People: Palatine; Astra Signs; Anwyl Homes; Taziker Industrial; Westgrove Group; Squire Patton Boggs

Tim Crowley

Palatine, the mid-market private equity firm, has appointed Tim Crowley as director of investor relations.

He will work alongside Gary Tipper, Palatine’s managing partner, and the business’s senior management team to support current investors and develop relationships with new limited partners.

Tim’s remit will include both of Palatine’s current funds – the Buy-Out Fund which invests between £10m-£30m in high growth mid market companies with strong management teams, and the Impact Fund, which invests up to £10m in innovative, profitable businesses that can create a clear positive impact on society or the environment.

With more than 11 years of industry experience, Tim joins from global placement agent, Probitas Partners, where he spent four-and-a-half years. During this time he was responsible for both UK and international investor relationships, with a particular focus on the German market, in addition to other EU countries.

Prior to that Tim was responsible for generating new fund manager and investor relationships at fund administrator Aztec Group, and insurance broker Howden Group.

Gary Tipper said: “We have raised five funds since we set up back in 2005 and have a high quality and supportive investor base. We are committed to continuing to provide our investors with a best in class investor relations service and Tim joining will help continue that and also to identify new investors for future funds.

“Tim’s understanding of what makes for good investor relations is second to none and his international experience and network is particularly welcome. I am looking forward to working with Tim to further enhance the service we provide to our investors.”

Tim said: “Palatine’s reputation for being a go-to private equity firm of choice for the UK mid market was a major draw. Their approach to value creation is systematic, tailored and diligent – qualities which investors prize.

“The firm’s first mover position in returns-focused impact investing also resonated with me. The Impact Fund has set the pace for this kind of purpose-led investment and I’m looking forward to broadening awareness of it, particularly among an international investor base who are increasingly focused on ESG.”

Based in Manchester and with offices in Birmingham and London, Palatine backs management teams at high growth businesses within the UK mid market. In 2017, it became was the first mainstream private equity house to raise an Impact fund, investing in profitable businesses with a positive impact on society or the environment.

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Astra Signs has bolstered its senior team with the appointment of Paul Dyke as sales director.

Dyke joins the business from isGroup and brings more than 35 years’ sales expertise to the team alongside exceptional knowledge of the signage production process.

The appointment comes as Astra Signs celebrates sustained business growth and looks to the next phase of expansion in an ever-evolving market.

He is tasked with overseeing all client relationships and leading the organisation’s ongoing new business strategy. He reports directly into Astra Signs managing director David Derbyshire.

Paul Dyke

Dyke said: “Astra Signs is an impressive operation, well recognised for its forward-thinking approach, ‘can-do’ attitude and industry-leading products. I’m pleased to join the team and to contribute to the continued growth and development of the business.”

David Derbyshire said: “Paul brings to the team a consultative approach to business, one that guarantees clients a robust solution to their branding, signage, graphics and print requirements, no matter how complex the brief.

“He’s an outstanding individual and shares our passion for delivering high quality products combined with exceptional service. We’re pleased to welcome him on board as another member of our valued Astra Signs team.”

Astra Signs is based in Trafford Park and produces and instals world-class signs for a range of sectors including sport, retail, leisure, architecture and design, government associations, and international events.

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Anwyl Homes has promoted Matthew Gould to sales director for its Lancashire business as the company looks to double its output this year.

Matthew has risen quickly through the Anwyl ranks. Having joined the then fledgling Anwyl Homes Lancashire in 2018 as an area sales manager, he helped establish the sales team over the next two years.

He was promoted to head of sales for the Buckshaw Village-based company in July 2019.

Matthew said: “Anwyl has such a long and well established heritage in North Wales and Cheshire, combined with ambitious future growth plans here in Lancashire and Merseyside. I’m looking forward to progressing my career further and growing with the business.”

Matthew Gould

Anwyl Homes Lancashire is now active at eight locations in Lancashire, Merseyside and Cheshire. Sales have recently launched at Priory Gardens in Burscough, West Lancashire, while Winnington Place, near Northwich, Cheshire is coming soon.

Matthew, originally from Stoke-on-Trent, studied business management and marketing at Keele University, graduating with a first class honours degree.

He undertook an internship at Macmillan Cancer Support and, after graduating, joined Redrow’s rotational graduate scheme becoming an area sales manager for its North West business before joining Anwyl.

Anwyl Homes Lancashire managing director, John Grime, said: “Matthew has shown great leadership, helping the sales team adapt to the changes introduced in response to the pandemic. He’s proven to be a real asset to the company and I’m confident that he will help us continue to grow our Lancashire business.”

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Chorley-based Taziker Industrial has appointed two of its established directors to the board of directors.

Robert Paterson and Darren Jackson join the board with immediate effect, with formal confirmation taking place at the start of the new financial year on April 1, 2021. Both will now help to shape the future growth of the business.

With 36 years’ experience in the construction industry, Robert Paterson joined the business in 2018 as senior commercial manager. After a promotion to commercial director in May 2019, Robert now has responsibility for ensuring that the contractual and commercial integrity of the group businesses is maintained.

Prior to working at Taziker, Robert worked in the rail and highways division of the Wood PLC business, bringing together the in-house scaffolding and industrial coatings operations. He said: “Taziker is proving its place in the industry with every project we successfully deliver. I have a passion for structures, a great team around me and a desire to continue building on Taziker’s great reputation.”

Darren Jackson has more than 25 years’ sales and marketing experience working across various industries including financial services, telecommunications and construction.

Robert Paterson and Darren Jackson

Having worked in various senior management roles over the past 20 years, Darren joined Taziker in 2018 as the head of business development. He was promoted to business development director in 2019 to oversee the UK-wide business development and marketing strategy for the group. Darren will now take up the role of managing director of client services.

Darren said: “I’m looking to continue building on Taziker’s growth strategy and I am grateful to have been given this opportunity and excited for the challenge ahead.”

Chief executive, Steve Corcoran, said: “We are confident Robert and Darren will continue to add great value to the business and we are delighted to welcome them to the board where we will benefit from their insight, intellect and industry knowledge.”

The Taziker Industrial board comprises Steve Corcoran, Jane Ratcliffe, Neil Harrison, Darren Jackson, Robert Paterson, Michael Taziker and Jason Worrall.

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Facilities management company The Westgrove Group has appointed a technical services director to drive its business forward.

Paul Booth joins the Westgrove leadership team to support and grow the business across the UK in hard facilities management. Paul has worked extensively in facilities management both on the front line and in management, bringing a wealth of experience in the delivery of engineering services to a broad range of partners.

Westgrove has already secured its first total facilities management contract with Touchwood Shopping Centre in Solihull, delivering cleaning, security, concierge and hard services with a team of 60 colleagues.

Paul Booth

Claire McKinley-Smith, Westgrove Group managing director, said: “This is an exciting development for the business and a real milestone in our growth. Hard services will add real value to our already strong soft services offering and we are confident that Paul will help us take the business into new sectors and services.”

Paul said: “With my years of experience in hard services both client side and as a provider, I am looking forward to building on the success of Westgrove’s award winning soft services provision and becoming part of such a forward thinking and innovative company.”

Westgrove specialises in providing total facilities management to shopping centres and mixed-use destinations, manufacturing, business parks and airports throughout the UK. Based in Warrington, Westgrove was founded by group chairmen Simon Whittle and Steve Fives.

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Squire Patton Boggs has created a new global position, director of talent acquisition, with the addition of Steven Clarke.

Mr Clarke joins from global consulting firm Korn Ferry where he was senior client partner specialising in the international law firm sector.

He will be based in the firm’s London office and build a global team responsible for working with the firm’s leadership to address ongoing strategic recruitment priorities.

The firm said, alongside recruiting senior talent in Manchester and the region it will be looking to recruit support for Steven’s team in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham.

Chair and global CEO< Mark J Ruehlmann, said: “Our people are our greatest asset and this move signals our commitment to hiring the best and most diverse legal talent in order to solve our clients’ evolving challenges and grow our business.”

Mr Clarke brings years of experience working with the highest levels of management placing senior personnel in both FTSE 100 companies and global law firms, including several roles advising the management of boards of firms considering overseas expansion.

He has acted on high level team and partnership moves, with both domestic and cross border elements, across EMEA, the Americas, the Middle East, Far East and Australia. Prior to management consulting, he worked as a lawyer at Burges Salmon. He was awarded his LLM Degree (Hons) Degree in International Law from the University of Cambridge.

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