People on the move: PPS Group; Redag Crop Protection; Chafes Solicitors & more

COMMUNICATIONS agency PPS Group – now part of Newgate Communications, – has appointed Anna Wrigglesworth as a consultant to join the growing Manchester team.

Wrigglesworth, 29, will be working across a broad range of public affairs and community engagement clients including National Grid, Peel, Himor, Jaguar Landrover and Electricity Northwest and will be based at the Manchester office in the Northern Quarter.

Previously an account manager at a London-based public affairs agency, Wrigglesworth’s career background also includes working for the Labour Party and Unison.

She said said: “It is fantastic to be working on high profile projects that directly impact on people’s lives, be it future proofing the nation’s energy supply on our National Grid projects or working towards schemes that create 1000’s of jobs across cities and towns in the north.”

Zoe Ensor, partner at PPS Group, added: “Anna comes to our team with political insight and agency experience. We are delighted to have her join our growing offer and to bring her expertise, understanding and contacts to our already highly skilled team.”

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PIONEERING agrochemicals company Redag Crop Protection has more than doubled the size of its team based at Alderley Park, Cheshire after a successful fundraising earlier this year.

Redag, which sees major growth opportunities in the sector, is expecting to complete the line-up of its senior team this summer.

Among the senior recruits is highly experienced commercial director Dr Andy Jones.
Jones’ career includes senior roles with Astra Zeneca’s crop protection business and consultants CapGemini Ernst & Young in their life sciences practice.

He then joined and floated a life sciences business on the AIM market, before moving to Arysta Lifesciences, a crop protection business with annual sales in excess of $1.2bn, where he was initially chief executive for Europe and then head of global marketing and R&D.

Jones then set up his own consultancy providing business development advice to the life sciences industry in 2010 and will join the Redag Board later this summer.
The addition of a general manager and Head of Biology and the recruitment of a non-executive director are progressing.

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CHAFES Solicitors continues to show its commitment to employee career progression and growth.

Following the retirement of Mike Travis in April this year and after a review of the firms structure, Cheshire & High Peak based solicitors Chafes Solicitors, have announced that they are about to promote three of their current solicitors to Partner.

The new Partners, Gail Carberry, Rick Bunch & Sarah Waddington will contribute to the management and direction of the firm, working alongside the current Partners.

Gail is the current Head of Residential Conveyancing and works at the Wilmslow office. She has over 20 years’ experience in dealing with all types of residential transactions and has been with Chafes Solicitors LLP for nine years.

Gail said “I am delighted to have been asked to become a partner at Chafes and am looking forward to helping shape the future of the firm and the provision of relevant legal services for all of our clients.”

Rick has been with Chafes Solicitors for five years and is based at the Alderley Edge office in the Tax, Trusts & Estates department.

He specialises in advising local high net worth individuals and families in relation to their complex tax and trusts affairs.

He said about his appointment “Having lived locally all my life, I am looking forward to playing a greater part in the continued success of this locally based high calibre law firm.”
 
Sarah Waddington, head of investment property based at the Alderley Edge office, specialises in investment property transactions. Having worked for Chafes for ten years she has gained a wealth of experience working directly with developers of large new build multi-property developments.

Sarah said “I would never have thought 10 years ago when I arrived at the offices of Chafes Solicitors, seeking practical experience working in law, that I would find myself being offered a Partnership today. I am both honoured and very much look forward to taking on the new appointment”

Jon Roberts, managing partner said “These are exciting times for Chafes and we are proud to be able to offer Gail, Rick and Sarah this opportunity.

“They all have a vast experience in their areas of law and will be a welcome addition to the partnership.”

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NORTH West accountancy firm Mitchell Charlesworth is charging up its audit and accounts division with the appointment and promotion of specialist staff.

Newly-appointed Ramon McKenna, 31, will take up his role as manager in the Liverpool-based audit and accounts team, whilst Louise Casey has been promoted to manager within the team.

McKenna started his career at Bootle-based accountancy practice SB & P as an apprentice, where he achieved an Association of Accounting Technician qualification (AAT), and progressed to assistant manager level.

Louise Casey graduated from Liverpool John Moores University with a degree in Business and Marketing before joining an international banking company.  

She started her accountancy career at Saffery Champness based in their Manchester office, prior to joining Mitchell Charlesworth in 2012 where she subsequently completed her training to become ACA qualified (Associate of The Institute of Chartered Accountants).
 
Louise manages a wide range of audits within the Liverpool office portfolio, including a variety of not-for-profit entities and manufacturing companies.  

Mitchell Charlesworth managing partner Paul Wainwright said the staff developments are part of a broader “2020” Vision plan to drive turnover to £10m and become the top SME (small and medium sized enterprise) advisor in North West England.

“We are undergoing a strong period of growth at Mitchell Charlesworth with a series of new appointments and promotions,” said Wainwright.

“Mitchell Charlesworth is keen to invest not only in bringing new experienced staff into its teams, but also to promote talented in-house staff who can build on their relationships with established clients and also attract new business with their expertise.”