People on the Move: Vitality Homes; TheCityUK; Forbes Solicitors; Duff & Phelps; Skin Academy

Jacquie Johnston-Lynch

Vitality Homes, the new supported living venture for people affected by drug and alcohol addiction, has appointed Jacquie Johnston-Lynch as its head of service.

Vitality Homes has been created by Liverpool businesswoman Kate Stewart, renowned for owning the historic Sandon Pub where both Everton FC and Liverpool FC were formed, and formerly running Liverpool’s Heritage Market.

She has planned to venture into the supported living sector, and is now turning her attention to focus on Vitality Homes which will help integrate those previously addicted to drugs and alcohol back into society.

Jacquie is the first member of staff to be appointed and will bring her wealth of experience from her previous endeavours to her new job role.

Her previous projects include leading The Brink, the UK’s first alcohol-free bar, Tom Harrison House, the UK’s first and only addiction treatment centre for military veterans, and also The Raucous Caucus Recovery Chorus, the UK’s first ever recovery choir.

The Liverpool-born project leader understands the consequences of addiction after experiencing it first-hand after members of her family were affected.

Jacquie said: “The community I grew up in was devastated by addiction and alcoholism, it takes a hold where there is extreme poverty.

“I’d grown up with a lot of drunkenness and domestic violence and my own brother was killed by a drunk driver. My son then became so traumatised by this that he too succumbed to addiction, but is now nearly 12 years clean and sober.

“I believe in turning your pain into purpose. I feel that Kate is like-minded in this way. I’m so excited about joining Vitality Homes.”

Vitality Homes will provide accommodation and 24-hour support for people who have overcome addiction and are now readying themselves to reintegrate into society through supported living.

Kate Stewart said: “It’s so important that we create a team for Vitality Homes that is second to none.

“Jacquie has a plethora of experience and a track record in supporting recovery and I’m delighted that she has been appointed as head of service.

“Her experience, both personal and professional, makes her the perfect candidate for this role and to push forward with ensuring Vitality Homes is the leading centre for supporting those with addiction.”

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TheCityUK has appointed Andrew Westbrook, partner, corporate finance advisory, Deloitte, as its new city chair for Greater Manchester.

TheCityUK is the industry-led body representing UK-based financial and related professional services industry.

In his new role Andrew will be a key industry figurehead for Greater Manchester and the wider North West, championing the industry’s considerable local contribution and progressing opportunities for greater collaboration and engagement across the region and the country.

He assumes the role from Richard Bell, practice managing partner, Deloitte in the North West, who is stepping down after making considerable progress during his time as city chair in promoting the value and contribution financial and related professional services have made to the city and the region.

Andrew Westbrook

Miles Celic, TheCityUK chief executive, said, “The UK is a world-leading international financial centre and this is not down to London. Cities right across the country play a critical role, collectively employing more than two thirds of the people who work in this industry – 250,000 of those in the North West alone.

“TheCityUK’s network of city chairs is central to our efforts to promote what a national asset this industry is and its contribution to regional and national economies.

“I am very pleased to welcome Andrew Westbrook as our new city chair for Greater Manchester – a vital region for this industry. I am sure he will continue the good work Richard Bell has been doing over his time in the role – for which we are very grateful.”

Andy Westbrook said: “Greater Manchester is already the fastest growing financial centre in the UK, yet few people who live here are aware of the huge part this industry plays in the city’s economy.

“I’m excited to take on the role of city chair for Greater Manchester for TheCityUK as it gives me the chance to spread the word about this massive Manchester success story.”

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Legal firm Forbes Solicitors has appointed Katy Parkinson as a solicitor in its commercial employment team.

Katy, who is based at Oak House, Walton Summit, Lancashire, qualified in 2015, having worked in the legal sector as a paralegal and then as a trainee solicitor since 2009.

She advises clients on all day-to-day aspects of the employment relationship, from recruitment to termination, and also assists clients with settlement agreements, the ACAS Early Conciliation process and Employment Tribunal claims.

Katy Parkinson

Katy specialises in advising private sector clients, with particular expertise in the hospitality, manufacturing and retail sectors and enjoys the technical aspects of employment law.

She also has experience of advising clients in more complex scenarios, such as collective consultation processes and TUPE transfers, and on the employment aspects of corporate transactions.

As part of her role, she provides bespoke training to her clients to equip them with the knowledge required to effectively deal with HR issues while minimising risk to the business.

She said: “I am delighted to be joining Forbes and a great team, which has a reputation for high quality work across the full range of commercial employment matters.”

Emma Swan, partner and head of commercial employment at Forbes Solicitors, said: “Katy is a great addition to our team.

“She is focused on developing relationships with her clients and getting to know their businesses, their objectives and the challenges they face, in order to provide commercial and pragmatic advice and solutions.”

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Duff & Phelps, the global advisor that protects, restores and maximises value for clients, has announced that Ben Collett has joined the firm as a managing director in its restructuring advisory practice.

Working across the firm’s Birmingham, Manchester and London offices, Collett will focus on providing advisory services to corporate clients across the UK and Europe.

He joins the firm from IMI Precision Engineering, where he was the global director of strategic projects.

Prior to that he spent 27 years with KMPG in the firm’s advisory practice.

Ben Collett

He specialises in assessing and driving strategic change programmes involving restructuring, turnaround, profit improvement and mergers and acquisitions for clients in both underperformance and growth situations.

Matt Ingram, Duff & Phelps managing director, said: “Ben is a highly-experienced turnaround advisory professional with extensive experience working in the manufacturing and engineering sectors, as well as oil and gas, food and retail, and fast-moving consumer goods.

“In his new role at Duff & Phelps he will bring to our corporate clients the benefit of his expertise in early intervention when seeking to protect or restore value.”

With a background in finance encompassing broad operational, commercial and strategic skills, Collett has worked with private equity, government and listed businesses from mid-corporate size through to FTSE 100, across the globe.

He said: “I am delighted to be joining the team in what is a truly exciting time for the business.

“Duff & Phelps has developed a strong reputation in the market based on deep industry expertise. I am very excited about the opportunity to help develop the firm’s restructuring offering and continue to deliver outstanding outcomes for our clients.”

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Manchester-based skincare brand, Skin Academy, has bolstered its team with the appointment of Nick Wade as its export sales director.

The senior appointment is a newly-created role that further consolidates the firm’s ambitions of rapid expansion as Nick is tasked with taking the brand into new international markets on a global scale.

Nick brings more than 20 years’ experience in the health and beauty industry and the strategic appointment was pivotal to owner, Antony Wagman, who said: “Nick has an enviable reputation and career to date in an industry that is a perfect match for Skin Academy.

“We want to use his passion, enthusiasm and expertise to take Skin Academy to the next stage in its journey and key to that is Nick’s experience, contacts and understanding of exporting into target markets for us.

“Nick shares our vision for the brand and I am delighted to have him join the team and to see what the future holds for Skin Academy.

“We have products in our ranges and NPD in the pipeline we are really proud of and I look forward to realising the predicted growth for the business with Nick on board.”

Nick Wade

With experience gained with brands such as Vidal Sassoon, Revlon, Baylis & Harding and Creightons plc, Nick is perfectly placed to support the brand on its international growth path.

He said: “I am honoured to join a brand that is clearly on an exciting journey with bold ambitions and big plans for the future.

“The brand has already carved itself such a strong presence in the industry, both in the UK and in Europe, in such little time and it is my goal to have the brand recognised and established even further afield and across the globe.

“Key to this growth is NPD and that is something we have put at the forefront of the business and we are looking forward to sharing these at Cosmoprof Bologna next month.

“The skincare sector is outperforming all other categories in the health and beauty industry and so it feels like the perfect time to up our stakes in the competitive, busy marketplace.

“I am delighted to be a part of the team that supports and steers the business forward ready for exponential growth.”

The Greater Manchester based brand, which launched in January 2018, has already seen retail sales of more than £1.8m.

Antony Wagman added: “It’s a very exciting time for the brand with lots of big things in the pipeline which Nick will play a key role in whilst also driving Skin Academy forward internationally and ensuring that it creates significant brand awareness, increased shelf space with key retailers, and customer loyalty to stays ahead of its competitors.”

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