People on the move: Manchester & Cheshire Construction; Ainscough; Quantuma; Harrison Drury Solicitors

People on the move is sponsored by family law firm Hall Brown

A construction firm has appointed its first female board member after recruiting her to the newly-created role of operations director.

Michelle Richardson, 35, has joined Manchester & Cheshire Construction from Deloitte Real Estate, formerly Drivers Jonas, where she was a technical director.

She started at Drivers Jonas in 2008 as a senior project manager and won a series of promotions.
During her time at the firm she managed various multi-million pound projects for clients in the public and private sectors.

David Lowe, managing director of Manchester & Cheshire, said: “We have created the role of operations director to strengthen our structure as the business grows.

“Michelle brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the client and consultant side, and she shares our passion for construction and our drive.

“Her experience will enable us to deliver an increased number of larger projects as we continue our growth strategy with a goal to become a £20m turnover business by 2018.

“It’s a sign of what the company has achieved in the past few years that we can attract someone of such a high calibre.”

Richardson said she knew from an early age she wanted a career in construction.

“I’m a builder’s daughter and as a little girl I was always more interested in playing with Lego than Barbie,” she said.

“Having worked with Manchester & Cheshire in the past for a mutual client, it was clear we shared the same values and ethics in relation to the delivery of construction projects.

“I’m excited to join the company in this new role. Manchester & Cheshire has a strong history and I’m looking forward to being part of its future.”

Outside of work, Richardson is an ambassador for the Construction Industry Training Board and has been a mentor for Girls Out Loud, a social enterprise which seeks to raise the aspirations of teenage girls in the UK.

Michelle Richardson with, L-R, fellow directors Mike Purcell, Ian Lowe, David Lowe, Eugene O’Callaghan and Chris Purcell

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Wigan-based crane hire specialist Ainscough has appointed Charles Bithell as its chief financial officer.

Bithell has more than 15 years’ experience in senior financial roles in both listed and private equity backed service businesses.

Ainscough has also announced that sales director Leigh Webb will leave the business to become sales director at plant hire company,Ardent Hire Solutions.

All Ainscough sales and marketing operations will now be combined and headed by Derek Gow, Sales and marketing director.

Gow has been responsible for Ainscough’s marketing operations for the last two and a half years in his role as commercial director.
Ainscough chief executive Janet Entwistle said: “Charles brings a wealth of experience and I am delighted to welcome him to my board.

“Leigh has built a strong sales team over the last 3½ years and we wish him success in the future.  Bringing our sales and marketing activity together under Derek Gow will support our future development.

“Derek and Leigh have worked closely together over the last few years which will ensure a smooth transition for our customers.”

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Quantuma is expanding its advisory practice into risk management and investigations, with the appointment of new partner Mike Wright who will lead the company’s Manchester office.

The business restructuring and recovery specialist, which has been primarily focused on the south of England, is also extending its regional reach, launching what it hopes will develop into a strong presence in the North West.

His arrival will be followed by others both in London and Manchester, and represents the beginning of a series of diversifications to make Quantuma a broader advisory practice with restructuring and insolvency at its heart.

Wright, who has more than 20 years’ experience in risk management, corporate security and fraud investigations, will be splitting his time between London and Manchester.

He specialises in a range of global risk mitigation services for clients within leading law firms, financial institutions, companies and investors.

These services include enterprise risk management, investigations, forensic accounting and digital forensics.

Wright said: “The larger more complex, multi-jurisdictional assignments I undertake tend to come out of London. That is where I can add value on behalf of Quantuma.

“And this is likely to expand given the wider picture of Brexit, Trump in the US, increased regulation, fraud, cybercrime and other such factors.

“But equally Quantuma are looking to expand into the north-west and I will be their north-west face, the focal point of a growing team.”

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Lancashire and Cumbria law firm Harrison Drury solicitors has promoted experienced lawyer John Osborne to be its new head of family law.

Osborne, who has been with Preston-headquartered Harrison Drury since January 2016, takes over the role from Damian Baron who will remain with the firm and continue to advise clients.

Osborne specialises in all legal matters relating to family breakdown, with particular expertise in financial matters in divorce and complex child-related cases. He is also a fully qualified collaborative lawyer.

He said: “Damian is regarded as one of the foremost family lawyers in the region. He put Harrison Drury’s family law offering on the map in the last five years and we now have one of the most experienced family law teams in Lancashire and Cumbria. I look forward to building on this success as head of the service.”

Baron, who joined Harrison Drury in 2012 and built up a five-strong family law department, added: “John is hugely experienced and it’s a privilege to hand over the reins to him. The team is successful because we’ve had a focus on resolving family disputes in an amicable way wherever possible. As a fully qualified collaborative family lawyer, this ethos will continue under John’s leadership.”

John Chesworth, managing director of Harrison Drury, said: “Damian has been an excellent ambassador for the firm and a great asset to his clients during his time as head of the team. He leaves it in great shape. While he is stepping down as a director, I’m pleased to say he will remain actively involved in client matters.”