People: Senior hire for Gordons; New managing director to head JCT600’s vehicle leasing division; and more
LAW firm Gordons has recruited Jo Williamson from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking as its business development director.
Ms Williamson has worked for Lloyds Banking Group for 30 years overall and within its commercial banking team for the past two decades. As the bank’s regional business development director, she was responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with Yorkshire companies with turnovers ranging from £25m to £1bn.
In her new role, she will work alongside Gordons partners and fee earners in building and enhancing new and existing client relationships.
Gordons managing partner, Paul Ayre, said: “We’ve known Jo for many years. She has a great reputation and is trusted in the business world. She shares the Gordons values of being straightforward and authentic, which are key to building longstanding relationships. We’re delighted that she’s chosen to join us.”
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THE Leeds office of law firm Freeths has recently recruited two solicitors.
Joe Addlestone qualified as a solicitor at the start of September and has joined the construction department, working alongside partners Joseph Hale and Rachael Yates.
Owen Rees qualified in July and has joined the Dispute Resolution department, and specialises in professional negligence, in particular claims relating to investment and pension advice.
John May, managing partner for the Leeds office, said: “We are really pleased to have Joe and Owen join us. It is an exciting time of growth for Freeths and having achieved our best financial results this year, I am sure they will both have great opportunities to progress with the excellent client base we have and the increased profile of Freeths in the Leeds market.”
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CAR retailer JCT600 has announced that the new managing director of its subsidiary company JCT600 Vehicle Leasing Solutions (formerly JCT600 Contracts) will be current sales director Paul Walters.
Mr Walters takes over from Andrew Mann, one of the founding members, who is retiring after 28 years in the business.
Mr Mann was part of a small team which launched the leasing and fleet management business with the backing of JCT600 in 1988. Becoming managing director in 1996, Mr Mann has steered the company, which predominantly serves SMEs, to its current fleet size of 7,000 vehicles and a 45-strong team based in Apperley Bridge near Bradford.
With more than 26 years’ experience in the vehicle leasing industry, Mr Walters joined JCT600 VLS as sales director in December 2014 after a successful career at GE Capital where he held a number of senior sales positions in both its UK and international divisions.
Mr Mann said: “While I’m sorry to be leaving, having been here since the start of the company, I feel that I’ve probably contributed as much as I can. My colleagues, both in the company and in the wider JCT600 group, have done a great job working with me to build a thriving stand-alone business. We’ve always been customer focussed and have worked hard to provide high quality services at cost-effective rates. I am particularly pleased to be leaving the company in the safe hands of Paul Walters and the management team.”
Mr Mann will retire at the end of December 2016 and Mr Walters will take on his new role from the beginning of January 2017.
