People: Director appointed at accountancy and business advisory firm; Three new hires at manufacturing firm; and more

Gary Olding has been promoted to the role of tax director at accountancy and business advisory firm Hentons.

The Leeds-based firm continues to strengthen its specialist tax team. The firm is helping its clients manage changing taxation for small businesses and contractors alongside tougher enforcement from the HMRC which expects to raise £3.2bn in extra taxes.

Commenting on the promotion Simon Gray, tax partner at Hentons said: “Gary plays a pivotal role in the continued growth of the firm. Tax compliance regulations are constantly changing so there’s an ever increasing demand for expert advice to ensure we work with clients to ensure they are paying tax in the most efficient way possible. Gary’s promotion to compliance director at such a significant time will enable our clients to gain access to the best possible advice and expertise.”

The accountancy firm recently expanded its payroll services operation to support companies with increased compliance requirements. It has also invested in digital services to help companies transition to cloud-based accounting.

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Leeds-based global personal care ingredients manufacturer Stephenson Group has marked the last quarter of 2018 with a series of strategic appointments.

Emma Lintner, Paul Pickering and Shaun Warrington have all joined the fifth-generation, family-owned business.

The appointments continue Stephenson‘s long-term plan for growth which aims to establish the 161-year-old firm as the world leading manufacturer of speciality soap bases and cosmetic ingredients. The business employs 100 people at its Horsforth site and has distribution channel partners worldwide, alongside facilities in North America, Europe and China that assist prompt delivery to customers in 50 different countries.

Lintner has joined as sales manager in the ingredients division. She previously spent 12 years as export area manager at Leeds-based chemicals distributor Surfachem, selling raw materials into Europe. Lintner has responsibility for Stephenson’s ingredients portfolio globally and will work very closely with the firm’s network of international distributors.

Pickering joins as business development manager and has a proven track record in the sales sector having worked extensively in the retail and automotive sectors. Prior to joining Stephenson, he led the sales team for Hoover’s kitchen appliance division, winning several industry awards.

Warrington has also joined as business development manager with responsibility for delivering growth in areas of new account acquisition and development of existing clients. His role requires a  specific focus on international markets, including Latin America, the Far East, Australasia and Southern Europe.

Warrington, previously worked at Group 55 in Lancashire where, for the past few years he headed up the company’s sales function for the UK and North America, overseeing expansion into the personal care sector, formulating shampoos, creams and moisturisers. His experience in the international personal care market makes him ideally placed to work very closely with Stephenson’s customers across the world from Japan to Sweden.

2018 has seen significant investment at Stephenson’s manufacturing plant in Horsforth with over £500,000 of improvements to production processes and technology coupled with ongoing investment in staff training at all levels of the business.

The business also worked with exciting consumer brand Lucy Bee, one of the leading coconut oil brands in the UK, as it diversified its product range to now include a range of ethically produced coconut oil soaps for the first time.

Jamie Bentley, CEO, said: “After an exciting year in our long history, here is a further exciting new phase in the growth of our business. Our three new team members have a vital role to play as we look to expand into new territories and build further our international customer base hit the ground running and have lived up to their potential, already helping us to consolidate business in markets around the world and assert our presence in the dynamic personal care market.

“Throughout the year, we have seen large scale investment in both site and staff and the launch of industry-leading ingredient ranges creating a real stir in the global personal care industry. There’s also been real consolidation of our business with the sale of the textiles division, representing the final part in our ongoing strategic plan to divest our non-core businesses, underpinning our ongoing focus on our future in personal care ingredients.

“After 160 years we’re immensely proud to still be family owned and through constant innovation combined with attracting and retaining the best talent in the industry, we remain dedicated to developing quality technical products for a range of applications the world over – with specific chemistry for soap based products, serving the personal care and cosmetics.”

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