People on the move: ACC Liverpool Group; TLT; Cundall; Handelsbanken; Fletchers Solicitors
The ACC Liverpool Group has appointed Ben Williams as its new commercial director.
His role will include developing the overall commercial strategy for the organisation which is home to BT Convention Centre, Echo Arena, Exhibition Centre Liverpool and ticketing agency TicketQuarter.
Williams joins from the First Direct Arena in Leeds where, as general manager, he led the team that launched the venue four years ago.
Prior to this, he was commercial and marketing director at Manchester Arena and previously a head of sponsorship and promotions for Capital Radio Group.
He said: “Having worked in the events industry for many years, I am aware of the incredible journey that The ACC Liverpool Group has been on since it opened in 2008. I look forward to bringing my experience of working in large venues and contributing to the continued development of the organisation.”
The ACC Liverpool Group recently announced the appointment of former Liverpool Football Club chief executive Ian Ayre as chair of the board.
Bob Prattey, chief executive, added: “This is an exciting time for The ACC Liverpool Group with two new senior appointments. Ben brings with him a wealth of industry experience and we have no doubt that he will be an integral part of our organisation across our portfolio of markets – international and national conferences, entertainment and sport, exhibitions and ticketing.
“Next year marks a decade since we opened our doors and we are confident that Ben will be a welcome addition to our talented team.”
The ACC Liverpool Group has generated £1.2bn in economic impact to the city region since it opened in 2008. Highlights on the entertainment calendar this year include Bob Dylan, Bruno Mars and the 2017 Gymnastics British Championships.
Conferences include BBC Worldwide Showcase, the Royal College of Nursing and NHS Confederation while MCM Liverpool Comic Con is among the large exhibitions.
The complex is the principal venue and official partner of ‘British Style Collective presented by Clothes Show’, which is set to take over the city of Liverpool for three days in July.
::
Law firm TLT is continuing the growth of its Manchester office with the appointment of real estate partner John Hyde. He will join the firm from Weightmans in May.
Hyde has more than 25 years’ experience in the commercial property sector acting for a wide range of clients including Staples UK, Ikea (Pension Fund), JJB, Total Fitness and Lookers plc.
He has also acted on significant transactions including the refinancing of the MEN Arena and the acquisition of the Office World retail chain for Staples UK. He is noted by legal 500, the UK guide to the legal profession, as ‘responsive and technically excellent’.
Prior to Weightmans, Hyde led the development of the new Manchester office for property law specialists Semple Fraser. He also spent 22 years at DLA Piper (16 as partner), where he was head of the retail property team and a prominent member of the firm’s international retail and leisure group.
TLT’s Manchester-location head Graeme Orchison said: “Our growth continues in Manchester, focused on attracting the right mix of legal expertise and sector experience, which means we add more value to our clients by providing legal advice in the commercial context of their business and industry.
“John is a recognised expert in his field and will add further weight to our Manchester office and our reputation across the UK.”
::
Manchester-based multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy Cundall has appointed Darren Wood as principal security consultant to lead its new security specialism.
With more than 15 years’ experience in both contracting and consulting businesses within the security industry, Darren has worked on prestigious schemes such as 22 Bishopsgate in London, and across the UK.
He will bring Cundall valuable knowledge and expertise in developing its new Security specialism.
Wood said: “Cundall’s new division is a specialist security consultancy, providing a holistic offering to customers in order to understand the real-time security threats and risks, advise on how to mitigate them effectively, design solutions and offer advice on how to operationally manage the security of their business on a day-to-day basis.”
Paul Kenyon, building services partner at Cundall, said: “For many years Cundall has offered elements of security within our core disciplines of MEP and structures.
“With more clients considering security as a primary concern, our engineers were regularly being asked to provide a comprehensive service. So, we are expanding Cundall’s expertise by creating a bespoke specialism led by Darren, an engineer with wide-ranging industry insight.”
Wood joined from WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff, where he was principal consultant – security consulting.
::
Handelsbanken, the relationship bank for local businesses and individuals, has announced the appointment of Phil Basten to manage its successful branch in the Spinningfields area of Manchester
With a 32 year background in banking and firm roots in the community, Basten will lead an established team of experienced bankers, responsible for meeting the individual needs of a growing range of customers in and around the city.
The branch, opened in 1989 at Sunlight House on Quay Street, claims a reputation for traditional banking, financial strength and high standards within the local business and professional services community.
A strong focus on long-term relationships and high levels of personal service has seen Handelsbanken rated top for customer satisfaction eight years running in an independent survey of British banks’ personal and business customers.
Basten commented: “It’s a real privilege to be responsible for serving the Manchester community in this way.
“The whole team here is committed to introducing our unique local relationship banking approach to more and more businesses and individuals in the area. We are experienced bankers with the power to make the decisions that matter to our customers, swiftly and sensibly here in the local branch.”
Originally from Sweden, Handelsbanken now has more than 800 branches in more than 20 countries and was named the world’s fourth safest commercial bank, by Global Finance magazine.
At a time when strength and stability is of particular importance to customers, the bank enjoys the highest credit ratings of all the major UK-based banks.
This reflects Handelsbanken’s strong financial position, long-term focus and prudent, consistent approach to banking through all economic conditions.
::
Southport-based Fletchers Solicitors has appointed Tim Scott as people director.
Scott brings more than 20 years’ experience in HR roles across a variety of sectors.
His previous roles include head of people and organisational development at leading young peoples’ sexual health service provider Brook, and HR manager at Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership.
Most recently, he founded The Work Consultancy, an independent HR consultancy that provides a range of HR services and specialist advice to businesses and start-ups. He was also an associate lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University, leading seminars for undergraduate and postgraduate students in HR, management and social media.
As part of his new role, Scott will be leading Fletchers’ people team to further develop the firm’s already award-winning employment practices.
He said: “After working for myself for a while, I’m really looking forward to being part of a team again. Fletchers Solicitors is a Sunday Times Best Employer so I’m particularly excited to be joining a team that is already doing great things. I’m also keen to bring some new ideas and thoughts about how we can build on what we do.”
Ed Fletcher, chief executive of Fletchers Solicitors, said: “We are delighted that Tim is joining us with such impressive skills and experience.
“He will play an instrumental role in the growth and success of the company. His vast experience will help to shape and manage our people strategies that continue to attract, develop, support and retain talented people in a culture of continuous learning and development.”
