People on the move: Seneca; Sheppard Robson; RICS; Dechra Pharmaceuticals; Stanley House Hotel & Spa; Lloyds Bank
SENECA Partners has supplemented its business development team with the addition of Gavin Ingram.
He will assume primary responsibility for the Newton le Willows, Merseyside-based investment management and corporate advisory business’s firms in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North East.
Ingram brings more than 30 years of experience, extending Seneca’s national reach.
Ingram said: “I’m really looking forward to being part of the Seneca team, a company with real growth prospects, an excellent product offering and well regarded in the financial community. I am really excited about the new challenge ahead.”
Seneca’s Business Development Director, Ian Battersby added, “We are delighted to welcome Gavin to our team.
“Our EIS offerings and our IHT Service continue to be very compelling solutions for wealth managers and IFA firms and as our business continues to grow, it is vitally important that we continue to invest in and manage these relationships to the high standards they deserve.
“Gavin’s experience and track record, particularly in Scotland and Northern Ireland will serve us well.”
::
ARCHITECTURAL practice Sheppard Robson has announced a number of senior staff promotions in its 70-strong Manchester office.
Marie Leyland – head of the Manchester office’s interior design group, ID:SR – has been promoted to Associate Partner.
Jonathan Davis, Paul Hughes, Clayre Massey, and Neil Whatford have also been promoted to associate level.
The practice is known for designing numerous high-profile projects in the North West, including the completed Citylabs and Brooks Building for Manchester Metropolitan University.
The practice’s ongoing projects in the region include the major mixed-use development New Victoria and the refurbishment of City Tower.
Robson Jones says the promotions in the Manchester office are testament to the significant contributions these individuals have made to the success of the practice.
::
ROB Higginson, a commercial leader at Laing O’Rourke has been appointed chair of the RICS Greater Manchester QS (Quantity Surveying) & Construction Professional Group, whilst Adrienne Yarwood, managing surveyor at DSG Quantity Surveyors has taken up the role of vice chair.
The RICS Greater Manchester QS & Construction Professional Group exists to provide a support network for local construction professionals to increase their knowledge and skill set, whilst making invaluable contacts.
Every year, the group hosts RICS’ largest event in the world – the RICS Greater Manchester QS & Construction Dinner – which attracts more than 900 guests for an evening of dining, entertainment and a celebrity after-dinner speaker.
With more than 27 years’ experience in contracting, and as a director of Manchester Histories – a charity which aims to transform lives through histories and local heritage – Higginson is well placed to steer the committee, starting with developing a diverse programme of topical knowledge sessions and networking activities.
He said: “Right now the construction landscape is incredibly dynamic. We have post-Brexit uncertainty, a booming North West, a lack of skills and diversity, and huge potential in applying technology and data.
“I want to join up the professional community in Manchester and the North West around these themes to ensure local firms have the skills, knowledge and contacts to keep-up with changes in the market-place, whilst encouraging them to collaborate and maximise their potential in these exciting times.”
Yarwood also has significant industry expertise, with more than 20 years’ experience in all aspects of quantity surveying, having worked in contracting and consultancy roles and taught on RICS accredited degree programmes for a number of years.
She hopes to help develop topical sessions of particular interest to those at all stages of their career, including trainees.
She said: “We’re currently planning a wide range of social activities and insightful sessions that will be of benefit to industry professionals of all ages and career levels, whilst enabling them to develop key partnerships that will help Greater Manchester prosper.”
::
CHESHIRE-based Dechra Pharmaceuticals has announced the appointment of Richard Cotton as chief financial officer.
He will join the listed Northwich-headquartered company at the beginning of January. In the interim, Septima Maguire, the group financial controller, will be acting CFO.
Cotton, a Chartered Management Accountant, is currently CFO of Consort Medical, where he has been based since 2012.
He has a wealth of experience in senior financial roles in life sciences and other sectors, having also been finance director of Vitec Group from 2008 to 2011, group finance director at Wagon from 2005 to 2008 (Wagon entered into administration on 10 December 2008), and group finance director of McLeod Russel from 2001 to 2005.
Prior to this he held senior finance roles in Alcoa.
Dechra chief executive Ian Page said: “We look forward to welcoming Richard to the Board. His current experience in the international pharmaceutical sector and his significant financial management expertise will be very valuable to our business as we continue to execute our growth strategy.”
Cotton said: “The Dechra team have built a strong business with many development opportunities in a rapidly growing sector. I am very excited to be joining the team and contributing to the ongoing success of the business.”
::
STANLEY House Hotel and Spa in Mellor, Lancashire has appointed Emily Critchley as meeting and events coordinator.
Critchley, from Chorley, joins the award-winning hotel from the Preston Marriott Hotel where she worked for four years as an events executive.
The 27-year-old has six years’ experience in the hospitality sector, having also enjoyed a position at The Grand in Clitheroe after attaining a degree in music, theatre and entertainment management from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.
In her new role, Critchley will organise and deliver events for Stanley House’s corporate clients including BAE Systems, Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust and Napthens Solicitors.
She is also liaising with representatives of Premier League and Championship football teams that make use of Stanley House’s facilities while playing in the region.
::
NICK Laird has been appointed as Lloyds Bank’s regional managing director for mid markets in the North of England and Scotland, succeeding Alasdair Gardner who has been appointed head of Global Corporates North America.
He will take over from Gardner in September and will report into Tim Hinton, managing director, Mid Markets and SME Banking.
Laird, who lives in Cheshire, will lead Lloyds Bank’s commercial banking presence in the North of England and Bank of Scotland’s Commercial Banking presence in Scotland, leading a relationship team of 120 who support clients with businesses with turnover between £25m and £750m.
He has considerable banking experience having held a broad range of roles in corporate banking during his career. Since joining Lloyds Banking Group in 2013, Laird has deepened this commercial banking experience further with a variety of senior roles.
Hinton said: “Alasdair’s new role in North America is testament to the great work he has done in building our profile and our business. He will be greatly missed by clients, but this is an exciting opportunity for him to further his career within the Group and I wish him every success.
“During his time with the Group, Nick has demonstrated that he has the right skill-set to support our mid markets clients and to lead the team in the North of England and Scotland.
“He is inheriting a strong team that is fully committed to supporting businesses as they seek to navigate through the current economic uncertainty and to helping them capitalise upon the opportunities that lie ahead.”
Laird said: “Strong and vibrant economies in both the North of England and Scotland are critical to the UK’s ongoing prosperity. Our long-standing commitment to support clients and to help fund their growth ambitions is even more important given the current more challenging economic environment.”
