People on the move: Napthens; Arrow Global; Shepherds Friendly Society; Mistral Group; Social Communications; Stanley House Hotel and Spa; Clear Law

THE residential property team at Napthens solicitors has welcomed five new starters in the latest growth for the department.
 
Solicitor Kyla Murphy and conveyancing executives Alex Colton, Adam Bradshaw, Kate Hopkins and Carly Smith have joined to help the department meet continuing growth in demand for its services.
 
Kyla Murphy, of Milnthorpe, joins Napthens’ Kendal office from Cumbrian law firm Temple Heelis, where she had worked for six years.
 
Adam Bradshaw joins Napthens’ Southport office from Southport firm DC Law. Adam also lives in the town.
 
Kate Hopkins, Carly Smith and Alex Colton are based at Napthens’ Preston office. Kate, of Clitheroe joins from local firm Vincents while Carly, of Fleetwood, completed her training contract at Barker Booth & Eastwood prior to joining Napthens and Alex joins Napthens from Southport firm DC Law where she worked for 16 years, most recently in a managerial role.
 
The group will advise clients on a range of residential conveyancing matters including freehold, leasehold, sales and purchases, and re-mortgages.
 
Sarah Barnes, head of Residential Property at Napthens, said: “Opening new offices in the last year in Southport and Kendal has given us expanded opportunities for business, and these appointments are vital to help meet demand from clients in these areas and in our existing offices, including our head office in Preston.
 
“Despite the Brexit vote and uncertainty in the marketplace, we have seen the department grow steadily in recent years, and we are committed to ensuring our clients continue to receive the excellent level of service they expect.”
 
The latest round of appointments comes soon after the team appointed solicitor Nicole Chrisham, conveyancing executives Hope Carter and Chris Critchley, and legal assistant Harrison Holmes.

LR Alex Colton, Kate Hopkins, Adam Bradshaw, Kyla Murphy and Carly Smith

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MANCHESTER-based purchaser and manager of debt Arrow Global has announced Robin Phipps is to step down as a non-executive director from Thursday (October 27).

Lan Tu will replace Phipps as chair of the listed company’s remuneration committee. The firm says the board expects to replace Phipps “in due course”.
 
Jonathan Bloomer, chairman, said: “Robin Phipps joined Arrow Global at the time of the Company’s IPO in October 2013 and leaves with the board’s gratitude for his significant contribution to the success of the Company and the substantial progress we have made since the IPO. We wish him the very best for the future.”

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JULIE Kelly has been appointed head of finance at Cheadle, Greater Manchester-based Shepherds Friendly Society.

Kelly is a qualified accountant with more than 25 years’ experience working in practice for KPMG and Grant Thornton before moving into financial services with General Motors and the Co-operative Bank.

She joins Shepherds Friendly from MyCSP, which administers the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Kelly was responsible for setting up the financial accounts department and developing reporting requirements during her time with the organisation.

She said: “I am pleased to have been asked to join Shepherds Friendly, and I am looking forward to being part of a modern, dynamic organisation, utilising my previous experience to contribute to the continued success of the Society”.

CEO, Ann-Marie O’Dea, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Julie to the Society. She has extensive experience across a wide range of financial services organisations, and we feel this will be invaluable in our continued growth as a modern mutual society”.

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MANCHESTER-based Mistral Group, incorporating Mistral Bus and Coach and Mistral Asset Finance, has promoted Steve Low to the newly-created position of group managing director.

The announcement was made by Chairman Simon Fawcett, who said: “Steve has been a valued member of the Mistral team for almost 20 years, and latterly has had immense success as chief operating officer of Mistral Bus and Coach, where under his tenure, the company has grown beyond all recognition alongside which we have seen the launch and early success of Mistral Asset Finance.”

Guy Wadsworth will remain as chief operating officer of Mistral Asset Finance and will continue to work closely with Low who will have overall responsibility for both Mistral Group brands.

Low said: “Mistral is a great business made up of an outstanding group of people.

“It’s a real privilege to work alongside them and lead the development of the business in the future.”

Charlotte Smith, who began as an assistant accountant at Mistral in July 2014, has also accepted the newly created role of group financial controller.

“Since joining Mistral, Charlotte has gone on to obtain her ACCA accountancy qualifications which she passed with flying colours last year,” Simon commented.

“I am really pleased to see us being able to encourage our own staff to fulfil their personal potential.”

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MANCHESTER PR and planning consultation agencies Social Communications has appointed a former council majority group leader to strengthen its public affairs team.

Michael Vivona, an expert in stakeholder engagement, community consultation, as well as planning and infrastructure communications, has become the agency’s ninth new hire in the last six months.

Prior to joining Social Communications, Vivona worked in public affairs in the South East with some of the UK’s leading names in the housing and regeneration sectors including Berkeley Homes, Crest Nicholson, Willmott Dixon, Redrow; and Miller Homes.
 
Before entering into public affairs, Vivona was elected as a councillor and served for two years as the leader of the Conservative Group on Reigate & Banstead Borough Council.  Prior to that he worked in Parliament for several MPs including the Anne Milto, deputy chief whip and Karl McCartney.

Social Communications group director Pete Wrathmell said: “Michael has a proven track record of delivering results for clients and his appointment seriously strengthens our political expertise and national public affairs offer.

“Michael’s appointment is part of our long-term growth plan for the company which has already seen us open an office in London on the back of major recent client wins including National College for High Speed Rail, Manchester Enterprise Academy and Liberty Retirement Places.”

Vivona said: “I’m delighted to be joining Social Communications, an agency that not only punches above its weight in the region, but also continues to expand a holistic and integrated agency option which can cater for clients’ public affairs, PR and creative needs.”

Social Communications was founded in 2013 and has grown rapidly in the past three years. It has three main services: public affairs, PR and its own in-house creative agency to deliver high-quality digital and print marketing communications for clients. The agency now has a team of 17 consultants and works on behalf of clients including Lidl, Places for People, United Living, One Manchester, Extra MSA Group and Devonshires Solicitors.

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EXPERIENCED hospitality professional Simon Tauber has been appointed as restaurant and bar manager of Fred’s Bar & Lounge at Stanley House Hotel and Spa, Mellor, in Lancashire.

Previously Tauber was as operations manager at Farington Lodge Hotel in Leyland, where he oversaw all areas of the hotel’s management, including food and beverage, housekeeping and reception, along with training and health and safety requirements.

Tauber said: “I was delighted to take up this exciting role at Stanley House because I can contribute industry knowledge, energy and enthusiasm. Also, working at a hotel of Stanley House’s stature will enable me to progress my career. There will be no shortage of opportunities to gain more experience at one of the best hotels in the area.”  
 
Philip Wharton, general manager at Stanley House, said: “We are thrilled that a hospitality professional of Simon’s calibre has joined us. We have every confidence that he will bring leadership and inspiration when heading up the team at Mr Fred’s Bar & Lounge.”

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A LEGAL practice in Manchester, traditionally focused on personal injury claims, has expanded their workforce in an effort to move deeper into the higher-profile consumer and corporate legal space.

The number of employee within the Clear Law group, comprised of My Claim, Clear Law and Clear Commercial, has increased from 40 in 2011 to now 85 strong.

New senior recruits include Danielle Whalley, heading up Clear Law’s medical negligence team with a range of specialisms from catastrophic birthing and brain injuries to delays in diagnosis of cancer or other injuries.

 Michael Blair and Shahida Choudhury join Clear Law’s serious injury division and share a wealth of experience in dealing with high value claims for clients who have suffered life changing injuries.

Rakhi Chohan, former partner at Linder Myers, brings a specialist background in cases involving road accidents. 

Matthew Corbett, managing partner at Clear Law, said: “The launch of our Clear Commercial brand means that we are now going to me more client facing, having previously dealt with most of our clients remotely and it is important that our offices set the correct tone and accurately reflects the type of company we are.” 

The Clear Law group has now moved into their new home in Manchester’s Timber Wharf development.
 

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