People: Grant Thornton; Outsourcery; Matthews & Goodman and more

LOUISE Garforth has joined business advisers Grant Thornton as its new business development manager in the North West.

She will operate across its Manchester and Liverpool offices and brings a wealth of experience to the role.

Garforth joins from Liverpool Biennial where she was head of development and previously worked as communications manager at Marketing Cheshire. She also had a role at Grant Thornton at the start of her career, working in its North West marketing team.  

 “I’m excited about this new chapter in my career and am delighted to re-join Grant Thornton,” she said. “The firm operates in a dynamic part of the market and the strength of its team and the sense of direction the business has made it a very attractive proposition for me.”

Carl Williams, Grant Thornton’s North West managing partner, said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Louise to our team. She’s a talented business development professional and an experienced project manager who will play a key role in helping us reach out to the market.”

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OUTSOURCERY, the Manchester-based Cloud Service Provider, has announced that Emma de Sousa will not be joining the company as managing director on April 1 as previously planned.

De Sousa’s decision is for family reasons, unrelated to Outsourcery, which would prevent her from commencing her role until 2017 at the earliest.

As such, and in order to keep pace with the Company’s plans, Outsourcery has re-initiated its search for a leadership role to drive sales and marketing activity, and will look to make an appointment as early as practicable.  

Outsourcery chairman Ken Olisa said: “While we are naturally disappointed by Emma’s decision, we fully understand it.  We will not be enforcing the terms of her contract. On behalf of the Board, I wish her a safe pregnancy and success in the pursuit of whatever career decision she now chooses to make.”

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MANCHESTER-based commercial property adviser Matthews & Goodman has appointed Paul Boothman as head of Residential Property Management as the firm continues to strengthen its residential property capability.

Boothman previously spent three years as head of Residential Management at Lambert Smith Hampton where he was responsible for the firm’s portfolio in the North and Central England.
 
At Mathews & Goodman, he will lead the specialist residential arm of the firm’s property management offering. He will work with new and existing clients, promoting and delivering the firm’s ethos of excellent service, supported by a commitment to make a difference.

Matthews & Goodman’s Northern Property Management Team has grown by a third over the past 12 months, following a string of new clients across the North West and beyond.

Head of Northern Property Management Tim Austin said: “Paul’s appointment has strengthened our ability to deliver a full asset managed residential property management service which enables clients to achieve the best outcome for their property and for their tenants.

“With residential development returning to pre-recession levels in both Manchester and Liverpool city centres, there is currently a lot of opportunity in the North West and we are delighted to have Paul on board.”

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BOLTON-based business energy price comparison experts Love Energy Savings has appointed Michael Ford as their new Head of Shared Services to help drive forward the company’s plans for growth following a £4.5m private equity investment.

Ford’s past roles have been primarily focused in the betting and gambling industry. He was previously Head of Human Resources at Stan James in Oxfordshire before being moving on to become European Head of Shared Services for 888 Poker in Gibraltar.

Commenting on his new role, Ford explained how it was the enthusiasm of Love Energy Saving’s Managing Director Phil Foster and Financial Director Chris Todd who sold the role to him: “Their enthusiasm – allied to a very strong business model  and positive company-wide vibe – convinced me to relocate permanently back to the UK. To date, it’s been a highly enjoyable experience, learning about a new sector and working with such a great up-and-coming business.”

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ULITMATE Construction Finance has expanded its team further with the appointment of Glyn Jones as regional director of the Manchester office with responsibility for the M62 corridor and North West.
 
Jones is well known in the region having joined from Aldermore Bank, where he covered a similar area, prior to which he helped establish a company specialising in project finance funding for sub-contractors.

He said: “As well as having an excellent reputation and performing well financially, I was particularly attracted to Ultimate Finance group by the strength of its construction product which is unique within the industry, as it is able to provide advances against uncertified applications.”