People: Board appointment for property developer; Expansion for planning and design consultancy; and more

West Yorkshire property developer Conroy Brook has welcomed a new board member.

Jon Bailey, sales and marketing director of the company, has joined partners Richard Conroy and Jason Brook on the Conroy Brook board.

“Jon has been a valued member of the Conroy Brook team for seven years and it is with great pleasure that we have invited him to join myself and Jason on the board,” said Brook.

“He comes from a family that has its roots firmly grounded in the housebuilding industry via Ben Bailey Homes and which has co-invested in the last four Conroy Brook projects.

“His knowledge and experience in the business has already proved invaluable and we know his presence on the board can only strengthen our position.”

Jon Bailey commented: “I’m delighted to be joining the Conroy Brook board and look forward to building more high quality family homes in the coming years.”

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Planning and design consultancy Barton Willmore has expanded its Leeds office with three recruits.

Rachel Gillen joins the city centre-based consultancy from commercial property agents GVA.

She brings more than seven years’ experience as a chartered town planner to the role, having previously worked for the City of Edinburgh Council and consultancy Stratus.

Gillen has worked on range of planning projects including residential, renewable energy, industrial and education schemes.

Meanwhile Lucie Jowett, also a chartered town planner, joins Barton Willmore from Quod.

She brings more than five years’ experience – spanning residential, retail and commercial sector work – to the King Street-based team.

And University of Liverpool graduate Harriet Haldenby starts her career with the team having earned a first class degree in Urban Regeneration and Planning.

James Hall, partner at Barton Willmore, said: “We’re delighted to grow our highly skilled team in Leeds with three brilliant planners. Rachel and Lucie both know our patch well and will bring their own experience to the table, and Harriet is starting her career with us.

“Barton Willmore’s strength in Yorkshire is underpinned by strong cross-sector knowledge and understanding of the local authority areas.”

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Stephen John with JM Glendinning South Yorkshire MD, Mark Browne.

One of the Chartered Insurance Institute’s longest standing members will retire at the end of this year from his role at JM Glendinning Insurance Brokers South Yorkshire following 55 years in the industry.

Stephen John, a commercial account executive at JM Glendinning, recently received a certificate from the CII marking his half a century of membership.

He said: “The certificate came as a bit of a shock, but it was a very welcome surprise. The UK is renowned as a world leader in insurance and to receive this recognition from the industry body is a real career highlight.”

John started his career in insurance straight from school in Halifax in 1963. In 1976, at 28 years old, he set up his own insurance broking business, SG John that covered all classes of insurance for a wide range of clients, both individual and commercial throughout the region.

After almost 30 years, he sold his business to Trevor Richmond Brokers who subsequently sold onto Giles Insurance Brokers. He continued to work with them until 2011 when the opportunity arose to join JM Glendinning in South Yorkshire.

He said: “The insurance industry has changed considerably over the years with increases in legislation and technology playing a much larger role. However, the essence of what I do – providing a tailored service and building and strengthening client relationships – remains equally, if not more, important to us as a firm.”

Mark Browne, managing director at JM Glendinning South Yorkshire, said: “Stephen’s 55 years of service is something quite seldom in the insurance industry nowadays, due to early onset of insurer, and then broker, consolidation. However, our team of seven has bucked this trend with a combined 239 years of broking experience between us. To have an experienced team of brokers such as this is something we are extremely proud of.

“Stephen’s knowledge of the insurance industry from every angle has been invaluable to our business and the team has learned a great deal from him. Stephen will be very much missed by everyone here at J M Glendinning and we all wish him well in his retirement.”