People on the Move: Skout; Maguire Family Law; Imagile Professional Services; Forbes Solicitors; MSIF

Cheshire based B2B PR agency, Skout, has added to its senior team with the appointment of Claire James as account director.

Claire’s appointment is the latest in a number of key roles that sees the business enhance its position as one of the UK’s leading B2B agencies.

Claire brings more than 25 years’ experience in construction, healthcare, life sciences, leisure and hospitality marketing communications to Skout PR from a strong b2b background. She also has experience of working international client portfolios to deliver integrated marketing programmes to drive online engagement.

Managing Director Rob Skinner said: “Claire’s appointment has come at a time of growth for Skout and will help us to continue our track record of excellent service delivery for all of our clients. Her experience across a broad range of B2B markets and cross-sector knowledge will help us to expand the services we can offer to clients and advance our ambitious growth plans.”

Claire added: “I’m excited to be joining Skout. B2B PR has always been my passion and the team at Skout share my enthusiasm for it. I’m looking forward to helping the business to achieve its growth targets and work with some of its fantastic clients.”

Claire has worked with many market leading brands, including British Gypsum, Dulux, Pilkington, and Whitbread as well as working in the healthcare sector with companies such as 3M.

::

Wilmslow-based family law practice, Maguire Family Law, has bolstered its senior team with the appointment of a new partner.

Carole Nettleton joins from Irwin Mitchell and brings with her a wealth of experience, having worked exclusively in family law since qualifying as a solicitor in 1996.

She supports clients with divorce, dissolution of civil partnerships and the breakdown of cohabitation. Carole specialises in dealing with financial cases following the breakdown of a relationship.

Carole Nettleton

Over the past two decades Carole has worked with high net worth individuals advising on cases involving complex pension issues, multiple businesses, confiscation proceedings and family trusts, as well as those cases with more modest assets.

Managing director James Maguire said: “We’re always looking to grow the level of expertise within the firm and ensure our clients have access to the region’s very best family lawyers.

“Carole is the perfect addition to the team – she’s as knowledgeable as she is personable and I look forward to Carole’s progression in the team.”

Carole said: “As a firm, Maguire Family Law is known for delivering a tailored and transparent service and I’ve long admired their work. The team shares my passion for providing the highest level of support to clients through highly emotional and stressful times and it’s a pleasure to be working alongside them.”

::

Specialist asset management firm, Imagile Professional Services, has appointed Luke Body in the role of managing director, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the growing Daresbury-based company.

Luke brings more than 15 years’ experience in the asset management sector, with a wealth of experience and a proven track record as a pivotal member of the management team.

He was previously the deputy managing director and head of lifecycle planning after joining IPSL’s parent company, Imagile Group, in 2007.

The appointment will see Luke step up to lead the delivery of IPSL’s ambitious growth plans, supporting clients through an ever-changing and increasingly challenging trading environment.

The firm was recently named one of the UK’s Top 150 consultants by Building Magazine.

From left: Mick James, Carl White and Luke Body

Luke succeeds Gary Brown, who previously led the firm and has played a key role in its impressive results over the past 12 months. Gary has now taken up the managing director position for Imagile Group.

Carl White has taken on the role of deputy managing director following a successful two years as the head of construction delivery for IPSL. Carl joined Imagile Group in 2009 and has been operating as a company director at IPSL since its inception.

Completing IPSL’s management restructure is Mick James, group head of safety, health and environment, who has been appointed to the company’s board of directors.

Mick brings a wealth of knowledge and experience having first joined Imagile Group in 2006.

He will join Luke, Carl and Chris Burlton, who together form the new board of directors, with each playing a significant role in demonstrating an outstanding commitment to IPSL’s people, clients and culture since it began trading in 2017.

Luke Body said: “It’s a huge honour have been appointed as the managing director at IPSL, especially at such an exciting time for the company. Under Gary’s leadership we have begun to build a reputable consultancy with strong foundations for growth. I’m confident that we can continue to build on this success and drive our strategic vision forward.”

::

Law firm Forbes Solicitors has appointed Gemma Duxbury as a senior associate in its governance, procurement & information team.

Gemma, who is based at the firm’s central Lancashire office, advises on a full spectrum of contractual, procurement and governance matters, focusing mainly on public sector and local government.

Her appointment forms part of Forbes’ governance, procurement and information team’s strategy to grow its client base across the North and nationally as well as being in response to an increase in demand for the services it provides.

Gemma Duxbury

Gemma has spent the past 10 years as senior solicitor, acting head of legal and deputy head of legal (regeneration & governance) at Blackpool Borough Council.

Having recently come from the public sector, she is accustomed to giving advice to senior officials in local government and working with central government departments.

Gemma said: “I am excited to be joining a team and firm which has an excellent reputation and am looking forward to working with them to expand our services to public and third sector clients.”

Daniel Milnes, partner in governance, procurement and information at Forbes, said: “We are delighted to welcome Gemma to the firm. She has an established reputation and we are already seeing her experience and knowledge working for our clients and strengthening our team.”

::

Liverpool funder MSIF has appointed experienced tech specialist David Walters to its investment management team.

David has more than 20 years’ experience working within the tech sector and has been involved in a number of trade exits, placing technology and data at the heart of the business to create rich IP.

David was also one of the UK’s first data and digital investment directors at NorthEdge Capital and supported Fund:TMT as a member of the advisory board, helping with the technology analysis of potential investments.

More recently David led a fast-growing Manchester AI practice, where he remains as an advisor. He also remains an investor and non-executive director/chairman of Fund:TMTs first investment, Run2 Digital.

David Walters

By appointing David to the team, MSIF aims to support and fund more tech-based, AI and data science businesses.

David said: “I’m delighted to be back in Merseyside where I spent many years as a director at LDPE as well as stints at Mercers and RSA.

“I’m hoping to be a tech ambassador for Merseyside on behalf of MSIF and I look forward to immersing myself in the AI and data science meetup community, meeting the incubators and building out an eco-system of digital partners to support the MSIF portfolio businesses.”

Mark Borzomato, chief executive of AFM, the fund manager responsible for MSIF, added: “We are thrilled to have David on board. His experience throughout the technology sector will bring further strength to the existing MSIF team.

“We are looking to support some really innovative businesses across this space and David’s knowledge will ensure we are best equipped to do so.”