People: Avalon; gunnercooke; 1 Events Media & more
AVALON, the Cheshire-based provider of pre-paid funeral plans in the UK and Europe, has appointed Paul Wilson as its head of business development as the company plans to grow its market share.
He joins the Wilmslow business from Key Retirement Solutions where, as managing director, he oversaw rapid growth of the business before taking part in the sale of a substantial stake in the business to Phoenix Equity Partners.
Wilson said: “Avalon is a powerful and trusted brand in its market. To join the strong executive team and help execute an expansion programme was an opportunity not to be missed.
“The business is in a solid position and has the backing of an experienced private equity business that adds value to the companies it invests in.
With the talented people we have at Avalon, the products available and the support of Lonsdale Capital, we are in a very solid position to achieve our growth objectives.”
Avalon was founded in 1990 to create a transparent and affordable funeral plan that had not previously existed. It now boasts more than 50,000 customers in the UK and Europe and has an annual turnover of £21 million, with over £50 million funds under management.
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CHALLENGER Manchester law firm gunnercooke has continued its rapid expansion in the legal market by appointing nine new partners as part of its ongoing recruitment drive.
Three partners have joined the firm’s Manchester office, including Marlene Hession and Melloney Guiver (employment), and Karen Wilson (real estate).
The firm’s partner headcount has more than doubled since October 2014, and is again set to double in size by the end of 2016.
Founding partner Darryl Cooke said: “Gunnercooke was established to challenge the traditional law firm model.
“We exist for two reasons: to give a better service to clients than a traditional firm is able to do because of its time-bound approach, and to create an environment that lawyers can thrive in.”
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LANCASHIRE-based business network networking and event specialist 1 Events Media has appointed Joshua Riddett as its new business development manager.
Working from 1 Event Media’s head office in Blackburn, Riddett will support the continuing expansion of the company, which, in addition to the E3 Business Awards, also hosts a busy programme of regional networking events.
His initial focus will be on the E3 Business Expo, which takes place on March 3 at the Macron Stadium in Bolton.
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SALFORD-based Campus Living Villages has appointed a new UK finance director to boost its senior leadership team.
David Lewis has more than 25 years’ global operational and commercial finance experience.
For the last nine years he has worked in the UK and Europe with Balfour Beatty, Lend Lease and Babcock & Brown, leading the respective finance operations of their Public Private Partnership investments. Prior to that, he was a Director and Senior Manager with Ernst & Young in Melbourne, Australia and in San Francisco, USA.
Lewis brings considerable higher education experience to CLV, having managed the financial operations of University of Sheffield student accommodation and developments at Aberystwyth University and University of Edinburgh through private finance initiative schemes. He has also worked extensively with public sector clients in schools, health and transport sectors.
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MANCHESTER-based accountancy and advisory firm CLB Coopers has launched the new face of its corporate finance offering.
The firm has expanded its established specialist team, which comprises senior professionals all with notable experience in the North West corporate finance market.
Under the new structure, Andrew Feeke and Rob Richardson will lead the firm’s transaction and advisory team, supported by David Travis, Simon Carruthers and the firm’s tax team, led by Colin Abrahams and Rob Wardle.
As part of the refocusing of its specialist services, David Clift will head up transaction services, providing due diligence and transaction support, supported by Simon Carruthers and Thomas Hornbuckle.
