Appointments: RRG brings in joint MDs, Mace hires new Northern head & more

CAR dealer group RRG has announced that it has appointed Tony Cliff and Arran Bangham as joint managing directors.

The pair will be responsible for a workforce of more than 650 working across 19 dealerships with six franchisees.

Group chairman Osamu Ito, said: “It gives me great pleasure to announce the promotion of Arran and Tony. We have the best Motor Retail operation in the whole of the Marubeni organisation and I know Tony and Arran have the passion and desire to continue to grow this business.”

The pair will replace former vice-chairman Bill Tyldsley, co-founder of the Radclyffe Road Garage group which was sold to Japanese firm Marubeni Auto Corporation in 2000.

“The key success factors of the Group will not change,” said Ito. “The desire to be the best whether it is in terms of sales volume, customer satisfaction, after sales performance, staff and customer retention, has never been greater.”

Cliff joined the business in 1986 as a petrol pump attendant begfore moving into the Toyota Bury sales department in 1987. He then worked his way up to becoming group operations director in 2006.

Bangham joined as an accountant in 1995 and quickly progressed to the position of Financial Director by 1998. During his time, he worked on the sale to Marubeni and the subsequent acquisitions of south Manchester sites from European Motor Holdings in 2006 and on the purchase of Norton Way Motor Holdings in 2008.

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CONSTRUCTION firm MACE has announced the appointment as Steve Gillingham as director for the firm’s northern region, covering both the Nort West and Yorkshire/North East regions.

Gillingham moves over from Mace’s cost consultancy arm, Sense, where he has spent the past six years building its presence beyond its london Base.

Director of Mace’s UK regions, Rob Ewen, said the appointment will allow Mace to continue growing its market position in the regions.

Rob Ewen said: “Steve’s enterprising approach will be a great asset to our regional customers. He will bring his experience and successes in leading Mace in the northern region, as well as his inherently broad perspective on the distinctive breadth of the Mace service offer.”

Mace’s northwest team is based on Castle Street, Castlefield. It is currently involved in a number of programmes including providing programme management for Greater Manchester’s Building schools for the Future and City Academies programme.

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BARCLAYS Wealth has brought in two new people to its private banking division in Manchester.

Rob Bickerstaffe has joined from Coutts & Co where he was a client partner for three years. Prior to that, he was a senior manager in RBS’ private banking division. 

Karan Sejpal has joined from Credit Suisse and has worked in Manchester for the past seven years.

Both have taken up the positions of Vice President and will be respoonsible for advising and growing the bank’s network of high net-worth clients.

Alan Edwards, Barclays Wealth’s regional centre head for Manchester, said: “We are delighted to be bringing Rob and Karan on board and their understanding of the regional banking sector will certainly be valuable to the team.

“Their local knowledge, together with their calibre of experience, is great news for the team and for our clients.”

Barclays Wealth now employs 45 people at its Manchester office.

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MANCHESTER-based law firm Glaisyers Solicitors has expanded its costs law department by recruiting costs specialist Chris Stott.

Stott, 26, will be involved in negotiating costs, preparing formal bills of costs and dealing with points of dispute, as well as assisting the head of department on larger cases. He joins following three years at Manchester-based personal injury lawyers Hodari & Co and four and-a-half years at Altrincham-based costs law solicitors Dunne & Gray.

Michael Fletcher, costs lawyer and head of department, said: “Chris has already established himself in the costs law field with previous employers. He is committed to providing a good service to clients, so will fit in well with the ethos of the team.”