On the move: the latest East Midlands hires

Cowens Group, the East Midlands-based insurance broker and financial planner, has added an experienced financial planner to its team.

Phil Michou joins the company’s financial services arm Cowens Financial Planning after almost 10 years in the profession.

Michou previously worked as an administrator, a paraplanner and a financial planner for a Midlands-based accountancy firm.

He said: “I am very excited to have joined such a close-knit and dynamic team at Cowens. I can’t wait to start helping people with their financial planning needs and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been given this opportunity.”

Tony Duckworth, managing director at Cowens Financial Planning, added: “We are thrilled to welcome Phil to the team. With the vast knowledge and experience he has as both a financial planner and paraplanner, his appointment will undoubtedly help to fulfil our business aims and objectives for this year by helping to create a better experience for our clients.”

Elsewhere, Gateley Legal has expanded its Leicester office with five new appointments.

Gateley Legal’s Leicester team

Partner Satpaul Dard has joined the firm’s real estate team, while solicitor Lora Moutafova and trainee solicitor Katie Shaw have come on-board to bolster its construction team.

Solicitors Andrew Dennis and Sumaya Ali have joined the company’s family and commercial dispute resolution teams respectively.

Chris Greenwell, partner and head of Gateley Legal’s Leicester office, said: “As we experience a period of growth in Leicester we are delighted to attract the right talent to the business.

“These new appointments will enable us to expand our presence in the city and broaden our range of services.”