People: Harrison Drury; Salix Homes; Running Total; CERT; Cooper Parry; DWF; Travel Counsellors; Venus Legal; Colliers
North West law firm, Harrison Drury, has appointed Nicole Chadwick as legal director in its wills, trusts and probate team in Manchester.
Nicole joins from Knights where she worked as a senior associate, and previously spent eight years at DWF progressing from trainee solicitor to associate.
Working closely with the firm’s corporate team, Nicole will advise on pre-exit planning and the effective structuring of family wealth to ensure a smooth transition and long-term protection.
She also has experience advising high-net-worth individuals on complex inheritance tax matters, wealth preservation, and succession planning. This includes the preparation of wills, powers of attorney, trusts and administering estates.
Clare Fleming, partner and head of Harrison Drury’s wills, trusts and probate team, said: “As we continue to grow and diversify our wills, trusts and probate offering, it’s important to have true specialists like Nicole who can offer clients valued added advice in complex areas.
“Nicole brings experience and a strong client-focused mindset, making her an excellent addition to the team and supporting our ongoing growth in Manchester and across the wider region.”
Nicole said: “This is a great opportunity to build on Harrison Drury’s strong North West wills, trusts and probate team offering, further growing the team in Manchester.”
Nicole is an active member of STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) and sits on the committee for the Manchester Private Client Law Society.
::
Sarah Henderson
Salford housing association, Salix Homes, has appointed a new executive director to its leadership team.
Sarah Henderson has been announced as the new executive director of business services and improvement, with strategic responsibility for business transformation, operational performance and data and insight.
Sarah has worked at Salix Homes for 18 years, most recently as director of people and inclusion. She’s been a driving force in shaping the organisation, helping to embed its values, strengthen its culture, and lead positive change.
She said: “I’m incredibly proud to continue my journey with Salix Homes as part of the executive management team. Having spent the majority of my career here, I’ve seen the organisation evolve and grow, and I’m looking forward to playing a part in its next chapter.”
Sarah’s appointment forms part of a wider leadership transition at Salix Homes. Liam Turner recently stepped into the role of chief executive, following the upcoming retirement of Sue Sutton, who is continuing in an interim role to help ensure a smooth handover and continuity.
Liam Turner said: “Sarah brings a wealth of experience, a strong connection to our values, and a deep understanding of our people and purpose.”
::
Dom Randle
Running Total, the Manchester arm of independent behavioural media agency group Mediaplus UK, has promoted Dom Randle to managing director from his prior role as business director.
This follows the recent departure of previous managing partner, Colin Reynolds, who co-founded Running Total alongside John Marshall. Dom has also been promoted to the board.
Dom was the fifth employee at Running Total and has been business director since 2017, after joining from MediaCom North. The business now boasts around 30 employees as it looks to expand its footprint in Manchester.
Founding partner, John Marshall, said: “Dom is at the heart of everything good the agency does, from our focus on effectiveness, which has helped us win and retain a raft of high profile clients like Beko and Go Outdoors, to the development of our colleagues into the brilliant media planners that they are. This promotion is a reflection of all of that, and of the exciting direction the agency is taking.”
Dom Randle said: “I joined Running Total to help create something different and a bit special, and we’re well on our way to accomplishing this. Big thanks to both John and Colin for putting their faith in me when they were trying to grow an agency, and I hope to prove again that I am the right person for this role.”
::
Dougie Orton-Wade
Transformative BTR operator and developer, CERT, has appointed Dougie Orton-Wade as its head of build to rent, as the business ramps up its team in readiness for the operation of both in-house developments and third-party BTR projects, all of which will be fully managed and operated by the in-house lettings and facilities teams.
With a decade of experience spanning student and BTR operations, Dougie joins CERT to lead the operational strategy across its build to rent portfolio.
He said: “I was attracted to the role at CERT because of the strong cultural alignment and the company’s progressive mindset, particularly its commitment to placemaking, innovation and technology. What stood out most to me was the team’s clear passion for doing things differently and for curating truly thriving communities, with technology at the forefront of that vision.”
Howard Lord, CERT’s managing director, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Dougie to CERT. His expertise and vision for the BTR sector perfectly align with our ambitions to create exceptional, community-focused living experiences. We’re excited to see how his leadership will drive our innovation and growth as an operator in the sector.”
::
John Monds
Accountancy firm Cooper Parry has welcomed John Monds as associate partner to lead its national transfer pricing team.
The company has completed 13 acquisitions across the professional services spectrum in the past two years. Now, the addition of John to the team further expands the scope of CP’s national tax offering.
Based out of CP’s newly refurbished Manchester ‘superhub’, John brings more than 20 years of Big 4 and in-house transfer pricing experience to deliver practical and effective solutions for clients.
Before joining CP, John was group head of transfer pricing at JD Sports. The sportswear retailer operated in 38 different countries which, when paired with John’s Big 4 background at EY and KPMG, means he has significant experience in both creating and implementing transfer pricing policies in most major global jurisdictions.
John said: “CP feels so different to other advisory environments I’ve been in and the collaborative approach across the firm is going to help me grow our transfer pricing business much faster. I’m looking forward to bringing my experience on both sides of the in-house and advisory fence to help other businesses manage their transfer pricing policies in a sensible way.”
Simon Baines, CP’s head of tax said: “John’s arrival is another big step forward for our national tax team and the transfer pricing support we can offer to our clients.”
::
Ben Smoker
DWF, the Manchester-based global provider of integrated legal and business services, has added Ben Smoker as a new partner in the business’s major injury and casualty team in Manchester.
Ben joins DWF from Keoghs, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a proven track record in complex and catastrophic personal injury claims.
Claire Bowler, head of major injury and casualty at DWF, welcomed Ben to the tream, saying: “His expertise in defending complex and catastrophic personal injury claims, combined with his strong focus on delivering high quality work and maintaining trusted client relationships, makes him a natural fit for our team.”
Ben said: “I am excited to join DWF. The firm’s culture, reputation, and ambitious growth plans are what drew me here.”
::
Vicky Higgs
Travel Counsellors for Business, the Manchester-based platform for corporate travel entrepreneurs, has appointed Daniel Olowu and Vicky Higgs as business development managers, strengthening its growing team dedicated to supporting new client acquisition and the company’s corporate Travel Counsellor business owners.
Olowu joins with experience in both fintech and travel, having begun his business development career at Verifone before entering the travel sector through Holiday Extras.
Danny Olowu
Higgs brings more than 20 years of industry experience, including leadership roles at Visa Swift and Prima Passports and Visas, plus most recently a nine-year tenure at CIBT. Here, Higgs’s career progressed to become global VP for client management in document services, supporting a wide ranging portfolio that included government, corporate clients and travel management companies.
Mel Quinn, director of corporate at Travel Counsellors for Business, said: “Our continued investment in the business development team reflects our deep commitment to serving the UK’s SME market with a highly personal and responsive travel management service.
“By supporting talented people like Vicky and Daniel to focus on new business acquisition, we’re able to foster long lasting client relationships built on trust, care, service excellence, and a clear understanding of individual business needs.”
::
Innovative boutique law firm, Venus Legal, has announced a trio of new hires that will join the specialist business as it expands its UK wide operations following a year of exponential growth.
The latest appointments to the North West-based firm are Stacy Pimlott and Owen Coyle, who join as partner, alongside Craig Johnson as solicitor, all of whom bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise from within the legal sector.
Lorna McGlone, founder and CEO, said: “Whilst we’re considered relatively new to the sector, over the past five years we have thrived to become a well established, nationally recognised business. Recent uplift in activity, coupled with developments within the business has given rise to upscale our growth plans. We are, therefore, thrilled to welcome Stacy, Owen and Craig to our team and to further strengthen our position within the field.”
Stacy Pimlott specialises in military, industrial disease and personal injury claims, with particular expertise in complex high value litigation. She said: “I am truly honoured and excited to join this incredible firm with exceptional people based at the heart of it. Their innovative and welcoming approach underpinned my decision to join the firm. I am thrilled to be part of the team and their future success.”
With an equally impressive background, Owen holds more than a decade of experience in complex litigation and a proven commitment to delivering exceptional client service. He said: “Venus Legal are paving the way for an exciting growth journey and I am excited to be a part of it.”
Craig Johnson qualified in 2024 through the trailblazing UK legal apprenticeship route. He said: “I’m extremely proud to be given the opportunity to continue my legal journey and diversify my portfolio whilst working for Venus Legal.”
::
Andrew Paxton, left, Len Rosso
Colliers has made a key hire in its industrial and logistics team with the recruitment of North West warehousing specialist, Andrew Pexton.
With more than 35 years’ experience operating in and around Manchester, Andrew joins Colliers from developer Harworth Group where he was a regional director, bringing forward strategic land sites for development as industrial as well as residential sites.
Andrew started his career at GVA, prior to its acquisition by Avison Young, before moving to JLL ahead of joining Harworth.
Len Rosso, head of the industrial and logistics team, said: “We’re thrilled to be welcoming Andrew to the team, he has a long established reputation in the region and brings with him a unique perspective having worked client-side with a developer most recently.
“His insights and advice will be invaluable to our clients and our business as a whole.”
Andrew said: “I’m looking forward to returning to the agency and consultancy side of commercial real estate, working with the team across Colliers and re-establishing connections with clients in the North West, but also nationally as well.”
