People: Parfetts; Rider Levett Bucknall; Houlihan Lokey; Harrison Drury; RSM; Farleys Solicitors; KR8 Real Estate
Parfetts has appointed Cheryl Hope as trading director. She joins the Stockport headquartered wholesale business from Unitas, where she led the trading team for three years.
She will report to the joint managing directors of the employee-owned business, Noel Robinson and Guy Swindell. She brings a wealth of experience to the role, having held senior positions at AF Blakemore & Son, BAKO Northwestern, Iceland and Co-op.
Cheryl Hope said: “Parfetts has a fantastic reputation with retailers, suppliers and the wider industry. It is great to join the team and support the national expansion plans through strong, collaborative supplier relationships. The employee-ownership model of the company sets it apart from the rest of the industry, and you can feel the difference when you meet people from across the business. It’s exciting times ahead.”
Guy Swindell, joint managing director at Parfetts, said: “Cheryl is a hugely experienced professional with a fantastic understanding of the sector. She’s ideally placed to support our ambitious growth plans and take our focus on supporting retailer margins to the next level.”
“Our trading team plays a vital role in helping us support our customers and maintain relationships with suppliers,” said Noel Robinson, joint managing director of Parfetts. “Cheryl is a strong fit for our values and brings a customer-first mindset. She’s a fantastic addition to the business.”
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Jenny Kay
North West real estate and built environment consultant, Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) is strengthening its strategic ESG and sustainability solutions with the appointment of Jenny Kay to its Manchester offices.
Jenny brings nearly a decade of experience developing bespoke Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) strategies for corporate clients and asset managers. Her expertise spans ESG metrics reporting at both fund and asset levels, GRESB (Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark) reporting, structuring green finance arrangements and leading stakeholder engagement initiatives.
Jenny joins a rapidly-growing RLB sustainability team that has achieved 150% growth year on year, and currently supports a diverse client base, including institutional investors, fund managers, asset managers and other corporate clients.
She said: “What a great time to be joining the RLB sustainability team. The industry is experiencing tremendous growth in ESG requirements, and RLB is leading the way in supporting this evolution.”
Heather Evans, RLB’s national head of sustainability, said: “Jenny’s arrival complements RLB’s existing team’s skills and experience. With her background in green finance and funding, she has a real understanding of how to support clients – whether asset managers, developers or estate managers – in both securing green funding and navigating the regulatory landscape tied to the ESG agenda.”
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Phil Adams, the Manchester based corporate financier is to take on a new role as President of Houlihan Lokey Europe, while Sascha Pfeiffer succeeds him as global head of technology.
He said: “Really looking forward to partnering across our businesses to build on our existing footprint which already stands at over 700 employees across Europe.
“Also hugely excited that my colleague and friend of 12 years now Sascha Pfeiffer is taking over from me as Global Head of Technology. It has been an incredible privilege to lead the Technology Group for the past three years, working with amazing colleagues and clients and I am sure the group will go from strength to strength under Sascha’s leadership.”
Adams, a previous winner of the Rainmaker of the Year Award,
Adams first made his name working alongside Richard Hughes and Ian Currie as Apax Partners, then Altium, at the turn of the millennium.
He successfully built the Manchester team in his own image between 2002 and 2007 before rising to become Altium UK chief executive in 2007, before then taking the position of overall global chief in October 2010.
Altium first joined Tokyo headquartered GCA in 2015 and then in 2021 GCA Altium was acquired by Houlihan Lokey, the leading global investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructuring, and valuation.
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Rory O’Hare and Grace Sloan
Law firm, Harrison Drury, is continuing to grow its team in Manchester with the appointment of commercial and IP solicitor Grace Sloan.
Grace, who joins after spending five years at Glaisyers, will advise clients on matters including intellectual property rights, data protection, and contract negotiation, as well as supporting businesses in managing their IP assets and navigating complex commercial agreements.
She has a broad range of commercial experience, including drafting compliance documentation, service agreements, social media influencer agreements, and contracts for PR agencies. She can also advise clients on cryptocurrency transactions, adding valuable insight into this rapidly evolving sector.
Rory O’Hare, partner and head of the commercial team at Harrison Drury, said: “Grace is a fantastic addition to our growing team in Manchester.
“She brings a strong mix of commercial and IP expertise, along with a real passion for supporting businesses in fast moving and complex areas like digital media and cryptocurrency. Her experience will be a real asset to our clients.”
Grace said: “What really attracted me to Harrison Drury was its supportive culture and the chance to work on impactful commercial and IP matters.
“The firm has a great reputation for helping businesses tackle complex legal challenges, I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in and supporting clients on everything from data protection and service agreements to negotiating key commercial contracts.”
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Graham Bond, left, David Hawley
Audit, tax and consulting firm, RSM, has appointed David Hawley as its new office managing partner in its Liverpool and Chester offices.
David joined RSM in 2021 and is a prominent tax adviser in the market, advising privately-owned, family and entrepreneurial businesses and their owners on a range of tax matters.
With more than 18 years’ experience, David has worked with clients operating in a range of sectors including media and technology, life sciences, manufacturing and retail.
He takes over the role from Graham Bond, who will remain a senior partner in the North West team, driving growth across the firm and RSM UK’s life sciences industry group which he co-leads.
David Hawley said: “We have an exceptional team who are driven to not only deliver strategic quality advice for our clients but also play a role in supporting the community in which we work. Graham will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping this culture and I look forward to working together with him, the wider partner group and our people to shape our future firm.”
Kevin Duffy, RSM UK’s regional managing partner in the North West, said: “Delivering opportunities for our people to progress into leadership roles and gain a diverse range of experience across our business is a fundamental part of our strategy. Today’s news supports this, offering both David and Graham the opportunity to help shape and grow different aspects of our firm.
“I’d like to thank Graham for his brilliant leadership of the Liverpool and Chester team for nearly 10 years as well as the support he has given me and many others, and I look forward to working with him and David to continue to drive our business forward to help clients navigate an ever-changing business landscape.”
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Top row L-R: Ella Holden, Sophie Henrys. Bottom row L-R: Katie Sharples, Alice Wood, Amy Duncan
Six staff at North West law firm, Farleys Solicitors, have been recognised in the firm’s latest round of promotions.
Solicitors Alice Wood, Amy Duncan, Ella Holden, Katie Sharples have been promoted to senior associates. Sophie Henrys has been promoted to marketing manager and Wendy Holden has been promoted to senior secretary.
Alice Wood has three years of experience advising and representing clients at inquests into the death of their loved ones as part of a nationally-renowned inquests team. She has represented families in high profile inquests including for deaths involving Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust as well as deaths in prison. Alice has been at Farleys since 2018 and completed her training contract with the firm.
Amy Duncan is part of the corporate team acting for owners of businesses of all sizes during their sales, acquisitions and restructures.
Ella Holden is a four-year qualified solicitor specialising in insolvency and commercial litigation. Ella is a key member of the busy team and is now based at Farleys’ new premises on Shuttleworth Mead Business Park in Padiham.
Katie Sharples has been part of Farleys’ family law team since joining the firm as a paralegal in 2018. She subsequently commenced her training contract with the firm and qualified in 2023. Katie specialises in divorce and the handling of financial assets following separation. She is part of the firm’s rapidly expanding family law team based in the Preston office.
Sophie Henrys takes over as marketing manager from Reta Rose, who has moved into the role of head of operations. An ACIM accredited marketer with more than ten years of marketing experience, Sophie has been with the firm since 2016. She will continue to drive Farleys’ growth through strategic marketing initiatives across the firm’s six offices.
Wendy Holden joined Farleys back in 2002 and has been a vital part of the busy team helping survivors of childhood abuse in securing compensation to fund vital treatment.
Ian Liddle, managing partner, said: “I would like to extend my congratulations to all of our colleagues who have received recognition in this latest round of promotions. It’s very well deserved.
“All four of our new senior associates trained and qualified with Farleys, which is a great testament to our training programme and the development opportunities available to future trainee solicitors at Farleys.
“This year we restructured job titles within the firm, providing more opportunities for colleagues to progress.”
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Back row L-R: Lauren Wentworth, Chris Holt, Gordon Dunne, Tom Parker. Front row L-R: Paul Greenhalgh, Annika Kisby, James Liddiment
James Liddiment has joined seven former colleagues in establishing KR8 Real Estate, part of KR8 Advisory, a subsidiary of Bolton-based K3 Capital Group.
KR8 Advisory was launched in January 2025, focused on delivering advice and support to clients across key areas including business advisory, capital advisory, restructuring, personal insolvency and real estate.
The dedicated real estate division consists of a team comprising James Liddiment (managing director), Paul Greenhalgh (managing director), Annika Kisby (managing director), Lauren Wentworth (managing director), Gordon Dunne (director), Tom Parker (director), Chris Holt (director) and Clare Marshall (senior associate).
The growing team, based in London and Manchester, will deliver strategic real estate solutions to secured lenders and corporate borrowers throughout the lending lifecycle, including under stressed and distressed scenarios.
Before joining KR8, James Liddiment was a managing director in the restructuring division of a global financial services company, establishing a UK real estate restructuring offering alongside KR8 colleagues Paul Greenhalgh and Annika Kisby, where they completed LPA receivership appointments and real estate-focused administrations.
He said: “I’m thrilled by the opportunity to work again with a team which has achieved great success and built tremendous client relationships. We are at a critical point in the market, which is experiencing significant levels of stress. Therefore, I’m looking forward to reconnecting with clients to support them in protecting and maximising their positions.”
K3 Capital Group, a multi-disciplinary professional services firm with more than 1,000 staff and operations throughout the UK and overseas.
Michael Cauter, K3 Group CEO, said: “Along with the group as a whole, KR8 is swiftly expanding and ideally positioned to accelerate the success it has delivered so far.”
