Appointments: New NW MD for Macdonald Hotels; DTZ promotes eight; Weightmans
DEBBIE Taylor has joined Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, as its new managing director for Manchester and much of the North West.
She is the former president of hospitality and real estate at Kohler Co which operates The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa in St Andrews and the American Club and Whistling Straits golf resort the US.
Macdonald Hotels said she was one of only nine women in the world to hold the accolade of Master Innholder.
She will be responsible for overseeing the re-launch of Macdonald Kilhey Court, near Wigan, and Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel at Chester. She will also aim to build sales and improve service at Macdonald New Blossoms Hotel, in Chester, Macdonald Manchester Hotel & Spa and Macdonald Townhouse Hotel, Manchester and The Lymm, Warrington.
She said: “I’m extremely excited to join Macdonald Hotels & Resorts which has a team of accomplished hoteliers. “Working with an exceptional team to deliver great hospitality is my motivating factor and staff training and development is paramount to achieving this.
“There is huge opportunity in the North West, which Macdonald Hotels & Resorts has spotted and as a result, is investing over £3m alone into my region. Having been born in the Wirral, I really do feel it’s my ‘homecoming’ and I’m not only professionally passionate about what I do, but I have that personal connection to drive and oversee the success and sales for Macdonald Hotels in the North West.”
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EIGHT people have been promoted in DTZ’s Manchester office.
The head of the Manchester office, John Keyes has been promoted to senior director whilst Kevin Cramer (building consultancy), Gino D’Anna (professional advisory services), Jo Hindle (human resources) and Chris Lloyd (office agency) have all been promoted to director level.
David Feeney (education and innovation team) and Steven Moran (property management) are both senior surveyors whilst Raffaella Puricelli is now a senior sustainability consultant.
John Keyes said: “Promotions are always pleasing but this year I’m delighted, not only about their diversity and breadth, but by the number that has been achieved across all our grades. We are seeing colleagues outperforming on behalf of their clients and teams time and again and making a significant contribution to their respective offices.
“This level of success across a wide range of sectors and skills is testament to the strength of our regional business.”
In total, 128 promotions were announced in Europe across DTZ’s Europe, Middle East and Africa, research and investment & asset management businesses.
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JIM Bryant has joined Weightmans as a partner in the disease and complex injury side of the insurance team.
He has joined from Clyde & Co, where he was a partner in the disease team.
He will be based at the firm’s Liverpool office where he will develop the specialised insurance business
Mr Bryant said: “I am delighted to be given this exciting opportunity with Weightmans, in the rapidly expanding disease team, and I feel I am joining at a very interesting time for Weightmans given the continued growth of their insurance practice and their ambitious plans for the future.”
