People on the move: Assura; Savills; tp bennett; Hibberts Solicitors

Jayne Cottam

Warrington healthcare property investor Assura has welcomed three new specialists to the team as a year of rapid growth continues.

Jayne Cottam has begun work as the REIT’s new chief financial officer, filling the vacancy created when Jonathan Murphy stepped up to become chief executive earlier this year.

Cottam joins the team from Morris Homes where she held the role of finance director.

Murphy said: “We’re happy to have Jayne on board, bringing our executive team back up to full strength.

Not only does Cottam bring a wealth of experience in finance, her experience with one of the UK’s largest private national housebuilders gives her a unique perspective on primary care property as social infrastructure for new and growing communities.”

Cottam added: “It’s an exciting time to be joining Assura with so many new developments getting underway to create long-awaited, fit-for-purpose spaces for general practice, pharmacy and community health services around the country.”

Also joining Assura this month are surveyors Jessica Malone and Katie Leather, who will join the rapidly-growing portfolio management team supporting GP tenants around the country on all of their property issues, as well as helping practices create new space, refurbish buildings and to maximise the impact of their surgery layout.

After building her experience as a property management surveyor for Workman in Manchester, Malone is looking forward to working with GPs in the primary care property sector.

Chartered surveyor Leather arrives at Assura from Swinton Group with more than 20 years’ experience in the commercial property market, with particular expertise in the retail and office sectors.

Assura’s property director Andrew Darke said: “We’ve seen incredible growth in our portfolio management team this year and that’s because our top priority is our relationships with our GP tenants and the customer service we offer.

“It’s a hallmark of our business and we’re absolutely excited to have Katie and Jessica joining the team.”

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Brad Wiseman of Savills Manchester has recently been promoted to senior planner.

Wiseman is one of nine individuals across the Savills business to receive promotion from planner to senior planner in 2017, after a series of promotions were made across its national planning division.

He joined the Savills planning team in 2015 as a graduate.

Originally from Perth, Western Australia, Wiseman has experience of advising clients on planning applications for small-scale retail development, as well as being involved in the process of gaining permission for more complex development sites.

He said: “I am excited to receive promotion to senior planner. Savills has a fantastic structure, team and a wealth of resource and research to draw upon and I very much look forward to continuing to progress my career with the company.

Matt Sobic, director in the planning team at Savills Manchester, said: “The promotions follow a successful first half of the year for the planning division.

“Since joining us in 2015, Brad has been key to the success of the planning team in Manchester and his promotion is very much deserved.”

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Architect tp bennett has furthered strengthened its Manchester office with a senior management promotion, two associate director promotions as well as a strategic new appointment.

Head of tp bennett Manchester, Leigh Dimelow has joined the board with a promotion to principal director after almost 20 years with the practice and three years growing the North-West and north of England hub.

Rachel Bishop and Paul Beech have been promoted to associate director while Alberto Yébenes joins as a senior architect from Manchester-based practice Hodder and Partners.

Since the founding of the Manchester office in 2014, Dimelow has increased the size of the team from three to 15 and sourced and designed some of the city’s most recent and significant workspaces.

Bishop’s promotion in the Manchester interiors team comes after two years with tp bennett as a senior interior designer.

In her time at tp bennett, Bishop has been the creative lead on projects including the Bruntwood offices and the link bridge retail unit at the Bull Ring in Birmingham.

Since joining tp bennett’s Manchester office in 2015, Beech has been working as a senior interior and technical designer.

He has over 15 years’ design experience working across multiple sectors including workplace, retail and leisure.

As an associate director, he will integrate his technical architectural knowledge with his experience as a designer to provide creative and pragmatic solutions for clients. As part of the practice’s expansion plans, Alberto Yébenes joins with previous experience working as a project architect on residential PRS and student accommodation schemes.

As a senior architect for tp bennett Yébenes will take a leading role on coordinating project teams and will work closely with clients.

Dimelow said: “These promotions and new hire are testament to the strength of the Manchester office and the level of projects we are delivering in the north of England. Our goal is to continue to increase our presence and brand across the North West. With our current tradjactory of work we anticipate further growth over the next 18 months and to build a 25 strong team in the near future.”

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Hibberts Solicitors has consolidated its offering with the appointment of two new conveyancers.

Tara Crisp and Jason Thomas are the newest members. They will utilise their skills and knowledge to build customer relationships and establish new clients.

Chartered legal executive Crisp is a Manchester College of Law graduate and has worked with solicitors in Chester city centre for 19 years.

She said: “I am looking forward to establishing new client and business relationships and growing existing relations. I am experienced in guiding clients through the conveyancing process in a composed yet proactive manner.”

Thoman, senior solicitor at Hibberts has also progressed his career in Chester city centre. He joins from Slater & Gordon Solicitors in Chester where he has spent the last 15 years.

He said: “I wanted to join an established firm with a reputation for providing clients with an excellent service. I have been impressed with the firms management structure and the quality of the people employed there. It is ambitious to want to develop further and I am excited to be able to play a part in this.”

Stewart Bailey, managing partner at Hibberts said: “We are happy to welcome Tara and Jason to the team. Their combined knowledge and expertise will be a fantastic addition and we look forward to seeing how they thrive and service customers both new and old.”

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