Appointments: Partnership promotions at Myerson; Hurst & more

MYERSON, the commercial law firm based in Altrincham, south Manchester, has promoted three solicitors to partner level.

The trio, Jane Tenquist, Chris Porter and Joanne Perritt take the number of partners at the firm to 13.

Jane Tenquist has been in practice for 25 years as a family law specialist and set up the family department at Myerson in 2012. Chris Porter joined Myerson in 2004 from Addleshaw Goddard and specialises in commercial propery and agricultural law. Joanne Perritt joined the firm in 2007 from DLA Piper and also specialises in commercial property with a particular expertise in insolvency and corporate recovery matters.

Managing partner Carl Newton said: “Their appointment follows another exciting year of growth at Myerson. The commitment and experience of lawyers like Jane, Chris and Jo has propelled the firm forward. Annual turnover has increased by 27% over the last year and the firm is very busy in all departments. We anticipate that we will be recruiting more lawyers over the next year.”

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HARRY Hill, the former chairman and chief executive of estate agent Countrywide Plc, has joined Manchester surveyor the Landwood Group as a non-executive director.

Mr Hill ran Countrywide for 20 years before selling the company for £1bn to US-based Apollo. During those 20 years, Rightmove was created and floated, while Chesnara Plc was spun out.

The Landwood Group pecialises in asset valuations, management and disposal, and now employs 20 people across four offices.

Mr Hill said: “I am delighted to join the Landwood Group in a non-executive capacity and will be excited to contribute ideas and guidance to the directors and senior management team as they seek to consolidate and expand their impressive business so as to be even better able to serve their impressive list of blue-chip clients.”

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HURST, the North West accountants and adviser has promoted four staff, including a new partner, corporate financier Tim Scott.

The others celebrating moves up the careers ladder are Chris Stewardson, Ben Bradley and Mike Palmer in the firm’s business services team.

Mr Scott, 36, joined Hurst from Alliance Fund Managers in February 2010 as a manager, and was promoted to senior manager later that year and to associate partner in July 2011.

He has led on 12 assignments during a record year for HURST’s corporate finance arm, including the management buyout of Cheadle events companu  fresh Group, the disposals of North west businesses Reece Safety Products and Kingmoor Technical Services, and a key acquisition for Beta Group, a manufacturing and maintenance business based in Bacup.

Nigel Barratt, head of Hurst Corporate Finance, said: “Tim has greatly enhanced his reputation as an accomplished dealmaker since he joined the firm, and his efforts have been instrumental in a record year for our corporate finance team. He has demonstrated outstanding abilities as an adviser and deal originator, with his direct and proactive approach. He fully deserves his promotion.”

Chris Stewardson, 32, becomes a manager while Ben Bradley, 25, has been promoted to audit senior. Mr Palmer,29, who started at Hurst 10 years ago as an apprentice, becomes a business services executive.

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MANCHESTER Airports Group has appointed Jonathan Oates as external communications director.

Mr Oates, who has worked for PR agencies and also held senior PR roles with Betfair and brewer SAB Miller, takes up his post with the airport operator on September 15.
 
He will report into corporate affairs director Tim Hawkins and will be responsible for increasing MAG’s profile and managing its reputation with national, regional and international stakeholders. He will oversee the press offices at each of the four airports, Manchester, Stansted, East Midlands and Bournemouth, in addition to working closely with the company’s senior leadership team and external partners.

Mr Oates said: “MAG is at a fascinating time in its evolution and communications will play an increasingly significant role in supporting the ongoing growth of the business.
 
“I am delighted to be back in-house and working in a sector which I have had a longstanding passion for. There can’t be many companies in the UK that are so firmly placed at the centre of so many interesting issues affecting such a wide variety of audiences.”