People: Auctions business recruits land and development specialist; New commercial property solicitor for Thursfields; and more

Bond Wolfe Auctions has recruited one of the most experienced land and development surveyors in the Midlands.

Colin Totney has joined the Birmingham-based business as land and development surveyor after nearly 40 years of experience in the industry.

Bond Wolfe Auctions was launched in January by chief executive Gurpreet Bassi and managing director Ian Tudor, who were formerly the heads of residential and commercial auctions at the Bigwood auctions business.

Bassi said: “We’re thrilled to have persuaded Colin to join the team here at Bond Wolfe Auctions.

“It is a great appointment as Colin has a wealth of knowledge, valuing and advising in respect of land and development opportunities throughout the UK, with around 40 years of experience in the sector.

“He is both a chartered surveyor and a chartered town planner, and we are now the only auction business in the Midlands that employs a dedicated and qualified specialist to look after land and developments.”

Tudor added: “Colin has an impeccable reputation in the Midlands business sector and will bring so much experience to Bond Wolfe Auctions.

“He has previously acted for thousands of private landowners, national house builders, various NHS trusts, local authorities, West Midlands Fire Service, the Canal & River Trust and many other clients, advising on disposals, planning and development appraisals.”

Bond Wolfe Auctions is based in Colmore Row, Birmingham from where a team that already numbers 17 staff members with over 300 years of combined expertise service their clients including businesses, housing associations, banks, receivers and property investors.

In the first two auctions of the year they offered 230 lots with an average success rate of 87% and raised just under £30m.

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Thursfields Solicitors has appointed an additional lawyer in its commercial property department, working principally from the company’s Birmingham office.

Parmveer Virdee, who studied law in the city at the University of Birmingham and the University of Law, joins Thursfields from Pickerings in Tamworth.

Her appointment further strengthens the commercial property team which has once again seen its turnover grow, this time by 14% in the last financial year ending April 2019.

Tony Gibb, who heads up the commercial property team at Thursfields, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Parmveer to our growing team.

“She has picked up some valuable post-qualification experience and we will be looking to build upon her existing knowledge and skills to help the team achieve strong turnover growth again this year.”

Virdee is just one of several key appointments Thursfields has made in the first few months of 2019, taking overall staff numbers to 155 at its seven offices in Birmingham, Solihull, Worcester, Kidderminster, Halesowen, Sedgley and Stourport-on-Severn.

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Wyatt International, the Birmingham-based branding and communications agency, is making two changes to its leadership team.

Former managing director Karen Bernie moves on to become the agency’s chief executive.

Succeeding her as managing director is Mark Fones.

Fones said: “When I joined Wyatt, I didn’t want to be part of just another conventional agency. I wanted to build a unique business with a clear purpose. A place and a group of people whose work had real meaning and significant impact. Almost ten years on, my feelings remain, and my vision enhanced.

“At Wyatt, we are here to partner clients who are searching for differentiation, focus and change. We challenge convention and push the boundaries that hold business transformation back. Our mission is to create and tell the most powerful and emotive stories that help major B2B brands outperform in complex, specialist and increasingly crowded global markets.”

Bernie added: “It’s rare for an independent agency to be in business for over 50 years and be able to re-invent decade after decade with positive change and growth.

“The agency’s success has been built on strong foundations created by our Chairman Brian Barrett – one of the original founders – and I have been proud Wyatt has continued to flourish through my leadership as I followed in his footsteps. Now, as we focus on our future, there’s no better person than Mark to take us forward operationally and to build on our successes.”

The agency’s portfolio includes brands such as BMI Group, Armstrong Ceilings, Perkins Engines, Bosch, Trelleborg and DSI Underground.