People: New COO for Wesleyan; Bank boosts senior team in Birmingham; and more
Wesleyan, the specialist financial services provider, has appointed Mario Mazzocchi as chief operating officer.
Mazzocchi previously spent 15 years with Lloyds Banking Group, most recently as COO for the insurance and wealth division. He worked in a number of functions within the group including marketing, change, strategy, operations, sales and across retail, corporate banking and insurance.
As Wesleyan COO, Mazzocchi will play a key role in delivering Wesleyan’s strategic growth plans leading teams responsible for technology and transformation, life and pensions, practice plan and Wesleyan Bank.
Wesleyan Group chief executive Craig Errington said: “Mario joins us at a very exciting time as we move into a new phase of our strategic planning process. We have a clear idea of what we have to do to make sure Wesleyan remains successful and continues to meet our customers changing needs in the years ahead. Mario’s skills and experience will be invaluable in helping us to deliver these plans.”
Wesleyan provides specialist financial advice and solutions to doctors, dentists, lawyers and teachers.
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Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking has appointed a new area director to support SME businesses in Birmingham.
Andy Higgins brings more than 30 years’ banking experience to his new role, having previously held the positions of real estate director, relationship director and corporate manager at Lloyds Bank in various locations across the UK.
He will oversee a team of ten relationship managers and directors based at the bank’s flagship office on Colmore Row in Birmingham.
The Birmingham team provides relationship-led banking support to more than 2,000 local firms spanning a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, education and real estate, with annual turnovers of up to £25m.
The senior appointment comes following a sustained period of lending growth by Lloyds Bank, with the Midlands team increasing its lending facilities to businesses in the region during 2018.
Higgins said: “The Midlands, and Birmingham in particular, is a vital part of the UK’s economy and a key area of focus for Lloyds Bank. With the current economic landscape creating both challenges and opportunities for the region’s firms this year, it’s important that they have the funding and support to help them navigate these changes.
“At Lloyds Bank, we’re committed to helping Britain prosper. My team and I will be firmly by the side of Birmingham businesses throughout 2019 to provide the expertise and guidance they need to achieve their growth and development plans.”
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A series of roles have been created to ensure that the Coventry team delivers its vision for the UK City of Culture programme in 2021.
In its the first round of appointments in 2019, the City of Culture Trust wants to attract two senior producers, three producers, two programme managers, a creative assistant and are offering a short-term contract for a refugee week co-ordinator.
Creative director Chenine Bhathena said: “At this time of global change and ongoing austerity there is no more important time to be considering the role of artists and cultural organisations in communities and city-wide development.
“It’s crucial that we get the right balance in our team, reflecting the diversity of our city, to ensure we achieve our ambitious aims towards 2021 and beyond.
“For me and the team, this has always been about much more than a year of programming and events. We are at a different moment in history when we need to empower our communities, consider our cultural democracy and create a diverse and playful programme that drives our new cultural movement.
“We are looking for a producing team who will reflect the city’s youthfulness, and help us explore Coventry’s place in the world as a modern, multi-cultural, open and forward-looking city.
“I’ve been thrilled with the excitement and the anticipation that Coventry has for its role as UK City of Culture in 2021 and the ambition to do it differently, to do it the Coventry way.”
