People on the move: JRW Group Equilibrium Asset Management; PPS North; Bluerow Homes; RTC

PAUL Williams, former Thistle Insurance Services managing director, is set to join Manchester-based The JRW Group as executive chairman, subject to regulatory approval.
 
His appointment to this newly formed role comes at a time when the niche insurance specialist is set to embark on an ambitious growth plan.
 
Colin Whitehead, JRW chief executive, said: “This is a new era for JRW as we look to bring several new online products to the market.  Paul is a valuable addition to our team.  His knowledge of specialist niche sectors and his considerable experience in the digital landscape will play a crucial role as we look to build on our success to date.”

Managing director John Woosey said: “We are a fast paced, entrepreneurial business. His focus will be on accelerating our growth plan by identifying new product opportunities.
 
“We have developed in-house, industry-leading capabilities in IT and digital marketing with a proven record of bringing new products to market quickly.  In just the last 12 months, we’ve launched three new innovative products for boats, music and drones which are all are performing beyond expectations.”

Williams said: “I’m impressed with the technology and digital marketing skills that will allow us to build new products, expand into new niches as well as look at possible bolt-on acquisitions.

“I will be seeking to accelerate this growth by developing our operating model and use of analytics and data to produce profitable business for our insurer partners.”

In May, The JRW Group reported an expected turnover of £9m with EBITDA of about £2.2m for this year.

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CHESHIRE-based Equilibrium Asset Management has appointed two new starters to its graduate programme, Asad Qureshi and Chloe Higgins.

Qureshi and Higgins are both joining The Equilibrium Programme, a two-year scheme that will see them both become diploma-qualified client managers after completing their training.

Qureshi joins the award-winning chartered wealth management company after graduating from the University of Bradford, where he gained his degree in economics.
Higgins arrives after graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University where she gained her degree in Business Management and Finance.

Colin Lawson, managing partner of Equilibrium, said: “We’re always on the lookout for talent to help us continue to deliver an excellent service for our clients. Our graduate programme provides us with the perfect platform to nurture our future stars by providing a bespoke programme of training to help with their future careers.

“Chloe and Asad both have a natural talent for finance, a keen interest in wealth management and a passion for client services so we know that they will be an excellent fit. We’re excited to welcome Chloe and Asad to the team and we can’t wait to see them progress within the firm.”

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PPS North, based in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, has strengthened its team with two new appointments following a series of client wins for the company.

George Gibson, 24, and James Durham, 30, have both joined the business as associates as the firm continues to go from strength to strength with the addition of new client gains and additional project wins.

Gibson, originally from Cheshire, brings with him a strong record of business and public engagement following previous roles in business development for a law firm, and in social media and marketing for a publishing company.

As a politics graduate, he also adds further knowledge of the current political landscape after spending time in the offices of two Merseyside Labour MPs.

The company has further bolstered its ranks in the form of experienced associate Durham.

Originally from Trafford, Durham has returned to the Manchester after running campaigns for Trade Unions and the Labour Party in the West and East Midlands.

The pair will be working on clients including National Grid, Electricity Northwest, Keepmoat, Protos, Taylor Wimpey and Jaguar Land Rover.

Zoe Ensor, partner at PPS North, said: “This has been a fantastic year for the company and these two new additions really add to that. Both James and George will be great assets to us and show our ambition ahead of what is set to be a momentous year for the North and West Midlands in 2017.”
 
Headquartered in London, PPS has regional offices in Edinburgh, Bristol, and Cardiff, with PPS North being based in the Northern Quarter area of Manchester and working with clients from across the North West, North East, and the Midlands.

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LIVERPOOL-based sales and lettings agency Bluerow has welcomed Nicki Boyle as senior sales negotiator to its now nine-strong team.

She joins Bluerow Homes with more than 15 years’ experience in the sales and lettings industry, having previously worked as branch manager for a national firm.
 
The appointment comes at an exciting time of growth for the agency, which recently expanded to become Bluerow Homes alongside the launch of its new sales department.
In her new role, Boyle will support the sales division, which has added residential sales and valuations to Bluerow Homes’ lettings, investment and property management offering.

She said: “Joining Bluerow Homes was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. The agency has a great reputation across Liverpool and a very strong work ethic. The chance to be involved in the expansion into sales is very exciting and I’m looking forward to embracing the challenges of my new role.”

Director Helen Griffin-Booth said: “As we steer Bluerow into its new era it’s essential that we have the right team behind us, so I’m delighted to have Nicki on board. Her wealth of experience in the sales and lettings industry will ensure that our new sales division is positioned as a proactive and innovative agency.
 
“Nicki is already working on developing new technologies to benefit vendors and buyers alike. Combined with our baseline of solid customer services, we think this is a winning combination.”

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FORMER membership director at EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, Andrew Buckley has been appointed as chief executive of innovation and technology transfer company RTC North.

He will take over from RTC North founder, Gordon Ollivere on November 1.
With a 30-year track record in marketing, sales, business development and general management, Buckley has been appointed to oversee the growth of the company and develop services to companies across the Northern Powerhouse.

Set up in 1989 in Sunderland, RTC was one of 12 Regional Technology Centres established around the country to help businesses develop new products and services by accessing expertise within regional universities.

Today, the company employs 65 people at offices in Sunderland, Leeds and Daresbury, Cheshire, and delivers a mix of technology transfer, innovation and growth programmes for small business.

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