People on the move: HOW Planning; Addleshaw Goddard; Cheshire & Warrington LEP; Lookers; IoD Lancashire; Qualtex

L-R Emma Williams, Josh Casey and Alex Eatough

Manchester-based planning and environmental consultancy HOW Planning has made two key promotions.

Alexandra Eatough has become principal planner and Emma Williams is now senior planner.
Eatough moved from JLL to HOW two years ago and has particular expertise in the retail sector working on projects for Aldi and Marks & Spencer.

Williams joined from Peel Holdings and has just celebrated her third anniversary. She has helped deliver schemes for Taylor Wimpey, Property Alliance Group and Glenbrook.
HOW managing partner Gary Halman, said: “Alex and Emma’s promotions are very well deserved and reflect their achievements within the team.

“We’ve ambitious plans for the future and want to make sure we have a strong and talented team in place to help deliver sustained growth during what could be uncertain times as the Brexit negotiations get underway.”

Halman also announced that Emma Jones will be joining HOW’s team later this year as an associate from GL Hearn, where she already advises some mutual clients including Miller, Casey Group and Gladman.

HOW has also recruited graduate planner Josh Casey, who worked for the firm whilst studying for his Masters in Planning and Real Estate at Manchester University.

HOW Planning was founded 16 years ago by Gary and Richard Woodford and currently has a team of over 30.   Their projects include Manchester’s £235m Angel Meadow scheme, Bentley Motors’ Crewe Masterplan and Royal London’s major ownerships in Wilmslow.

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Stephen Kinsey, a real estate Partner at Addleshaw Goddard, has been appointed to the board of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The LEP is an organisation committed to setting the strategic direction of the Cheshire and Warrington economy, one of the strongest performing in the UK.

Chosen for his notable experience in real estate investment and development, Kinsey has played a key part in numerous high profile mandates across the region, including leading Peel Holdings on its historic deal to bring the BBC to MediaCity and Bruntwood’s Circle Square transformation of the old BBC Site on Oxford Road .

The Manchester-based partner joins four of the North West’s most prestigious business experts as the board’s newly appointed members, including Chris Hindley, the chief executive of Youth Federation, Graeme Bristow, AstraZeneca’s Alderley Park site leader; Gary Steen, chief technology officer of TalkTalk, and John Downes, managing director of Langtree.

With a chief objective of delivering the region’s ambitions to become a £50bn economy by 2040, the LEP plans to harness the wealth of opportunities arising from the arrival of HS2, and the globally significant status of the Cheshire Science Corridor.

The LEP’s agenda is to accelerate the growth of local businesses, attract investment to the area, and progress innovation across business sectors.

Kinsey said: “It’s an accolade to be given the opportunity to drive the economy of Cheshire and Warrington, one of the strongest in the North of England. The region holds huge growth potential, with its internationally-oriented and diverse economy, world-leading firms and strong transport infrastructure, and I am committed to bringing these plans to fruition.”

Christine Gaskell, chair of Cheshire and Warrington LEP, said: “Stephen’s significant experience and expertise in property and investment will play an important part in helping us to realise the full potential of our investment opportunities and achieve our ambitions for Cheshire and Warrington’s economy.” I’m confident that our new Board members will make a valuable contribution to our growth agenda as we work to build on Cheshire and Warrington’s reputation as a great place to live, work and invest.”

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Listed car dealer group Lookers, based in Manchester, has announced that Stuart Counsell has been appointed as a non-executive director of the company and chairman of the audit and risk committee.

Counsell had a long and successful career with Deloitte where he spent over 30 years, during which time he held a variety of senior management positions including managing partner of the 17 UK regional offices and latterly managing partner finance and legal.

In that role he was responsible for the financial and legal aspects of a £2bn professional services business.

Counsell also spent time at Deloitte as deputy to the chief executive with a specific mandate around operational excellence. He is also a non-executive board advisor to the law firm Walker Morris, non-executive chairman of Henderson Insurance Brokers and non-executive chairman of Singleton Birch.

Phil White, chairman of Lookers, said: “Stuart has significant financial expertise in one of the leading accounting and professional services businesses in the UK and his knowledge will be of great benefit to Lookers, particularly in his role as chairman of the audit and risk committee.”

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Lancashire leadership and strategy specialist Stuart Thompson has been announced as the new chair of the Institute of Directors’ Lancashire branch.

Thompson, who hails from Rossendale, takes up the post with immediate effect with a remit to champion the Institute’s Lancashire agenda, helping business leaders and directors across the region as they trade in an increasingly challenging and complex business environment.

He said: “I first joined the organisation to meet people in Lancashire – a place I’m really passionate about. I now want to make sure I help my peers in the region become better leaders.”

By day, Thompson – who has held senior roles both nationally and internationally – is managing director of Reorient Consulting, a company which provides leadership and strategy consultancy to business owners, directors and entrepreneurs. He established the business in 2014 to help other business leaders create better organisations.

IoD regional director Claire Ebrey: “Stuart is a forward thinking, experienced leader who will be a wonderful asset to IoD Lancashire and IoD North West.”

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Manchester-based global domestic and commercial spare parts supplier Qualtex has appointed a new managing director to oversee the development and growth of the company in the UK.

Kirk Whitehead joins the company with a wealth of experience in sales and operational roles.

Starting as an electrical engineer on submarines, Whitehead has worked his way through different sectors – from elevator installation to catering – eventually entering the spare parts industry in 2013.

Philip Hulme, chief executive and owner of Qualtex, said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Kirk as Managing Director. He is a valuable addition to the Qualtex team. The board and I look forward to working closely with him and drawing on his experience and expertise in driving Qualtex to its next stage of growth.”

Qualtex has established its global presence with overseas distribution centres in the United States, Ireland, Australia and most recently Denmark.

Qualtex had a turnover of £32m in 2016.

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