Finance Appointments: Grant Thornton; Midven; Inspire Insurance

Grant Thornton boosts Employer Relations team

THE Birmingham office of Grant Thornton has appointed Verena Heyd to its Employer Solutions team.

Since gaining her Master’s degree in Business Science in Germany and the UK in 2005, Ms Heyd, who also speaks fluent French, has worked with Deloitte, PwC and Ernst & Young in Birmingham and London, specialising in expatriate tax planning. Her new role will involve advising Grant Thornton’s clients on this specialist tax arena as well as helping to develop further the firm’s Midlands’ Employer Solutions practice.

Sharon Gilkes, Birmingham-based head of Grant Thornton’s Midlands’ Employer Solutions team, said: “Verena joins Grant Thornton at a point where many clients are either looking to expand overseas for the first time or developing their international operations and need specialist advice to ensure their employment policies comply with UK and international tax regimes.

“This could be how to pay staff overseas or equalise employee benefits to setting up employment contracts in the most tax efficient way. We are currently working with colleagues in the firm’s international network on an assignment for a company with operations in the UK, Brazil and Portugal, as well as advising a Germany-based business expanding into the UK for the first time.”

Grant Thornton in Birmingham has also appointed two further members to join the expatriate tax team. Emma Wicks joins as an assistant manager and Shahina Mansuri is joining the team on Grant Thornton’s popular graduate programme.

Midven turns to scientist entrepreneur for new investment manager

Tim Grasby, investment manager, MidvenVENTURE capital specialist Midven has appointed Tim Grasby, left, as an investment manager. Grasby, from Solihull, comes from an academic and business background and said his long-term ambition had always been to work in the venture capital sector.

Midven provides investment to fast growing SMEs in the West Midlands through a team of investment managers, and has been successfully investing in the region for more than 20 years.

Grasby spent seven years as an assistant professor at Warwick University, where his research was concerned with advanced semiconductor materials.  Whilst at Warwick, he co-founded a photovoltaics company where he was chief scientific officer and technical director for which they secured multi-million pound investment. He also ran his own consultancy advising semiconductor companies and providing technical due diligence for potential investors.

“I didn’t want to be an academic all my life so I trained and qualified as a chartered accountant with PwC and then spent a further two years in corporate finance with KPMG, so I have gained some pretty robust qualifications along the way,” he said.

Grasby has been recruited to further develop Midven’s partnership with Harwell Capital which sources funding from beyond the UK, the Far East and Asia in particular, for technology focused SMEs. He will also provide investment and business knowledge to early stage and established SMEs across the West Midlands through Midven’s expanding portfolio of companies.

Midven chief executive Tony Stott said: “Helping businesses become more successful is as much about people as it is about finance.  We have built a team of investment managers who have not only handled scores of transactions, but who also bring a broad range of operational and strategic expertise combined with a pragmatic, hands-on approach, and Tim’s background very much complements that  skill set.”

Inspire Insurance targets growth with new appointments

From left: Evonne Hosey, Teri Crosby and Leigh Mackey, all of Inspire InsuranceCOVENTRY-based commercial insurance broker Inspire Insurance has expanded with two new appointments to support future growth.

Teri Crosby brings over four years of insurance experience to her role as commercial account executive while trainee account handler Evonne Hosey is an industry newcomer and the second apprentice to be taken on by the firm.

Inspire Insurance managing director Leigh Mackey said: “We realise that potentially there is a lack of talent within the insurance industry and we are not frightened to invest in training to give people the opportunity to make it their profession.

“We are looking forward to Evonne and Teri contributing to the success of the company which has achieved 100% growth year-on-year based on our innovative and professional approach.”

Mackey founded Inspire Insurance at the age of 28 in 2010 and built the core business on the manufacturing sector after identifying a gap in the market.
He broke new ground as a commercial insurance broker by securing clients nationwide from one base rather than following the traditional route of servicing businesses within range of a local office.

Pictured from left: Evonne Hosey, Teri Crosby and Leigh Mackey, all of Inspire Insurance.

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