People on the move: HURST; Intellectual Property Office; Northern Powerhouse Partnership; Statiflo; Graphite Resourcing

Accounting and business advisory firm HURST has strengthened its business services team with the appointment of Allan Chan as a manager.

Chan has international experience, having recently worked in Mauritius as a manager at PwC then as an internal audit manager at fresh produce importer and wholesaler SKC Surat & Co.

Before moving to Mauritius, Chan worked at London-based accountancy firms.

He has experience of auditing, corporate finance, due diligence and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
Mike Jackson, the partner who heads HURST’s business services team, said: “Allan has great commercial awareness and brings a wealth of experience to the team.

“He is a great addition to our department as we expand to cater for a growing number of clients who are internationally mobile.”
HURST’s business services team provides advisory, audit and assurance services to companies across the north west and beyond.

Over the past 12 months, the team has won dozens of new clients, including Thermotech, The Turtle Mat Company, i2i Pipelines, Utilities Design & Planning, Dean Group International and Chandos Civil Engineering.

Chan said: “I’m delighted to join one of the leading independent practices in the North West and I look forward to working with the firm’s exciting and growing client base to support their business ambitions.”

HURST is planning further recruitment in all its areas of practice as it continues to attract new clients.

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The Intellectual Property Office has positioned its new regional policy adviser in Manchester.

Ian Sterritt has been selected by the (IPO) to lead business support policy in the North West. His role is one of only two of its kind nationally.

Sterritt has 30 years’ experience managing the commercialisation of several high-profile new technology solutions within both established and fast-growing companies.

He has broad knowledge across several technologies and industries − from electronics and software apps, to manufacturing in the food and drink sector – with a history of building collaborations, managing a diverse Intellectual Property portfolio, and strategy formulation.

In line with the Government’s commitment in the Industrial Strategy Green Paper, Sterritt will be co-located in the Northern Powerhouse at the Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub, part of The Growth Company.

This will foster a more joined-up approach, working across all stakeholder partner organisations in the North West of England to integrate intellectual property policy into their strategic planning and activities.

Director of Innovation at the IPO, Pippa Hall, said: “I am pleased to welcome Ian to the IPO. His role is an important element of the IPO’s commitment in the industrial strategy. By working with partner organisations within the North West, it will mean that businesses within the region will have improved access to combined business and IP support. This will allow them to derive value from their IP assets and grow their business.”

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Three further appointments have been made to the Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP).

Following the recruitment of director Henri Murison in April, the new roles will drive NPP’s agenda of increasing the contribution of the North to the UK economy.

Chaired by former chancellor George Osborne, NPP provides a voice for business and civic leaders across the region. Its Board includes a diverse group of senior Northern businesses, civic leaders and academics.

Daniel Cochlin joins the partnership as head of external affairs, responsible for raising awareness of the organisation with external stakeholders and media, working closely with the Board member companies.

A former journalist for the Mail on Sunday and The Journal, Cochlin spent seven years at The University of Manchester, most recently establishing a brand and communications strategy for the Henry Royce Institute.

Prior to that, he managed the promotion of graphene, the wonder material isolated at the University – attracting worldwide media coverage, high-profile visits and more than 70 collaborative partnerships with industry.

Cochlin said: “The opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping how the Northern Powerhouse is delivered for the benefit of people in the North is one that motivates and excites me.

“The North has an unique offering and communicating its strengths and opportunities to a wide range of audiences is one that any communications professional would relish.”

Also joining the team is chief economist Andrew McPhillips, whoworked in a similar role at Yorkshire Building Society, creating economic scenarios to determine the organisation’s business planning and advising the board on the economic outlook.

He also worked in the Department for Education, as strategy adviser, the Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Transport.

His role will drive the NPP’s research output, ensuring that the best evidence and economic thinking informs policy proposals. Andrew said: “I am really looking forward to starting work on the Northern Powerhouse agenda. As somebody who has grown up and lived in the region for the majority of my life, I am committed to ensuring that the North is in pole position when it comes to spending and investment decisions.

As events manager, Lucy Smith coordinates the schedule of engagement with businesses and civic groups across the North. She has previously worked on Steve Rotheram’s successful Mayoral campaign in Liverpool and managed events for Labour North West.

Smith said: “The Northern Powerhouse is our opportunity to grow the economy in the North and build a region where it is possible to get great skills and jobs for all. I am passionate that working together we can achieve this and am excited about this new role.”

NPP director Henri Murison said: “I am delighted to welcome Daniel, Andrew and Lucy to the team. Having them in place will allow us to expand the work we are doing with businesses and civic leaders in the North, and deliver crucial reports and research to shape policy in the region.”

The NPP core team will be based at the Arcadis offices in central Manchester. Arcadis, one of the NPP Board members, has provided space in their Piccadilly Place offices to ensure the two organisations work closely together.

The NPP Board includes Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, and Julie Dore, leader of Sheffield City Council alongside leaders from MAG (Manchester Airports Group), Mace, Drax Power Ltd, Barclays, Associated British Ports, Siemens, HSBC, EY, Arup, Addleshaw Goddard, Bruntwood and Arcadis.

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Engineering company Statiflo has appointed a new group financial controller following the retirement of Patrick Hurst.
Paul Davies, 51, has joined the Macclesfield-based company from insurance broker Ageas Retail.

He trained and qualified as a chartered accountant at KPMG and has previously held senior roles at companies including Churchill China (UK) and JCB.

Hurst, 68, joined Statiflo International, the group’s UK business, as financial controller in January 2010.

Davies has taken on a wider role as financial controller of Statiflo Group, which includes the company’s subsidiaries in the United States and Germany.

Statiflo claims to be a world leader in the design and distribution of static mixers and other chemical process equipment. It supplies the water and wastewater treatment industries, oil and gas, petrochemical, food, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper sectors.

Its products are used in more than 80 countries and the group has annual revenues of more than £5m. It employs 24 staff.
In 2016, managing director Gareth Fry acquired a majority stake in the business from founder John Baron, who set up the business in a spare bedroom at his Wilmslow home in 1983.

Patrick’s retirement brings down the curtain on an accountancy career which began in 1966 as an articled clerk at a firm in the West End of London earning £10 a week.

He has worked in listed, privately-owned and employee-owned companies and in the not-for-profit sector, and has been involved in numerous mergers, turnarounds and disposals.

Mr Fry said: “Patrick has been a great asset to the business, in particular the support he gave to John and I during the buyout process.

“He has been a rock of stability throughout his time with us and has remained in post to ensure a smooth handover to Paul. We are hugely grateful to him and wish him all the very best in his retirement.”

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Manchester-based corporate finance, private equity and direct lending recruitment/executive search firm Graphite Resourcing has welcomed James Walker to its team.

He has arrived from Robert Walters plc, where he recruited qualified finance professionals into corporate finance, private equity and forensic investigation roles.

Managing director Max Williamson said: “I am delighted to welcome James to the Graphite team.

“He has a strong track record recruiting into corporate finance and private equity and will be instrumental in our aim to be the go to recruiter in these markets. James has also built a strong presence in the forensic investigation sector, helping to slightly diversify our current offering. He joins at a time of incredible growth and I look forward to working with him.

Walker added: “I am excited to join the Graphite team during a period of strong growth in the business. I was drawn to Graphite due to its fantastic reputation in its core markets and entrepreneurial culture. The business has ambitious plans which I am really looking forward to being a part of.”