People: Accountancy firm makes string of promotions; New board member at listed life sciences firm; and more

Leeds-based accountancy firm Kirk Newsholme Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers has announced the promotion of three new directors as part of its ongoing growth plans.

The firm has promoted longstanding senior managers Ben Maughan and Stephen Parnaby, who work in the business services team, to the position of director.

Meanwhile, Andrew Thomas, of the firm’s audit team, has also been promoted to director.

Graham Kirk, managing director, said: “Andrew, Ben and Stephen are fantastic role models here in the ways in which they service clients and nurture and develop our team.

“These promotions represent a very significant development for the firm and, when added to our existing four Directors, will enable us to continue with the controlled growth strategy we have in place.

“I am delighted to welcome them to the board and congratulate them on their well-deserved promotions.”

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York-based OptiBiotix Health, the listed life sciences business, is to appoint Sean Christie as Non-Executive Director.

Christie has a wealth of international experience in the food, ingredient and chemical sectors as Finance Director of Northern Foods (1996-2004) and Croda (2006-2015), a FTSE 100 company. During this time, he was actively involved in M&A activity helping Croda to grow to a £1.4bn turnover operating in 36 countries. Christie left Croda in 2015 and has subsequently taken on a number of Board positions in both AIM listed and private companies.

Stephen O’Hara, CEO of OptiBiotix, said: “I am delighted that Sean will join the Board. He brings a unique mix of sector specific financial, investor and M&A expertise and a strong track record of delivering revenue growth and creating shareholder value. His international network of contacts and wealth of experience on the Board of FTSE100 companies like Croda plc will help OptiBiotix build a substantive microbiome business across all its platforms.

“OptiBiotix is working in what is forecast to be one of the world’s fastest growth areas and Sean’s international sector specific expertise will help OptiBiotix continue to be one of the world’s leaders in the exciting microbiome field.  We will continue to evolve the Board and management team as we extend the global reach of our products and in-line with the continued growth and expansion of the Company.”

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Magtec, a designer and manufacturer of electric vehicle drive systems, is creating a number of highly skilled new jobs to help the business take advantage of growth opportunities.

The company will be recruiting for 19 engineering and related specialist positions to support the delivery of existing and new electric vehicle programmes in Britain and overseas. Magtec currently employs 71 people at its factories in Sheffield and Rotherham, adding 22 in the last financial year.

Marcus Jenkins, founder and managing director, said: “Our innovative and elegant engineering is attracting interest from all over the world.”

Roles include production engineers, production manager, service manager, demand planner, health and safety manager and design engineers covering the software, electronic, electrical and mechanical disciplines.

This year, Magtec has brought in young talent including apprentices recruited via Sheffield City College, engineering graduates recruited via the Sheffield City Region’s Rise programme, and teenage work experience placements welcomed from local schools.

HR manager Sinead O’Neill joined the business in September 2017. She said: “This company is going to change the world. What we do is amazing. We want to become an employer of choice in the North of England.”

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