People: Wealth management firm adds to team; Timber and building supplies firm makes director hire; and more

Investec Wealth & Investment, based in Sheffield, has expanded its financial planning team with the appointment of Laura Atkins as financial adviser.

With more than 13 years’ experience in the financial sector, Atkins has a diploma in financial planning and has recently passed a Long Term Care Insurance exam. She is now working towards becoming a chartered adviser.

Darren Findlay, financial planning director, said: “Our financial planning department is going from strength to strength and Laura, with her extensive experience in this area will be a great asset.  Here at the Sheffield office we pride ourselves on providing a personal service on a local level as part of a large international firm, which is something that our clients really value.”

Atkins said: “I am delighted to join Investec Wealth & Investment’s financial planning team. As one of the most respected investment firms in the region, it is exciting to work with such a professional team and I look forward to working to further enhance their services to clients.”

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Leeds-based Howarth Timber and Building Supplies, the merchant arm of Howarth Timber Group, has appointed Paul Bullivant as commercial director.

The company, which has 31 branches across the UK, has created the commercial director role in support of its plans to further strengthen its brand identity and continue its UK-wide branch growth and refurbishment programme.

Bullivant has more than 31 years’ experience in the builders and plumbers merchant industry, and for the last eight years has held commercial and marketing director roles with Jackson Building Centres and Plumbase.

At Howarth Timber, he will head the category management, marketing and external sales teams and work closely with the regional management team to link the company’s central function and its merchant branches.

Howarth Timber has also appointed a new marketing manager, Gavin Knowles, who takes over the role from long-serving marketing and product development manager, Neale Brewster, who is set to retire.

Knowles joins from XL Joinery, and brings a wealth of digital and traditional marketing experience to the role of marketing manager.

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Listed life sciences Avacta Group has announced that Dr Michael Albin, one of the group’s non-executive directors will be stepping down from the board.

Dr Alastair Smith, group chief executive Officer, said: “I would like to thank Michael for his contribution to the group over the last four years, his advice and support around the development of our Affimer technology has been invaluable.

“I am glad that Michael’s association with Avacta will continue in an advisory capacity.”