People on the Move: Napthens; BrightHR; HBD; DD Clinical; Purple WiFi

Regional law firm Napthens has strengthened its senior team with the appointment of an experienced business development professional.

Gillian Seville joins the firm after 14 years working for KPMG in Preston and Manchester and will become head of business development for Napthens across the North West.

As a Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) qualified marketing expert, Gillian has more than 20 years’ worth of experience working with large corporate businesses and SMEs in the professional services sector.

Since starting her career within her own family business, Gillian worked for nine years at the Central & West Lancashire Chamber of Commerce before spending 14 years as a business development executive for KPMG.

Gillian’s new role will involve her strengthening and growing client relationships, ensuring Napthens services work effectively for commercial clients by supporting them to achieve their strategic objectives. She will also develop existing and new relationships within the wider business community.

Shru Morris, CEO of Napthens, said: “Gillian brings a wealth of experience and success with her to Napthens. She is extremely well known and respected for her work across the North West and as we continue to invest and grow our service offering across the region, she will play an important part in understanding what matters to our clients and ensuring they receive the best possible legal insight.”

Gillian Seville added: “This is an exciting time for Napthens, with growth across Lancashire and Cumbria plus investment in Merseyside.

“I already know many of the team here at Napthens and I’m looking forward to working with them and supporting them in developing and growing the firm’s fantastic client base.”

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Manchester-based HR software and support service, BrightHR, has announced its first brand ambassador, Forces veteran and businessman, Andy Reid.

In October 2009, Corporal Andy Reid was serving as a soldier in Afghanistan. While on patrol, Andy stood on a pressure plate improvised explosive device (IED). As a result of the explosion, Andy lost his right leg below the knee, his left leg above the knee, and his right arm.

Andy was injured so badly that it was thought he would not survive, but he defied the odds to the extent that, within a month, he was able to meet up with members of his patrol again.

Today, Andy Reid is a motivational speaker, triple amputee skydiver and a businessman with multiple businesses.

Andy Reid

The majority of BrightHR’s client base are SMEs, so Andy’s new role as ambassador will complement his existing work in establishing business networks and promoting local enterprise.

Andy said: “I’m proud to be working with the BrightHR team to help raise awareness about how SMEs can save time, money and effort. Our ultimate aim is to transform the way people run their businesses.”

Alan Price, CEO at BrightHR, said: “BrightHR is delighted to announce Andy Reid as our first brand ambassador.”

He added: “Andy was chosen as an ambassador for his grit, optimism and integrity in all areas of his life.

“We are sure he will be an inspiration for our clients and our staff, and we’re honoured to be able to support the day-to-day running of his businesses with our BrightHR software.”

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Property developer HBD has announced a number of senior promotions across its business, with Manchester’s Adam Brady and Dean Thompson both taking on new roles.

Adam Brady

Dean Thompson has been promoted to director and head of HBD’s North West operations, while Adam Brady becomes executive director, focusing on large scale city centre regeneration projects and working across its seven UK offices.

The news follows HBD’s recent rebrand and forms part of a wider strategy to deliver ambitious growth targets, expand its development pipeline and continue to attract top talent.

Along with the individual promotions, the developer has created a new executive board that will comprise Ed Hutchinson, executive directors Hamer Boot, Adam Brady and Vivienne Clements, and commercial finance manager Wayne Wearing.

Dean Thompson

Ed Hutchinson, managing director of HBD, said: “We have announced a series of senior promotions across the UK, which is reflective of the talent and expertise within our business.

“Dean is extremely experienced and has been central in building our North West pipeline, comprising some of Manchester’s most high-profile schemes.

“Adam’s creativity and vision is evident in the growth of our Manchester office and the size and scale of our projects in the city.

“Working across our seven UK offices, Adam’s knowledge and expertise will add significant value to both new and existing projects as we continue to grow our development pipeline, targeting large-scale schemes.”

Along with its Manchester office, HBD also has offices in Glasgow, Bristol, Birmingham, London, Leeds and Sheffield.

It is working with a development pipeline of more than £1.6bn and boasts a diverse UK-wide portfolio, comprising big-brand retail, workspaces and logistics through to residential innovation and award-winning heritage projects.

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Chester’s aesthetic and beauty centre, DD Clinical, which opened in May this year, is proud to announce three new hires.

Joining the luxury aesthetics team is senior therapist Amy Gottgens and Jenny Pritchard, also a senior an aesthetic therapist.

The clinic has hired Abigail Willmitt as a full-time clinic manager overseeing client liaison, bookings and staff development.

Located in the heart of Chester at Frodsham Court, DD Clinical was founded by UK beauty expert Daniela Dobbins who has worked at a top level in many of the best beauty and aesthetics clinics in the UK.

The clinic attracts many famous faces including top ‘influencers’ and celebrities, such as top model Alice Goodwin.

Since its launch, the centre has become a magnet for women and men in the region looking for the very latest in anti-ageing and rejuvenating skin procedures, as well as laser hair removal and even hypnotherapy.

DD Clinical team with new hires on the left

The thriving clinic has also invested in revolutionary laser technology to offer the most advanced skin rejuvenation, which has enjoyed a 50% increase in bookings since its launch.

Managing director and beauty expert Daniella Dobbins said: “I am thrilled that the clinic has been so well received by our clients since we opened in May and it’s great to see the team get bigger and even better. We hire only the best in their field to keep standards in line with top London clinics, if not better.

She added: “The Chester community has really embraced our friendly, but highly professional, services. We pride ourselves on providing results-driven technologies and treatments.

“We encourage our clients to be their own kind of beautiful – be it glamorous and Instagram-ready, or natural and understated; we make sure they receive the best treatments available.”

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Manchester-based tech firm, Purple WiFi, has announced former BT chief executive, Gavin Patterson, is joining the company as a non-exec director in what is a major coup for the fast-growing WiFi platform and analytics provider.

Patterson has enjoyed an illustrious career including president of the Advertising Association and non-executive director at British Airways and joins Purple at a time of rapid growth.

The software company offers a WiFi platform through which businesses can monitor their customers’ shopping patterns and habits and communicate with targeted messaging.

Gavin Patterson

It was Purple who introduced social media logins to the public WiFi login process, whereupon valuable customer data is captured on its web portal. The captured data can then be used by their business clients for customer relationship management.

Purple founder, Gavin Wheeldon, said: “It’s a real honour to have Gavin Patterson join the board alongside Sir Terry Leahy and Bob Willett.

“Given Purple’s go-to-market is channel-based, and a large component of that is through telecoms, Gavin’s expertise will be invaluable in helping us scale up our existing relationships and helping us attract new partners around the world.”

The hire means Purple now share something in common with Silicon Valley tech giants, Salesforce, as Mr Patterson recently also accepted the role of chairman for its Europe, Middle East and Africa operations.

Gavin Patterson said: “There is no doubt the analytics and engagement tools enjoyed by digital properties will soon be commonplace in physical spaces.

“Purple is leading the field having already secured some of the biggest brand names in the world. I look forward to helping on their continued global expansion plans.”