People: Space 48; Champion Accountants; Northern Industrial; Stephensons Risk Management; Savills

Digital data science veteran, Martin Boddy, has been appointed as chair of Manchester based eCommerce specialist Space 48.

The appointment follows the investment made by listed infrastructure and private equity investment manager Foresight Group in January.

The investment from Foresight and Foresight’s involvement will support managing director, Jon Woodall, in taking the business through its next stage of growth, further building on Space 48’s success and current market-leading position.

Initial growth plans include expanding sales development, partnerships, exploring international opportunities and making a number of strategic hires across the UK.

Boddy founded the listed data, creative and performance marketing agency Jaywing plc, stepping down as executive chairman in January 2020 to pursue a career as an independent board adviser. He is also chairman of the RegTech business Money Alive.

Matthew Pomroy, investment director at Foresight, said: “We are pleased to welcome Martin to the Space 48 team. His prior experience will be crucial in helping Jon and his team in the next stage of growth. We are always looking to support management of the companies within our portfolio with additional hires.”

Jon Woodall said: “I’m delighted to have someone of Martin’s calibre and profile involved in the business. He brings not only commercial, marketing and M&A expertise and experience, but is also an innovator in the use of data in digital commerce.”

Martin Boddy said: “I’m excited to be joining Space 48 to help to accelerate its growth in the UK and beyond at a time when the adoption of digital commerce is at an all-time high. With a strong culture that has thrived in a remote first working environment and a team of incredibly talented engineers and consultants helping ambitious online retailers thrive, the business is well placed and well regarded.”

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A Chester-based accountancy group has further strengthened its audit team with the recruitment of a skilled audit professional from another North West firm.

Dan Percey has joined Champion Accountants following three years at RSM and will support Champion’s existing audit team, which delivers audits to businesses and registered charities across the North West.

Champion Accountants also has practices in Manchester, Preston and Blackpool.

Dan Percey

Dan, who grew up in Chester and is qualified to AAT Level 4, will play an essential role in the accounts and audit team in Champion’s Chester office. He said: “I’ve had a very compartmentalised career so far and knew when I met the Champion team that I would gain exposure to new areas of audit and accounts work and be able to build on my experience by learning from skilled team members.

“I already feel personally and professionally appreciated. The business has a strong work/life balance culture and I know I’ll benefit from a wealth of opportunities that I wouldn’t have had at my disposal before. I’m looking forward to being a crucial part of the Champion team and to playing a part in our clients’ success.”

Sue Harris, audit partner at Champion Accountants, said: “We’re delighted to have Dan on the team. As a business, we’re in a very strong position – we’re one of the most respected SME and charity audit and accountancy practices in our region, trusted by a growing client base and with an excellent reputation. But this also means we can provide great opportunities to people who want to join our team.”

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Northern Industrial has appointed Riccardo Puddu as an Italian-speaking account manager.

Blackburn-based Northern Industrial is a multi-award-winning provider of new, reconditioned and obsolete parts and repair services, exporting to 146 countries.

With a degree in Economics and Business Management from University of Cagliari, Riccardo’s role will be to help customers across the globe source the right parts and repairs to keep their businesses up and running.

Riccardo Puddu

Riccardo said: “I’m really excited to be joining Northern Industrial. Businesses across the world rely on us to help them avoid expensive downtime during stressful breakdown situations.

“As the world economy recovers, the last thing anyone wants is downtime, which has been estimated to cost businesses on average £200,000 an hour even in normal times.

“We help keep businesses worldwide running, sourcing spare parts from over 1,350 manufacturers, covering over 200,000 part numbers, and holding approximately £10m in stock.”

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Wigan-based Stephensons Risk Management has appointed David Cronje as an account executive to help drive its business development plans in the south of England.

Joining the Stephensons team from national broker Gallagher, David brings with him a wealth of experience gained both here in the UK and his native South Africa.

Before moving to the UK in 2017, David rose to prominence with Commercial Union in South Africa as its managing director for the Southern Cape region before setting up his own brokerage there.

David Cronje

David Cronje said: “Mike and his team have a fantastic range of products and facilities, and the way they work with their clients matches my own, I am very excited by the opportunities we can work on together.”

Stephensons managing director, Mike McNulty, said: “We are delighted to welcome David to the team. He is a perfect fit for our business and brings with him not only a great deal of experience, but an ethic of professional and personal service that is embedded in our way of working. I am looking forward to working closely with David to continue our rapid growth, and expand our footprint in the South of England.”

Stephensons Risk Management is an independent insurance broker authorised by the FCA, and a member of Willis Towers Watson Networks.

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International real estate advisor Savills has announced 22 promotions at its Manchester office, effective from March 1, 2021.

The promotions will see one person move up to director level, eight become associate directors and a further 13 take on the role of associate.

James Evans, head of Savills Manchester, said: “I’d like to congratulate all of these individuals on their well deserved promotions, in what has been a challenging year.

“The strength of our business is reflected in the hard work and enthusiasm of our employees, who have all played a key role in the success of Savills Manchester over the past year.”

James Evans

The full list of promotions is: Emma Garcia (director, property management), Phoneix Chow (associate director, hotels, leisure & trading), Jonathan Ainley (associate director, planning), Andrew Cooke (associate director, business space), Liz Hewitt, Emma Whitelam, Philip Hood, Lyndsey Berry, Andrew Williams (all associate director, property management), Jonathan Williams (associate, business space), Jay Duffield, Alex Maxwell (both associate, development), Chris Keen (associate, building and project consultancy), and Tom Farrar, Mark Howker, James Solan, Amy Lea, Matthew Barham, James Appleton, Lisa Honeyman, Sarah Smith, Sihle Chinamasa (all associate, property management).