People on the move: Forbes; PPS; Agent Marketing; One; Steven Stone; Hill Dickinson; Clough & Willis; BDO

LEGAL practice Forbes has appointed Daniel King as its new managing partner.
 
He takes over from Winston Hood, who is retiring after a career which has seen him at the forefront of legal work in the region since 1978.
 
King is the firm’s head of complex & serious crime and business crime, based in Preston, which deals with major and high-profile cases throughout the UK.
 
He is a well-known and highly respected expert in criminal Llaw, having worked in this field at Forbes for more than 25 years and will be continuing in this role as well as becoming managing partner.

King is an accredited police station representative, a duty solicitor, a regularly practising higher courts advocate and an accredited high cost fraud cases supervisor.
 
He leads an impressive and massively skilled team with wide experience of all areas of criminal law, particularly business and financial crime, and which interacts with the Firm’s Business and Company Law departments.
 
King said said: “Winston is a tough act to follow and has helped enhance Forbes’ reputation for quality and expertise in a wide range of legal fields.
 
“Forbes has wonderfully talented and enthusiastic staff and I am looking forward to the challenge of leading the firm into the next stage of its development.”
 
During his career, Hood appeared in all levels of criminal courts in the country and dealt with all cases, from the simplest motoring offence to the most complicated and serious offences, from their inception at the Police Station through to ultimate disposal in the courts.

He has regularly participated in piloting initiatives in conjunction with the Legal Services Commission.

Forbes has 36 partners, eight offices and more than 320 staff. Office locations include Blackburn (three), Accrington, Preston, Chorley, Leeds and Manchester.

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PUBLIC relations company PPS Group has strengthened its regional offering with the appointment of a new partner to lead the Manchester team.

Zoe Ensor, 45, joins the group from her previous roles at Manchester Airports Group, Manchester’s Investment and Development Agency and Good Relations (formerly known as Bell Pottinger) and will head up the successful team based in the heart of the Northern Powerhouse in Manchester city centre.

Her role will be to lead the existing client portfolio which includes National Grid, Peel, Himor, Jaguar Landrover and Electricity Northwest and to grow the business with new clients and additional, broader services to complement the existing strength in public affairs, planning consultation and property.
 
Managing partner Andy Martin said: “Zoe has an excellent track record and we’re delighted to add her to our brilliant team. The often talked about offer of integrated communications across the business is something she truly understands, and we’re delighted to be delivering.”
 
Ensor added: “I am incredibly excited to be joining the PPS Group and in particular the Manchester team – right in the heart of the Northern Quarter of the city that I am proud to call home.”

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AGENT Marketing, a Liverpool-based full service marketing agency, has marked its 10th birthday by taking on two new recruits.

David Lancaster, a Shillington College graduate, has been recruited as Agent’s new creative consultant. With years of industry experience, he will be enhancing the offering of Agent’s creative team, focusing on graphic design and brand development.
 
Also joining the team is Laura Rietdyk-Johnson as a campaigns executive. She came to the attention of the team after her involvement with Agent Academy CIC, a social enterprise led by Agent that offers a free 12-week course in values-led marketing.

Paul Corcoran, managing director of Agent Marketing, said: “I’m looking forward to working with David and Laura, and having them on board to take Agent to its next level. 2016 has already been such an incredible year for the team and I; we’re all really excited about the new directions that we’re going to push Agent and Agent Academy CIC in over the next year.”

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INTEGRATED communications agency One has announced the appointment of Paul Pearce as its new head of digital.
 
Pearce arrives at One from Manchester-based agency MC2, and brings more than 20 years’ experience. At One, he will head up the digital team and will be responsible for the team, project management and strategy planning.

Pearce said: “It’s very exciting to look at digital as part of an integrated and connected solution. Part of my role will be to nurture the relationships between the disciplines here, push expectations, and provide clients with the best possible outcomes.

“I’m delighted to be joining One and work with the team and wider agency to identify new opportunities with existing clients and developing a broader offering across the board.”

The news follows a number of exciting events at One, including a string of new business wins and the appointment of Peter Davis as creative director.

Managing director of One, Wayne Silver, said: “The appointment of Paul as our head of digital comes at an exciting time for One. We have ambitious expansion plans for 2016 and Paul will be a focal point of our growth as we broaden our expertise and offering. We are delighted to welcome Paul on board.”

One is an integrated agency offering advertising, design, digital, PR and social services to a range of B2B and B2C clients, including Alstom, Britannia, Hoover, Taylor Wimpey, United Utilities and York Race Course.

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STEVEN Stone Jewellers have appointed Max Stone as a director of the family business.

Based In Hale, Greater Manchester, the firm boasts showrooms in London and Palm Beach. Established in 1937 Max Stone represents the third generation and will oversee the Hale showroom.
 
Last year saw the family business increase to national and international.  The Palm Beach showroom being operated by Max’s father, Steven Stone and London by Zack Stone, older brother to Max.  Aged 25, Max has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the jewellery industry and has great plans for the future of the company.

Max Stone said: “ I am delighted to become a director and look forward to further growing the business.

“For the past few months I have been working on a new website which will revolutionise the online buying experience.”

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INTERNATIONAL law firm Hill Dickinson has bolstered its family law offering with the appointment of Sarah McCarthy as chartered legal executive and the promotion of Joanne Raisbeck to legal director.

McCarthy, formerly of Cuff Roberts/Halliwells, Tracey Miller Family Law and Cassell Moore, has 15 years’ experience acting for high-net worth individuals.
 
Previously shortlisted for Family Law Legal Executive of the year at Jordans national “Family Law awards”, McCarthy is well established in handling complex matrimonial disputes, internal and external relocations and other private children law matters.
 
Raisbeck joined the team in 2013 from Pannone and her promotion is further testament to the team’s depth of experience, expertise and rapidly growing reputation in the market.

In 2016 the Chambers directory named Joanne as ‘Associate to Watch’ and she was one of only six ranked Family Lawyers in Liverpool and the surrounding area.
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LAW firm Clough & Willis has appointed Susan Trudgeon to the Property team at its Bolton office.

She has joined the firm as a licensed conveyancer and will handle a portfolio of residential property work.

Trudgeon has worked in the legal sector for 12 years and has been a qualified conveyancer for the past seven. She has previously worked at Russell and Russell, Fieldings Porter and Countrywide Conveyancing Services.

The firm’s Bolton office opened in January this year and offers a range of services including commercial & residential property, employment, personal injury and family law as well as wills, trusts and probate.
 
Shefali Talukdar – managing partner of Clough & Willis – said: “Susan has some great experience and is a valuable addition to our existing property team which is based at our Bury head office.”

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ACCOUNTACY and business advisory firm BDO has announced the promotion of Stuart Wood in its Manchester office.

The promotion to audit partner in the business assurance practice, which will be effective from July 2, is one of nine new partner promotions across the UK, highlighting the depth and breadth of BDO’s expertise.

The latest announcement follows the recent news that Ed Dwan has taken over the post of lead partner and is heading up the firm’s North West offices.

Dwan said: “Within BDO, our culture is the most important aspect of what makes us tick. Stuart typifies this culture as he demonstrates exceptional client service, tenacity and a technical expertise that is a genuine credit to the firm and an inspiration to other team members.”

The firm has also said it will continue to drive investment and recruitment at partner-level over the coming year in line with its ambitious 2020 plans.

Wood added: “Since joining BDO in 2011, I’ve been encouraged to take hold of opportunities and supported in my development through the ranks.
 
“It goes without saying that being promoted to partner is a proud day for me professionally and I’m grateful to the firm and team around me. I look forward to working with the rest of the Partner group in driving and realising the firm’s ambitions over the next few years.”

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