People: Steven Bartlett; DTE Business Advisers; PHMG; PJA; Avison Young; Speedy
Steven Bartlett, ex-CEO of Manchester social media group Social Chain and one of the UK’s most successful young entrepreneurs, is joining the board of directors at Huel, the UK’s seventh fastest growing company.
Bartlett’s appointment as a non-executive director comes as Huel reveals it has hit $100m run-rate sales less than six years after being founded and is heading into what will be its biggest year yet.
Bartlett is throwing his weight behind Aylesbury-based Huel – a meal replacement available in powder, liquid, or bar forms – with both financial investment and unparalleled social media expertise at a time when the company’s growth trajectory is rocketing.
The position on Huel’s board of directors is Bartlett’s first external appointment since stepping down as CEO of Social Chain in 2020. An unconventional success story, the entrepreneur launched Social Chain from his Manchester bedroom in 2014 after dropping out of university age 20.
Bartlett grew the company to become one of the most disruptive and progressive social agencies in the world, with a market valuation exceeding €200m when taken public in 2019.
Since leaving, he has continued to grow his chart-topping podcast ‘Diary of a CEO’, invested in future forward companies in consumer technology, AI, biotech, space and social media and has written his first book, ‘Happy Sexy Millionaire: Unexpected Truths about Fulfilment, Love and Success’.
Huel founder, Julian Hearn, first met Bartlett when appearing as a guest on the entrepreneur’s podcast. Welcoming Bartlett to the team, Hearn said: “Steven has a phenomenal entrepreneurial style and creative mindset that will add significant value to Huel. He built his first company from scratch and grew it to employ over 500 people, as well as establishing a number one podcast all before his 28th birthday.
“At Huel we like to do things differently and Steven’s experience of challenging conventional ideas is a perfect fit as we continue to reach new customers globally.”
Bartlett saidd: “I’ve been a Huel customer for the last four years and I fell in love with the brand, it’s mission and Julian’s vision soon after.
“Huel isn’t just a category leading company, it’s a rare, great British success story – one with mindboggling potential. I’m bringing almost 10 years of experience in leading one of the world’s most advanced social media companies and working with many of the world’s biggest consumer brands to the board.
“My objective is to make Huel one of the world’s most innovative, creative and culturally significant consumer brands.”
::
DTE Business Advisers has announced the appointment of Derek Armstrong as partner to enhance its support for current and new clients and to assist with the growth and strategy of the practice.
Derek joined DTE’s accounts & audit department this month and is based primarily at the company’s Bury office.
An experienced partner with more than 20 years in practice, Derek is particularly skilled in advising the SME market in planning, business advisory, corporate and personal tax planning and business strategy.
Having spent most of his professional career working closely with business owners, Derek has an excellent understanding of not only day-to-day business operation, but also the worries and aspirations of business owners.
Derek Armstrong
At DTE, Derek will be responsible for enhancing the firm’s brand profile as well as expanding its offerings to more of DTE’s core clientele in Manchester, Bury and the North West.
Richard Taylor, director and head of audit at DTE Bury, said: “Despite the adverse effects of the pandemic, we have been extremely busy assisting clients and this has driven the need for team expansion. Derek is a highly proactive adviser with excellent strategic vision and a hands-on attitude in supporting clients, which resonates well with DTE’s mission of being a partner for success to our clients.
“I am delighted to welcome Derek to our team and wish him all the best for his future at DTE.”
Derek Armstrong said: “To join a practice and work with like-minded people who share the same vision and goals as myself is very refreshing. The organisation is in great shape and I am looking forward to introducing my skill set to assist with the growth, long term strategy and continued success of the business.”
DTE is a partner-led firm of chartered accountants, tax and business advisers with two offices in Bury and Manchester, employing more than 70 staff.
::
PHMG has appointed Tom Heaton as its new global creative director, to take charge of its brand identity.
The Manchester-based company has undergone a significant evolution in recent months, adopting a new mission statement committed to providing creative, tech-empowered audio branding productions. Tom joins the company at a crucial stage of this digital advancement, and is looking forward to making a change.
He said: “I’ve joined PHMG with the ambition and direction to dramatically transform the brand, elevating the identity through a real focus on technology.”
Tom brings an impressive agency pedigree to the company, having taken the role of creative director at Ahoy and DS.Emotion, and establishing agencies Made by Formula and Dazzle Group.
Tom Heaton
An award-winning specialist in branding, strategy and typographic design, he’s worked with the likes of Channel Four, The Premier League, Kellogg’s and the BBC Philharmonic – with career highlights including re-branding Wolves, and re-shaping the home of British motorsport through his work at Silverstone. Drawing on this extensive experience, he intends to spark real transformation in his new role.
He added: “I’m passionate about helping people build beautiful brands that make a positive impact, so I’m very excited about what’s ahead at PHMG.”
Tom’s influence will be seen across every one of the company’s marketing channels, from their website and digital outlets to the essential literature that supports its clients throughout their partnership with the company.
PHMG’s global CSMO, Mark Williamson, said: “Tom joins us with a wealth of experience in digital branding and creative design, and we’re confident his extensive knowledge, background and expertise will propel PHMG into a new era of customer-led, digitally focused immersive experiences.”
::
National transport planning, placemaking and engineering consultancy PJA has made a key appointment at its Manchester office.
Catriona Swanson has been hired as associate at the Piccadilly Place office which serves the North West.
She will support director Chris Sibthorpe in advising public and private sector clients on cycling and walking schemes as well as PJA’s wider expertise in designing better places.
Catriona joins from Arup where she set up and ran the North West and Yorkshire active travel team and worked on regional and national projects.
She was leading transport for Greater Manchester’s Active Neighbourhoods programme, working with Sustrans and 10 local authorities to deliver pilot active travel neighbourhoods.
Previously, she spent 11 years at Salford City Council leading on award-winning active travel schemes in addition to public realm and development planning projects.
Catriona’s relationship with PJA goes back several years, having commissioned PJA to produce Salford’s cycle network plan. This underpinned a series of successful funding bids as part of Greater Manchester’s Bee Network programme.
Catriona Swanson
She said: “I consider PJA to be the UK’s leading active travel consultancy so am really thrilled to be joining Chris and the team. These are exciting times for active travel with more funding and political will than ever and, at last, strong design guidance with the recent publication of the new cycling infrastructure local transport note which PJA co-authored.
“I’m very excited to be able to combine my experience as well as my own personal passion for better walking and cycling infrastructure in this new role. I look forward to delivering transformational schemes and growing our presence in the North West.”
Chris Sibthorpe said: “We opened the PJA Manchester office less than a year ago to respond to the rush in demand for advice on active travel schemes in the North West. Our client base is already quickly growing and I’m delighted to have Catriona on board to deliver our high quality, people-focused design solutions.
“She brings a wealth of experience as well as knowledge of the political landscape that will hugely benefit our clients – who include local authorities, developers, house builders and land promoters.”
PJA also has offices in Birmingham, London, Cambridge, Reading, Bristol, Exeter and Melbourne Australia.
::
Avison Young has announced 11 promotions across its Manchester and Liverpool offices, including two associate director positions.
Ten team members from Avison Young’s Manchester office have been promoted.
Tara Ascroft
Ed Harvey has been promoted from principal planner to associate director, having been with the company for two years. Tara Ascroft, from the real estate management team, will move to associate director after seven years with Avison Young, previously known as GVA.
On the planning, development and regeneration team, Edward Blight will become associate surveyor and Louisa Fielden associate planner, while Rachel May takes up a new role of senior surveyor.
On the business rates team, Joe Gartside and Toby Bolton have been promoted to associate surveyors, and Gareth England and Alex Weatherilt take up new positions as senior surveyors on the telecoms and lease consultancy teams.
Ian Blackburn will become associate regional operations manager for the North for IT and systems.
In Liverpool, Ben Woodcock from the land and development team will take up a new role of associate surveyor.
Chris Cheap, managing director and principal at Avison Young, said: “We are proud to be able to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our team and these promotions are really well deserved.
Ben Woodcock
“Although the past 10 months or so have been challenging, our people across the board have stepped up and shown resilience and dedication, going above and beyond for our clients. I have no doubt that we will see the team thrive in their new positions and be an integral part of our regional offer.”
Stephen Cowperthwaite, principal at Avison Young Liverpool, said: “Our business prides itself on its people and it’s more important than ever to recognise and retain those who are continuing to work hard, think innovatively and find the best solutions for our clients.
“Ben joined us as a graduate in 2016 and has flourished ever since. It has been a pleasure to watch him progress over the years and I congratulate him on his new role, which is thoroughly well deserved.”
Across the UK, Avison Young has promoted 26 team members, with 13 becoming associate directors.
::
Speedy’s chief operating officer, Dan Evans, has joined the Supply Chain Sustainability School board as the organisation ramps-up its focus on helping the industry meet the challenging sustainability targets set out by the UK Construction Strategy 2025.
With more than 14 years at the Newton-le-Willows-based construction equipment hire and services provider, Dan will join chairman Shaun McCarthy and eight other elected board members from some of the industry’s largest businesses, including Morgan Sindall, Balfour Beatty, Willmott Dixon, Sir Robert McAlpine and VINCI.
Based in London, the Supply Chain Sustainability School represents the needs of more than 100 partner businesses and 14,000 sustainability school members.
Dan Evans
The organisation aims to upskill firms on integrating more sustainable ways of working into their businesses through free, practical support in the form of CPD-accredited e-learning modules and training workshops, tailored assessments and action plans, benchmarking tools, networking opportunities, and access to thousands of online resources.
Speedy has a strong track record through its Partnership Excellence Programme in collaborating with its customers and suppliers in reducing carbon emissions across the supply chain and delivering low-carbon logistics programmes for major construction projects, most recently for HS2.
In addition to his role on the Speedy executive board, Dan is also a non-executive director of a rail civil engineering and plant hire business working directly for Network Rail.
He said: “Sustainability sits at the heart of our business. With the construction industry’s significant contribution to carbon emissions we’ve long recognised the importance of helping our customers transform how they operate by providing low and zero carbon tools and equipment.”
James Cadman, climate action and plant group lead at the Supply Chain Sustainability School, said: “Tool and equipment hire represents a vital element of the industry’s supply chain, and Dan will bring a breadth of experience and expertise that will expand the knowledge and resources we can share with our members. We look forward to having Dan on our board as we strive towards creating a more sustainable built environment.”
