People on the Move: Cowgills; Napthens; Fisher German; Love Energy Savings
Cowgills managing partner Paul Stansfield has stepped down after 20 years leading the North West business advisory and accountancy firm.
He has handed over the reins to fellow partner Paul Stringer who has worked within the company’s corporate finance team since 2000 and who also leads the company’s focus on growing and entrepreneurial businesses.
Paul Stansfield, who has been with the firm for more than 30 years, has had a highly successful tenure, overseeing it’s development as one of the region’s leading advisors – the firm has seen 65% growth in the past five years alone.
He stepped into the role of managing partner following Peter Cowgill’s move to JD Sports in 2000.
Stansfield will continue to act as an advisory partner for a number of key clients and continue to head the firm’s family business sector.
He said: “After 30 years of working at Cowgills and 20 years as managing partner I believe the time is right to hand over the reins to somebody who will take up the role with vigour and enthusiasm.
“I have worked closely with Paul Stringer on the Cowgills board and I am confident he will lead the firm successfully over the next few years.
“During this period of challenge and uncertainty I know Paul and the team are working incredibly hard to provide the very best advice to our clients to get them through the next few months.”
Paul Stringer said: “I’m honoured to be leading Cowgills on the next stage of its journey and continuing to support and grow our client base.
“We have focused on growing a young and ambitious team, actively recruiting like-minded, entrepreneurial individuals who will become the next leaders of our business and who will help to deliver our growth plans.”
He added: “Our future expansion will come from the region’s growing and entrepreneurial businesses, strong family businesses, as well as property and construction, which is a key sector for us.
“We have a robust relationship partner model, where one partner oversees each client’s activities and all of its requirements. It is a service ethos that has worked very well for us and we will continue to shape the business.”
Today Cowgills has more than 180 staff and 14 partners in Bolton and Manchester and a rapidly growing wealth management team in Bolton and Ilkley, West Yorkshire.
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Napthens solicitors has further strengthened its corporate team in Liverpool with the appointment of Jayne Croft as an associate solicitor.
Jayne joins the firm after almost five years with the corporate team at Brabners, and will continue to advise clients on a wide range of corporate transactional work including company disposals and acquisitions, re-organisations, shareholders’ agreements, start-ups and general governance matters.
With experience in dealing with a diverse range of businesses, from start-ups to multimillion turnover companies in the UK and internationally, she has acted for American, German, Swiss and New Zealand based clients.
More locally she has acted for clients across industries including industrial, property, retail, hospitality and technology.
Jayne said: “The team at Napthens are offering something fresh to businesses and the wider Merseyside business community. I’m hugely excited at the opportunities this move will bring and I’m already working in support of some of our clients.”
Jayne Croft
Gareth McIntegart, head of Napthens’ Liverpool office and with more than 25 years of experience working in the city, said: “Jayne’s appointment comes on the back of the recent relocation of David Carr to our Liverpool office and is a key part of our longer-term vision for our corporate-M&A offering in the Liverpool city region.
“The investment in skilled and talented people is central to this strategy and the full corporate services offering that we are putting together.”
Jayne qualified at Liverpool John Moores University where she also completed her Legal Practice Course and a Master’s degree in International Business and Commercial Law.
A board member of the Liverpool Women’s Organisation, she has also managed events for Liverpool Ladies’ Network and was previously on the board of governors at Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
She co-founded Future Boss Club in 2018, a network aimed at promoting personal and professional development in young females.
The regional law firm opened its offices in the city in 2018 at The Plaza on Old Hall Street, and since then has become a firm part of Liverpool’s business and professional services community, acting for a diverse range of clients across the city region.
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Property consultancy Fisher German has made promotions at its Chester and Knutsford offices following a strong period of growth.
The firm has promoted Becky Woodrow to senior associate at its Chester office, and Hugh Maxfield, based in Knutsford, has progressed within the partnership.
Becky Woodrow
Becky works in the estates team advising a wide range of private clients on estate management matters.
Hugh has a leading role in the firm’s North West management team and has been pivotal in growing the Knutsford office.
He has transformed it into a profitable and successful office which, the firm said, has a big impact in the locality, with a number of key clients and growing rural, commercial and residential teams.
The firm made the promotions as part of its career progression framework, which gives employees a clear pathway to advance within the business.
Fisher German has made a total of 32 promotions across its offices, marking its continuing success across a number of specialisms including planning and development, utilities and rural consultancy.
Hugh Maxfield
They come following a strong period of growth for the firm, which saw it merge with Birmingham-based company Vine Property Management last June.
Despite the unprecedented circumstances surrounding COVID-19, senior partner Tim Shuldham says there is still cause to recognise these professional achievements: “I would like to congratulate all of those who have received promotions.
“While we never could have envisaged these unusual circumstances when we confirmed these appointments earlier this year, it is important that we take time to commend the individuals and recognise the hard work put in to achieve promotion.
“It is exciting to see the talent growing in stature within the business, and it is excellent that our career progression framework continues to give people the opportunity to rise through the firm.
“We have seen a diverse range of promotions across different regions in a variety of disciplines, which demonstrates Fisher German’s all-around commitment to its employees’ careers.”
He added: “It is also fantastic to welcome three highly competent new partners who have been through a rigorous pathway programme and will be able to support the growth and success of the business.”
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Bolton energy comparison retailer Love Energy Savings has announced a new SEO manager – along with three other new appointments.
Ben Forshaw, from marketing agency Visibilis, heads up the internal marketing team as SEO manager.
He will work closely with the CMO Phil Windas to drive SEO results. Ben has seven years of experience in the field of SEO and has worked with several notable brands, including Revolution Bars and Better Bathrooms.
He is joined by CRO manager Ginny Forshaw, digital PR executive Eve Crabtree, and content executive Shaun Starr.
Ginny has been working as a CRO for four years. She will be using her knowledge of psychology to improve user experience through A/B testing, creating a more user-friendly experience for all customers.
Ben Forshaw
Eve, from Bolton digital agency Bring Digital, has previously worked with household names such as Stena Line and DW Fitness, and has three years’ experience working in digital PR.
Shaun has been working as a content writer for more than six years and joins the team from Farnworth Rose Solicitors, where he’s worked since completing his English literature degree.
Chief marketing officer Phil Windas said: “Having a dedicated in-house SEO team will really give us the opportunity to continue growing the Love Energy Savings brand, allowing us to do what we do best on an even larger scale: helping the UK save money on their energy bills.
“Welcoming four fantastic additions represents the next step in our journey, offering us the chance to increase awareness of our brand and continue helping customers from across the UK.”
