People on the move: Armstrong Craven; Review Travel; Ramboll; Digital Bridge

Global talent mapping and pipelining specialist Armstrong Craven, based in Hale, Greater Manchester, has recruited a new client partner to its financial services team.

Felix Ko was previously a managing consultant with Hudson in its banking and financial services division. He has also worked in the sector for Michael Page.

Before switching to the world of recruitment, Ko was an associate at JP Morgan and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

His experience includes recruiting for roles in finance, risk and compliance, from analyst to director level.

He joins Armstrong Craven’s established financial services team which provides strategic talent acquisition services, including talent mapping, pipelining and insight, to some of the world’s leading banks and financial services companies.

Armstrong Craven chief executive Tom Mason said: “Felix brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge, including expertise in some of the talent growth areas in the sector.

“He is one of a number of key sector appointments we are making across the business as we continue to scale in the UK and internationally.”

Ko said: “Armstrong Craven is challenging the way executive hiring is done by encouraging a far more consultative and strategic approach through the services we offer. It is an exciting time to be joining the business.”

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Travel management firm Review Travel, based at Wilmslow in Cheshire, has added to its expanding team with two new appointments.

Mike Jones has been appointed senior business development manager, while James Gilmour has stepped into the role of business travel manager.

Joining the business from CTI Travel, and having amassed more than 18 years of travel and business development experience in senior sales and strategy roles, Jones will support Review Travel’s board of directors with its growth strategy.

His role will centre on identifying new business opportunities and building on already well-established industry relationships.

Gilmour, who has worked in the travel industry for almost 30 years, will manage teams at Review Travel’s Blackpool and Cheshire offices, as well as oversee the management and development of Review Travel’s award-winning booking tool, OrBiT.

The appointments coincide with news of Review Travel’s record £14.8m turnover for 2017, as the business plans an ambitious acquisition strategy for 2018.

Review Travel chief executive Christian Gleave said: “Our recent growth and ambitious acquisition plans make it critical to recruit the right people. Mike and James both bring extensive industry experience, and will play instrumental roles in helping us grow and maintain the exceptional level of customer service that we’re known for.

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Engineering, design and consultancy company Ramboll has announced two senior hires in the Manchester office of its environment and health practice.

Nick Howard has joined the team as a principal consultant and joint lead of its compliance, strategy and transaction practice, along with Steve King as a principal consultant in its impact assessment practice.

Howard joins from AECOM, with 18 years of experience in delivering global transactions and compliance support and will bolster Ramboll’s compliance, strategy and transaction offering, focussing on providing support to industrial and corporate clients.

Joining the team from RSK Consulting, King has more than 25 years’ experience in environmental permitting and planning.

He has extensive knowledge of international ESIAs and has worked across Africa, Eastern Europe, former Soviet states and Asia in the oil and gas, waste management, development aid and mining sectors.
As the Manchester office continues to expand, the consultancy is increasingly active in providing a range of services for local projects.

The team recently aided with the acoustic, environmental, fire, civil and structural engineering for the University of Manchester’s striking National Graphene Institute.

The development of a large new residential and hotel development on Princess Street, due to open this year,is another major current project in which Ramboll are engaged, providing building, sustainability, ventilation, mechanical, electrical, façade, vertical transportation and fire & safety services.

Matt Davies, UK managing director for Ramboll Environment & Health said:“Nick and Steve each bring high calibre expertise and profile in their respective markets. Nick will expand our Compliance, Strategy and Transactions business in the industrial and corporate sector, and Steve builds our strong international consulting capability in the oil and gas and extractives sector.”

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Manchester tech business DigitalBridge has appointed Lee Spooner as senior product manager ahead of a period of expansion.

Spooner will oversee the company’s development of space planning and room visualisation tools for the kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms (KBB) market.

These have a specific focus on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.

He brings to the role more than 18 years’ experience in the industry, spending a decade as a designer before moving on to a position as CAD development specialist at B&Q.

Most recently, he was digital lead at Kingfisher – the largest home improvement retailer in Europe – where he headed up the design and development of KBB planning and visualisation tools. Kingfisher counts brands such as B&Q, Screwfix and Castorama in its portfolio.

The appointment comes as DigitalBridge looks to transition into a period of exciting growth over the next 12 months. The company, which is headquartered at Manchester Science Park, currently counts a team of 25, and is growing fast.

Spooner said: “I got to know the DigitalBridge team over 12 months before joining and was impressed by both their product and their way of doing business.

“I am particularly excited by the opportunity as it’s a smart company solving real customer problems, rather than a tech outfit looking for problems to solve.

“I’m really looking forward to be part of such a friendly team.”

David Levine, chief executive of DigitalBridge, said: “Lee’s wealth of relevant experience is going to help kick-start an exciting phase in DigitalBridge’s journey as we continue to disrupt the KBB planning and visualisation space.

“Lee has had an exceptional career at the forefront of this industry and we’re delighted to have him on board to power us into our next phase of growth.”