Appointments: Ribble Valley Inns; Clough & Willis, GL Hearn & more

PRESTON-based Ribble Valley Inns has appointed experienced leisure sector operator Wayne Chapman as chief executive

Mr Chapman was previously brand director for SSP UK and Ireland responsible for the development of bars, restaurants and franchise brands at the food travel provider.
 
He said: “I really look forward to improving our current estate and to further expand our brand and allow many more customers in different geographic areas to experience the Ribble Valley proposition.”

Joint managing director Craig Bancroft said: “It is exciting times and Wayne’s expertise will be vital in the growth of Ribble Valley Inns as we expand the group and move forward.”

Ribble Valley Inns comprises four premium pubs: The Three Fishes, The Highwayman, The Clog and Billycock and The Bull at Broughton.

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THE Manchester office of property consultancy GL Hearn has promoted Tracy Dougan to senior surveyor.

First joining GL Hearn as a graduate in 2007, she was sponsored by the firm to complete her Masters in commercial property management at Liverpool John Moores University, before becoming a RICS qualified surveyor in 2011.

In the new role she will play a more strategic role for the Corporate team’s clients, which include WorldPay, Tesco, Smiths News, and Telereal Trillium.

She said: “I am truly delighted to be appointed to Senior Surveyor, and am thankful to GL Hearn for investing in my development from the very start. Working in a team as diverse as Corporate has offered me the chance to work for a wide range of clients, and I look forward to playing a greater role at GL Hearn.”

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DEVELOPER PlaceFirst has announced two appointments to its board.

Prof Peter Lloyd, an adviser to the European Commission, has joined as a board advisor and non-executive director, while David Skidmore is the new director of development, responsible for new development, project management and design services.

The Manchester firm is working in partnership with social landlord Twin Valley Homes and Hyndburn Borough Council on a project to bring 200 homes back into use that have been boarded up since the demise of Labour’s Pathfinder housing market renewal scheme.

PlaceFirst founder and managing director, David Smith-Milne, said: “David and Peter are outstanding additions to the executive team at PlaceFirst. Peter brings a new dimension to our board, in particular a handle on major European and National policy issues directly relevant to our business.  

“David’s extensive experience in the delivery of large scale residential and mixed use regeneration projects will prove invaluable as we look to take on a number of exciting new projects in the coming months.”

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BURY law firm Clough & Willis has strengthened its employment team with the appointment of Amy Ross-Sercombe.

She joins the firm from the Manchester office of Addleshaw Goddard. Prior to that, she worked in the in-house legal department of Matalan.

Her new role will see her working closely with Tim Gray – who is head of the employment team – on various activities including, advising clients on employment tribunal claims, compromise agreements, business reorganisations and HR policies/procedures.

She said: “I’ve worked for large organisations for many years but I’m now ready for a new challenge. I felt that Clough & Willis was the perfect choice as I knew I could make a difference from my very first day in the job. I’m now looking forward to working with Tim and the wider team to develop and grow the employment department.”

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THE rural team at Napthens solicitors in Blackburn has appointed legal assistant Siobhan Turner.

She has joined from the rural department at a Cambridgeshire-based law firm.

In her new role she will assist department head Andrew Holden and his team on a range of agricultural legal matters including research, property transactions and issues affecting farming tenancies.

Andrew Holden, head of Rural at Napthens, said: “Our Rural service is performing very strongly, with client demand meaning we have both opened a new office and appointed a number of new staff.

“Lancashire remains a busy area of the region for agriculture, and it was important to continue to offer the highest quality service to our clients which meant appointing Siobhan as support for the rest of the team, who are busier than ever.”