People on the move: Knight Corporate Finance; Pavis Financial Management; Grant Thornton; Festive Lights

WARRINGTON-based technology, media and telecommunications boutique Knight Corporate Finance has bolstered its team with three appointments of Kinga Drzewiecka, Sam Davies and Steve Stuart.

Drzewiecka joins from Hurst Corporate Finance, where her role was focused on providing expertise in identifying potential buyers for businesses whose owners are looking to sell.

Prior to joining Knight, Davies has worked as an advisor for Clearwater and an investor for the Business Growth Fund, and also in an operational role for CorpAcq. Davies has completed deals across a range of TMT sectors with a passion for the creative industries, media, software and technology enabled consumer businesses.

Stuart has more than 30 years’ experience in corporate finance, including leading mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, corporate financing and business strategy in the North West and London. His new role as Non-Executive Director of Knight is primarily focused on growing business opportunities and the Knight brand in the region.

Adam Zoldan, one of the Knight founding partners, said: “M&A in the sector continues to be vibrant and we look forward to strengthening our position as the leading advisor in the lower to mid-market range in TMT with Sam and Kinga on board.”

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PAVIS Financial Management has promoted Stephen Robertshaw to the position of associate director.


Robertshaw has been at the Liverpool-based firm for more than 12 years, advising clients on a range of tax, investment planning, wealth management and estate planning issues.



During that time, Pavis has grown to become one of the region’s leading independent financial planning firms, with in excess of £140m of client funds now under management.



Bob Newton, managing director at Pavis, said: “Steve has long been an integral part of what we successfully deliver to our clients at Pavis and this new role is fitting recognition of his commitment and acumen.



“His excellent, intuitive advice has helped hundreds of clients achieve their life ambitions over the past decade or more, decluttering their financial affairs and leaving them assured that their long term financial future is both secure and sustainable.”

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THE North West office of business and finance adviser Grant Thornton has strengthened its wealth advisory team in Manchester with the appointment of Jon Fisher.

Fisher has more than 10 years of experience in financial planning and joins Grant Thornton from wealth management firm WH Ireland where he spent three years.

A member of the Society of Trust Estate Practitioners (STEP), he has notable niche expertise in advising trustees and estate management, complemented by a broader knowledge of the full range of pensions, savings and investments open to his clients.

As a senior manager Fisher will advise Grant Thornton’s high net worth private clients on how to structure their investments in the most tax efficient manner.

He said: “The decision to join Grant Thornton was an easy one. The firm has a reputation for providing first-class financial advice to its clients and the holistic approach – with input from specialists in other areas of the firm – offers our clients an unparalleled level of expertise.”

Carl Williams, Grant Thornton’s North West managing partner, said: “Jon’s appointment builds on the significant expertise in our wealth management team. He brings notable experience in estate management and I look forward to seeing him progress in the firm.”

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CHORLEY-headquartered Festive Lights has appointed three new staff members to support their plans for international expansion.

Louise Gray, 35, joins the lighting specialist as marketing manager, bringing 17 years’ trade, commercial and retail experience to the team.

Her career has spanned a number of leading firms from across the county, including wholesale school uniform supplier, Trutex, and Liquid Plastics, now part of Sika.

Joining Gray in the marketing department is creative copywriter Jenny Hardy. The 31-year-old will be responsible for managing content for the company website, blog and social media pages.

Purchasing administrator Ashleigh Dawson has also been welcomed to the team in Charnock Richard. The 22-year-old, former Wowcher account manager, will assist the sales and buying division, by liaising daily with overseas suppliers to order stock, arrange delivery dates and co-ordinate shipping schedules.

The family-run business, pioneered by husband and wife, Mark and Margaret Higginson, has grown into an internationally-recognisable name, distributing products to more than 30 countries.
 

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