one of them strengthens the team and enhances our offering.

“This year is set to be an exciting one for MHA. The LED lighting market is predicted to grow by 40% in 2014 and we are confident of out-pacing the general market trend as we did in 2013.”

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CHESHIRE civil engineering contractor, JPCS, has bolstered its its position in the rail industry by appointing John Owen as head of rail.

Mr Owen joins the Malpas company from Preston firm Eric Wright Civil Engineering where he was business delivery manager.

Peter Shone, managing director of JPCS, said: “John’s experience in the rail industry is impressive; from physically working on the tracks to managing major track renewal works throughout the UK, he has extensive expertise in every aspect of the process. He has a real eye for new business opportunities and is well respected in the industry – a fantastic addition to our rail team.”

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COMMERCIAL law firm Taylors, has promoted employment lawyer Emma Swan from senior associate to partner.

Miss Swan,  who joined the Blackburn and Manchester-based firm from Eversheds in January 2012, has more than 10 years’ experience of working with SME clients located throughout the region. She is Taylors’ seventh partner.

She said: “Taylors has an outstanding reputation with its clients as being a partner-led firm and I am delighted to have been promoted. This is an exciting opportunity for me as we continue to grow the firm’s employment offering and our specialist team. I look forward to the challenges ahead.”