People: Chartered accountant boosts audit team; Games developer appoints marketing director; and more

The Yorkshire audit team of Armstrong Watson has seen a raft of new appointments across the past 12 months.

Based across Leeds, Skipton and Northallerton, the Yorkshire team now stands at 32 after welcoming 10 new members.

2018 also saw the firm’s Yorkshire team take on five graduate trainees alongside the promotion of 10 audit colleagues, including Rhys Davies who became a Senior Manager covering both the Skipton and Leeds offices.

Amongst those who started with the Yorkshire firm was Simon Turner, who joined Armstrong Watson from KPMG as Audit and Assurance Director, leading the firm’s North Yorkshire audit team.

Turner said: “I have been incredibly fortunate to join a firm whose ambition and growth plans are self-evident. The investment Armstrong Watson has made, and continues to make in talent across the firm, clearly demonstrates our commitment to being the best we can be in our chosen markets.

“This strength of team enables us to invest more time and expertise in our clients and prospects; giving both great service and an alternative to the traditional accountancy firms in the region.”

Matt Osbourne, Yorkshire Audit and Assurance Partner, added: “The audit market is changing. We’re speaking to an increasing number of high quality, highly profitable entrepreneurial businesses that are feeling unloved, undervalued and overcharged by their existing advisors.

“Those same businesses are responding extremely positively to our proposition, which combines the quality, scale and expertise they’ve become accustomed to, with a more pro-active, collaborative and commercial approach.

“This isn’t rocket science. It’s simply a case of high quality, passionate and highly engaged people taking the time to properly understand their clients’ needs.”

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Sumo Digital, the Sheffield-headquartered games developer, has announced the appointment of Richard Iggo as Director of Marketing to lead its marketing strategy across the UK and India studios.

Iggo has over 20 years of experience in games and returns to the UK after 17 years in the USA – most recently as Senior Director of Marketing at Telltale Games, where he spent over seven years.

Paul Porter, Co-founder and Managing Director of Sumo Digital, said: “It’s been a milestone year for Sumo – reaching our 15th anniversary and adding two new studios – and with plans to continue growing, we’re delighted to have Richard and his expertise on board.”

Richard Iggo, Director of Marketing, Sumo Digital: added, “I’m thrilled to return to the UK games industry and to Sheffield to help lead Sumo’s ambitious plans.

“I look forward to building on the foundations of the creativity, innovation and versatility that Sumo is known for throughout the industry.”

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Switalskis Solicitors has appointed Andrew Lawson to strengthen its commercial property team, based at the firm’s Knaresborough office.

Lawson joins Switalskis as a solicitor in the firm’s 42-strong property team from a local firm in Harrogate where he worked for eight years.

He began his career in residential conveyancing as a trainee solicitor in 1983 and by 1988 he had made the transition to commercial property, which is the area of specialism he has worked in for over 30 years.

Lawson’s main focus in his new role is on commercial premises leasing, as well as handling sales and purchases for investors and those who want to occupy the properties themselves.

He has worked for landlords and tenants and has a good working knowledge of both sides of property transactions.

John Durkan, Switalskis Solicitors Managing Director, said: “Andrew’s approach to dealing with clients is very much hands-on, eyes peeled and ears to the ground. He talks to clients on the same level and tailors services to our clients’ requirements.

“His experience and expertise give clients peace of mind, so they can get on with running their business. Andrew is an outstanding addition to our team and we are delighted to have him on board.”

Established in Wakefield in 1993, Switalskis has grown to a £15m turnover business with 260 staff and 12 offices across Yorkshire, delivering personal and business services in over 18 areas of law including family, medical negligence, catastrophic injury, property and crime.

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