People on the Move: Bibby Line Group; Cushman & Wakefield; Base Architecture & Design; Claritas Tax; Stephensons; MAG
Bibby Line Group has announced that its chief financial and strategy officer, Jonathan Lewis, will become group managing director at the start of 2021, following the decision by John Cresswell to step down as Bibby Line Group CEO at the end of 2020.
Jonathan Lewis – who joined the group in July 2019, having served as CFO at Imagination Technologies and with a career spanning roles with Tesco, Lazard and McKinsey – will report directly into the BLG board.
Jonathan Lewis said: “I am delighted to have been offered the opportunity to lead Bibby Line Group, and look forward to continuing to work together with the board, and colleagues across the group, to deliver our strategy.
“I would like to thank John for the leadership he has shown and the culture he has embedded, providing a strong platform on which we can take the group forward. The group has shown its resilience as we trade through the pandemic, and I see a bright future ahead.”
Sir Michael Bibby, BLG chairman, said: “On behalf of the board I’d like to congratulate Jonathan on his appointment to the newly-created role of group managing director and look forward to working closely with him in this new capacity.
“I’d also like to thank John for leading the group through the last two-and-a-half years in the most challenging of circumstances, whilst always role modelling our values.
“The group has worked its way through the challenges of the last few years and emerges as a stronger business, well positioned for the future as the economy recovers.”
John Cresswell said: “With business performance improving and a strengthening balance sheet, the group portfolio is now well positioned to deliver future shareholder value. Therefore, I believe now is the right time for the company and for me, personally, to hand over to Jonathan to lead the group through its next chapter.”
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Cushman & Wakefield has announced 80 promotions across a range of markets, skill lines and functions based within the UK.
Mark McKinlay
Three promotions have been made at the firm’s Manchester office based at No.1 Marsden Street.
Catherine Juskowski, part of the Asset Services team, has been promoted to associate while Mark McKinlay and Oliver Potts, both in the valuation and advisory team, have also been promoted to associate.
Oliver Potts
Caroline Baker, head of Cushman & Wakefield’s Manchester office and the Northern region, said: “These promotions recognise the positive impact that these individuals have made to both our business and our clients during an unprecedented year for our industry.
“I am intensely proud of the tenacity and hard work they’ve demonstrated and heartily congratulate them all as they take the next exciting step in their career.”
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A series of management changes at a Cheshire architects’ practice has seen a new managing director take the reins as the firm implements its blueprint for the future.
Harry Reece steps into the MD post at Base Architecture & Design as its founder, Carl Huntley, takes on a new role as chief executive to focus on mentoring and developing its team. Bryn Jones has been appointed as associate director with Ben Embrey and Joe Salt becoming senior associates.
Base was established by Carl in 2003 and opened its Chester office in Christleton Road in 2017. It also has offices in Shrewsbury and Conwy and says it has built up a nationwide reputation for its inventive approach to commercial and residential design.
The firm works on large scale residential and social housing schemes as well as domestic new-builds including Grand Designs properties, extensions, renovations and refurbishments with particular expertise in historic buildings and achieving permission for new-build properties in rural areas.
Commercially, it operates in a range of sectors including retail, manufacturing and education, leisure, medical and healthcare.
Harry, who will oversee the day-to-day operation and development of Base, said the new structure would build a strong foundation for the long-term sustainability of the practice: “Carl’s extensive knowledge of design and experience in the industry makes him ideally placed to lead the personal development of our dynamic team.
From left: Carl Huntley, Harry Reece, Ben Embrey, Bryn Jones, Joe Salt
“He will also have key responsibility for design reviews, allowing him to use his vast expertise in architecture to benefit the practice as a whole.
“The restructure has been carefully thought out to optimise the individual strengths within our team and allow us to nurture the talent we have whilst continuing to deliver the exemplary design and standard of service that we’ve grown our business on.”
He added: “We are already reaping the rewards of our new direction that is supporting the growth in our business that we’re experiencing even at this time when coronavirus is impacting on the economy.”
Carl said: “This is a new era for Base and a very positive move. My new focus will allow me to take an overarching view of design and work closely to enhance the skills we have in house.
“It is an exciting next chapter in our history and one that will stand us in good stead as we move forward.”
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R&D and innovation tax relief specialist Caroline Walton has joined Claritas Tax as a senior manager.
Caroline will be based in Manchester, but the role will also see her working closely with Claritas Tax’s Birmingham team to strengthen their R&D proposition across the Midlands, North West and the UK.
She brings with her a wealth of knowledge from her 19 years in legal private practice, as well as extensive experience of innovation tax reliefs and the UK’s Patent Box regime.
Caroline said: “I’m looking forward to getting started. Claritas has built quite a reputation as a tax consultancy who are leading the way with R&D claims and innovation tax relief success.
Caroline Walton
“With my vast knowledge and experience, I hope to add to this, supporting their growing client base.”
Matthew Hodgson, partner at Claritas Tax Manchester, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Caroline to the Claritas team. She brings with her a strong reputation of ‘getting the job done’ to the highest standards and has a truly unique and valuable background.
“Our business continues to grow and thrive across all service lines and Caroline will be a major part of our continued success.”
Iain Wright, partner at Claritas Tax Birmingham, said: “Caroline is a great addition to our team, and I look forward to working with her. R&D tax relief claims are a vital source of funds for businesses looking to grow and expand, so Caroline’s expertise will prove invaluable for many of our clients.”
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The national law firm, Stephensons, has appointed two new solicitors to its family law department.
Lorraine Baldwin joins the firm’s Manchester office. Lorraine is an experienced advocate and not only brings extensive experience of representing parties in care proceedings but was also formerly an award-winning senior solicitor at the Crown Prosecution Service where she handled complex, often high-profile, prosecutions involving multiple victims and defendants, managing cases with international elements.
Stephensons also welcomes Victoria Melluish to its Manchester family team. Victoria comes to the firm with experience of working in both a local authority and in private practice and her depth of experience complements the team of childcare law specialists.
From left: Victoria Melluish, Lorraine Baldwin, Victoria Gethin
While both solicitors are based in Manchester, due to the firm’s switch to home working, both Lorraine and Victoria will also be able to assist clients across the North West, including in the firm’s other office locations of Wigan, Bolton and St Helens.
The new appointments represent a continued determination to maintain the highest standards which saw Stephensons awarded National Family Law Department of the Year in recent years and receive continued recognition in the 2020 edition of the Legal 500.
Victoria Gethin, partner and head of the family department at Stephensons, said: “I am delighted to welcome two new talented solicitors to the team.
“Both Lorraine and Victoria are candidates of excellent calibre and bring with them a breadth of experience which will further strengthen our offering.
“Despite the challenges of 2020 we have continued to see a very high demand for our services and, as a result, plan on making further appointments over the next few months.”
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Jan Bramall
Following the announcement earlier this year that Neil Thompson would be leaving the business, Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has announced the appointment of Jan Bramall to the role of chief financial officer, reporting to chief executive Charlie Cornish.
Jan joined MAG in 2018 as group finance director and has a passion for developing high performing teams. She is a maths graduate, who qualified as a chartered accountant with PwC before transferring to a corporate finance position.
She has a breadth of experience across major international businesses and lived in the US for a period before returning to the North West in 2015 where she lives with her family.
Charlie Cornish said: “I am always pleased when we are able to promote internal talent into new roles and Jan’s appointment is no exception. I know that Jan will be an excellent addition to the executive committee and I hope you will join me in congratulating her on her new position.”
