People on the move: WSP; RSA; Richmond Hotel; Burnetts

Andy Wallace

WSP in Manchester grows public sector business with senior appointment

Professional services and engineering consultancy WSP in Manchester has appointed Andy Wallace as director of public sector advisory services to harness the growing number of public sector contracts available in the region and UK-wide.

A chartered surveyor, Wallace joins the business from his previous role as senior development manager at Liverpool City Council, bringing more than 25 years’ experience of working in the sector.

Early in his career, he was involved in delivering the first stages of the Manchester Metrolink programme and more recently, he played a key role in the economic regeneration of the Southern Gateway Corridor in Liverpool which included more than 1,000 new homes; over 1 million sq. ft of industrial space, £150m of new retail investment and the creation of 5,000 new jobs.

As well as looking to expand opportunities with existing clients within WSP, Wallace’s remit will include building a new property and development-focused team to complement WSP’s existing local government portfolio in the transport, highways, environmental and project management services.

The team will proactively seek out further opportunities in the regeneration, development, property, planning and environmental sectors.

Wallace said:: “The opportunities for WSP to grow its public-sector exposure, particularly within property-focused local Government directorates, are widespread, and now is the time to capitalize.”

Wallace, who lives in Cheshire, will be based in WSP’s Manchester office with a UK-wide role.

Ian Liddell, managing director for planning and advisory and head of project and commercial services, said: “There are exciting opportunities ahead and Andy’s appointment will help us to target new areas for growth within our existing local government client base, as well as to grow our property advisory services into new areas.”

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RSA, one of the largest UK commercial insurers, has enhanced its North West presence with several key appointments at its Manchester trading site in recent months.

After five years working in Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Leicester as RSA’s north regions sales manager, Moira Spencer has taken up the position of Manchester regional manager reporting Lee Mooney, commercial risk solutions (CRS) director for RSA regional business across the Midlands, North, Scotland and Isle of Man.

Former North West business development manager (BDM) Andy Bartley has been promoted to sales manager, heading up the account management team covering the north-west and north-east markets.

He has appointed Jonathan Hurst to the position of account manager covering key partners across the north-west. Meanwhile, Andy Collins has been appointed block of flats senior underwriter covering the UK.

Nicki Porter has become underwriting lead and brings a wealth of experience from a trading perspective coupled with great team management skills. Nicki was previously a senior lead trading underwriter running the professional indemnity team in the Manchester centre.

Pete Wallace, senior property and block of flats portfolio lead, has returned from a secondment leading RSA’s trading team in the Channel Islands.

And finally, Stewart O’Brien has brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to our Manchester trading site having recently joined from QBE Australia where he was professional indemnity national manager. Stewart now heads up the financial risks team for our Manchester trading site.

Lee Mooney, RSA’s CRS director for the North, said: “With these appointments and promotions, we are building on the combined skills already in our Manchester team and creating a strong culture for our business based around the training and development our people.

“Over the past few months we have combined promoting from within with attracting high calibre people such as Stewart O’Brien. We are determined to be a business that attracts and retains the best people in our market.”

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A new general manager has taken the reigns at a four-star hotel in the heart of the city of Liverpool.

Following a series of high profile management positions in both luxury hotels and restaurants, Simon Mason has been announced as the person to lead the 70-strong team at the 152 bedroom/apartments Richmond Hotel, Hatton Garden.

Mason will be responsible for the delivery of excellent customer service and guest experience, as well as leading the quality of the food and beverage element of the hotel, which includes weddings, conference and the R Bar and Brasserie.

He said: “I’m thrilled to have taken up post as general manager and very much looking forward to getting to know the team and working with them on building the best customer stays we can. There is so much opportunity here and I’m very much looking forward to realigning with the Liverpool business community too.”

Mason takes the place of award-winning manager Joe Little whom recently stepped up into position of Operations Manager with Know Group – the parent company of The Richmond Hotel.

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Six lawyers at Cumbria law firm Burnetts have been promoted this month, including a former work experience student who has become a partner.

James Johnston, 31, who joined the partnership from January 1 first came to Burnetts as a work experience student in 2003 before studying law at Durham University and completing his solicitor training in 2010.

Following a year in which more than £30m worth of damages was secured for brain injured children, three members of the medical negligence and serious injury team earn promotions – Jayne McCluskey becomes a senior associate, with solicitor Hannah Fitzpatrick and chartered legal executive Caroline Manningham both becoming Associates.

Corporate lawyer Melissa McManus and agribusiness specialist Megan Richardson also become associates.

Managing partner Nick Gutteridge said, “All those promoted in 2018 have contributed to Burnetts’ record-breaking success in 2017 and I am grateful to them for their hard work and commitment. I am particularly pleased to welcome James to the partnership.”

Burnetts employs 140 people across four offices in Carlisle, Penrith, Cockermouth and Newcastle.

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