Barclays strengthens mid-corporate team in Birmingham

BARCLAYS has expanded its Birmingham-based Mid Corporate banking team with five new appointments.

Neil Barnes and Simon Freeman have joined the team as Relationship Directors, both have many years-experience. In addition, Mitch Hunt has taken on a new role as Relationship Support Manager.

Kelly Cattell has been promoted to the role of Head of Coverage Support and will be responsible for managing a team of 10 support team members.

Additionally, James Hodgson, who started his career on the Barclays Graduate Scheme, has taken on the role of Relationship Support Manager.

The team, which is led by Graham Nicoll, supports corporate customers with a turnover typically in excess of £5m.

Nicoll said: “I am delighted to welcome our new team members who I know will be valuable additions to the team. They bring a wealth of experience and will enable us to ensure we are serving our clients well and will help to grow Barclays’ competitive position by increasing commercial activity at a time of increased opportunity.”

Aldermore appoints new chairman

ALDERMORE has announced the appointment of Glyn Jones as its new chairman.

Jones has a significant amount of banking experience and during his executive career he was chief executive of the Coutts Group and, prior to this, general manager of International Private Banking at Standard Chartered Bank.

Aldermore said he brought a deep knowledge and understanding of the skills necessary for a non-executive chairman, having previously held the role at Towry Holdings, Hermes Fund Managers and BT Pension Scheme Management.

Jones is currently chairman of Aspen Insurance Holdings, a New York listed specialty lines insurance and re-insurance business, and Aspen Insurance UK, a subsidiary of the Aspen Group. He is also the senior independent director of Direct Line Insurance.

In addition to being a graduate of Cambridge University, he is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales. He is currently a mentor on the FTSE 100 Cross Company mentoring programme to help more women reach the top of large organisations.

Phillip Monks, chief executive of Aldermore Bank said: “I am delighted that we have been able to attract a chairman of Glyn’s calibre and experience. As we continue on our path of successful growth it is an exciting time for Glyn to be joining us and I am very much looking forward to working with him.”

Crowe Clark Whitehill crowns Prince as new partner

CROWE Clark Whitehill has appointed Ross Prince as a new partner at its Midlands office.

Prince, left, originally joined the firm as a trainee chartered accountant in August 2002 and has risen through the ranks.

Prince, who is also chair of the Worcestestershire Group of Chartered Accountants, has experience of working with professional practices, corporate businesses and academies.

He has helped establish the Midlands COFA network as the ‘go to’ organisation for those responsible for compliance and finance within the region’s law firms.

Midlands managing partner Johnathan Dudley said: “Ross has been made a partner, and deservedly so, because he has consistently demonstrated his ability to think outside of the box and deliver valued business advice.

“He is entrepreneurial, dynamic and demonstrates a genuine desire for both his clients and our own team to succeed.”