People: Corporate advisory firm makes partner promotions; Cyber security firm expands again; and more

Bristol-based corporate finance advisory firm Shaw & Co has promoted both Alexei Garan and Rob Starr to partner.

Their new roles will see them become co-owners of the company, working alongside founder and CEO Jim Shaw to develop and grow the business.

Garan, who was previously the company’s head of business funding, joined the company in 2018, having built his corporate finance career over 20 years with companies such as PVE Capital, Credaris, Halifax (Bank of Scotland Treasury Services) and Lazard Brothers. Over the last 15 years he has advised on over £2bn in restructured post crisis client portfolios and has arranged more than £400m in client funding.

Rob Starr

Starr was previously the company’s head of M&A, having joined the business last year after building his corporate finance career in plcs and advisory firms such as GKN, Care UK, PwC and UHY Hacker Young. Over the last 20 years, he has led and supported over 200 transactions with an enterprise value of £200m across various sectors, as well as implementing successful growth strategies for FTSE 100, mid-cap, AIM, SMEs and early stage businesses.

Shaw said: “These are exciting times at Shaw & Co. We’ve managed the difficulties brought on by the global pandemic and have now entered into a new period of significant growth.

“Previously, we were one of those ‘best kept secrets’ in the corporate finance sector, but our new brand, website and business development capabilities have helped us to significantly grow our client base. There is strong demand for our unrivalled expertise in helping business owners to buy, sell or finance the growth of their companies, and Alexei and Rob’s new roles will enable them to take even greater advantage of those opportunities.”

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Cyber security company C3IA Solutions has recruited a former army specialist to its ranks.

Matt Bosworth served for 23 years with the Royals Corps of Signals, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

He has joined the company, which is headquartered in Poole, Dorset, as a principal consultant and will concentrate on working within government agencies and departments.

C3IA Solutions has more than 120 personnel directly employed or on contract work, in the UK and abroad.

It operates in the private as well as public sector and covers all types of cyber-security and information assurance.

Bosworth said: “Within the Royal Signals C3IA Solutions is well known, not least because it employs many veterans.

“It has a superb reputation and applies the best of what the military offers to its clients, whether they be in the public or private sector.

“I will be working within government departments and agencies, using what I have learned during my career.

“Leaving the military after more than 20 years is daunting but the environment within C3IA Solutions is familiar.”

Steve Brown from the company said: “We are delighted that Matt is joining our team.

“Matt is highly experienced and adds to our increasing number of staff who work across the country and abroad supporting our public and private sector clients.”

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Regional chartered accountancy firm Albert Goodman has welcomed Ruth Powell as a director to the firm to bolster its tax team at the start of the year to support client demand.

She joins from a large national firm where she advised private clients on all aspects of trusts and estates, including tax advisory, administration and compliance in her tax director role.

As a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) and Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), Powell will now carry out a similar role at Albert Goodman leveraging her 25 years expertise as a tax advisor to individuals, trustees and executors. She will primarily be based in Bristol but will work across all the firm’s offices.

Powell said: “Joining a tax team at the start of the year is always going to be tricky given the tax return deadline of end of January, but it has enabled me to roll up my sleeves and get stuck in helping the team where I can.

“Having had an extensive career at larger firms, it is great to now have the opportunity to work with a smaller firm which offers most of the benefits of working at a larger firm, but with the benefit of the human approach. A smaller firm gives me the opportunity to get to know everyone across the business and build on those relationships. I am excited to assist in enhancing the services which can be offered to new and existing clients.”

Iain McVicar, managing partner at Albert Goodman, added: “We continue to invest in our tax team, which is testament to our clients demanding high level tax expertise. With Ruth now joining the team of over 30, we are looking forward to her strengthening and developing our private client proposition and dealing with Trusts and Estates matters which are becoming increasingly popular as more of our clients are seeking this type of in-house knowledge.”