People: Stuart Lees joins KBS; Brother UK; Tim Groom & more

VETERAN corporate financier Stuart Lees has joined the board of Bolton-based KBS Corporate.

Lees, a former managing director at Altium Capital, spent more than 25 years with Arthur Andersen and Deloitte. He has joined KBS Corporate, which specialises in helping owner-managed businesses sell their companies.

He said: “I was attracted to KBS Corporate for a number of reasons. Firstly, it has unrivalled technology to match vendors with potential buyers.  Secondly, the company is owned and managed by entrepreneurs and, in today’s market, I believe that individuals who are looking to sell their business want like-minded people who have been there and done it.

“Finally, the firm has excellent relationships in the finance and private equity markets. Therefore, I believe KBS Corporate is set to become a disruptive influence in the marketplace and I am delighted to join the board to help further develop this ambitious firm.”

As well as his career in professional services, Lees was co-owner with home improvements firm Latium Group which took conservatory roof manufacturer, Ultraframe, private in 2006 and was an investor in double glazing firm, Everest, which was sold in 2007 in a deal that valued it at £150m.

His current investments and chairmanships include Yorkshire-based Nationwide Window Cleaning, DW3 Products Group and FPE Global, both of which are backed by Manchester-based private equity house, NorthEdge Capital.

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PHIL Jones, managing director of information, communication and technology business Brother UK, based in Manchester has been named a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

The appointment recognises Jones’s business achievements and contributions to the profession of management and leadership throughout his career.

He became managing director of Brother UK in 2013, having joined the Manchester-based company as a fax machine salesman in 1995. Since then he has contributed to the company being named as one of the Sunday Times’ 100 Best Companies to Work For, while also achieving the Investors in People Gold standard.

John Morgan, Chairman for the CMI in the North West, said: “Our goal is to raise the standards and practices of management up to those of other professions, and companions play a crucial role in this.

“We’re pleased to be welcoming Phil into the fold so he can share his leadership expertise developed through the forward thinking approach he has brought to Brother.”

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MANCHESTER-based Tim Groom Architects has announced the promotion of three of its team and the appointment of two new members of staff.

Matthew Procter, Gemma Birchall and Andy Balmer have been promoted to Associate, while Azhar Kapadi and Alice Bufton have joined the practice as part II architectural assistant and part I architectural assistant respectively.

Groom said:  “Matthew and Gemma have worked with me for nine years and their promotion to associate recognises their significant project running experience and their valued contribution to the business over a long period of time.

“Andy joined us as a project architect 18 months ago and brings with him a wealth of experience from his work at other practices.  We are delighted that all three accepted our offer of promotion and I look forward to working with them to deliver continued success for the business.”

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MANCHESTER-based accountant Alexander Knight & Co has added two new colleagues to its growing team.

Alexander Patt and Nick Bennett join as assistant accountants and will provide bookkeeping, management accounting and back office support.

Bennett has already achieved Level 2 of the AAT qualification and has joined the practice through the Government backed Apprenticeship scheme. Patt has joined part-time as he continues to study A-levels at Manchester Grammar School.

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