People: Cunning Plan Marketing; mmadigital; Assetz Capital; BDO; ActiveWin; Aaron & Partners

Garry Lee and Gabriella Pritchard

Cunning Plan Marketing starts the year with two new hires as the Manchester-based firm plans for further growth and expansion.

Garry Lee, formerly the CEO of Red Eye International, where he worked with brands including Amazon, Sainsburys and Skype, joins the team as director. Since 2019, he has been mentoring businesses owners and advising start-ups. In his new role, Garry will be heading up the agency’s new business development and growth strategy..

Gabriella Pritchard is the new marketing executive at the agency, bringing a wealth of fashion, retail and social media experience. She will work across the agency’s numerous shopping centre and hospitality clients.

Cunning Plan MD, James Adam, said: “Garry and Gaby are the perfect mix of marketing heritage and Gen Z energy – just what the agency needs to kick start a year of growth.

“Our goal has always been to help our clients ‘outwit ordinary’ and compete with the big brands. Garry brings with him quite a few of those ‘big brand secrets’ and Gaby helps us to ensure we’re ahead of the curve – both of which are invaluable to our clients.”

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Manchester-based law firm customer acquisition specialists, mmadigital, has appointed Ben Hughes as its new head of compliance.

His appointment comes as mmadigital enters its next phase after securing funding from Rockpool Investments.

Hughes will be responsible for establishing and maintaining a robust company-wide regulatory compliance programme for mmadigital and its associated consumer brands, The Compensation Experts and The Medical Negligence Experts. This includes improving the effectiveness of internal controls and governance processes, and streamlining policies to ensure the company adheres to all relevant guidelines and regulations.

Ben Hughes

He brings many years of experience to the role, working with legal and financial service organisations across regulatory compliance, quality and risk management. He is also general director of Manchester’s Junior Chamber International (JCI), a global voluntary personal development network for young professionals and entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 40.

Steve Evans, mmadigital’s chief financial officer said: “I am so pleased to welcome Ben to the team in what is a significant hire for the business. The industry continues to go through rigorous regulatory changes, and Ben’s role will be crucial to help us effectively execute and capitalise on our plans for growth and innovation.”

Ben Hughes said: “I’m excited to join mmadigital at such an important stage of its development. I look forward to working with the management team to really drive compliance to the forefront of the business as we expand our reach into new products and markets.”

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Specialist marketplace lender Assetz Capital has announced the appointment of Jason Way as business development director as the Manchester firm targets ambitious growth plans in 2022.

Jason’s appointment follows a series of recent senior hires as Assetz supercharges growth in the origination side of the business to meet growing demand.

Jason Way

Based in South Wales, Jason joins from The Route Finance where he was head of client relationships for the past year. In the role he focused on strategic partnerships and investment strategy for new and existing clients.

This follows five years as director at Capitalwest where he also facilitated strategic partnerships for clients who were seeking development and investment opportunities across the UK. He brings a wealth of experience of working with primary UK housebuilders to the role, underpinned by a solid understanding of people and relationships.

Jason said: “The team’s positive outlook on lending and the strong relationships that they hold with intermediaries and borrowers across the UK are what drew me here. I can’t wait to get started and to take Assetz ‘real world lending’ ethos to the housebuilder market.”

National commercial director, Mark Standley, said: “Jason’s experience as a strong relationship builder and excellent knowledge of the primary housebuilding market will ensure that he fits well into our origination team. We have incredibly ambitious targets this year, and no doubt he will play a key role in helping us to achieve them.”

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Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO has made new hires to its tax risk team as the business continues to invest in growth in the regions.

Salman Anwar joins as associate director for the Midlands and North and brings experience from working in an advisory firm and for HMRC. He will support clients with a range of aspects of managing tax risk, including dealing with enquiries from HMRC and working with businesses and individuals facing investigations.

Lucy Sauvage

Haris Rehman has been appointed as a manager in the team. He has also built a track record in helping clients with HMRC enquiries, having started his career as a fraud and investigations specialist at HMRC where he spent five years.

Lucy Sauvage, tax risk partner at BDO, said: “Our own team has expanded on the back of our clients’ growth and the resilience of the mid-market. It’s brilliant to announce new hires across the region as BDO commits to attracting the best talent into all areas of the business.”

Salman Anwar said: “BDO’s reputation in the market with clients, combined with its supportive culture, made the move a compelling one. Because of my experience working at HMRC, I understand how an investigation is run inside out. I’m really looking forward to working with the wider BDO teams to give our clients peace of mind when it comes to their tax risk and ultimately to help them succeed.”

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North West digital marketing agency, ActiveWin, has appointed Joshua Gamble as its new managing director.

Joshua Gamble

Gamble has been with the business since 2015, and has an impressive track record in consistently developing his career from entry level through to operations director, overseeing the daily activity of the business.

Josh is stepping into role with a mission to propel the growth and expansion of ActiveWin underpinned by his significant experience in working closely with customers to scale their businesses.

Gamble said: “We have cultivated a company of highly skilled digital specialists here at ActiveWin, doing what they love for some exceptional clients and I want to continue to build on this. Our aim is to work with great people and drive efficiencies at such a cost sensitive period.”

The agency announced that it has expanded its portfolio of clients over the past few months with a focus on data driven acquisition.

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Jan Chillery, insolvency partner at Chester-based Legal 500-ranked law firm Aaron & Partners, has been appointed vice chair of Chester Business Club, and is expected to become chair of the club in due course.

Jan, who started at the firm as a trainee solicitor more than 20 years ago, said she was “honoured” to be given the role, and is “looking forward to doing it justice”.

Founded in 1987, the club looks to give a voice to Chester business and has raised more than £1m for charities such as the Hospice of the Good Shepherd, BRAINWAVE and the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Jan Chillery

Jan said: “It’s a really exciting opportunity to get more involved in club management. My focus as vice chair is to get to know members as well as I can. I want to find out what more we can do as a club and how members can help each other.”

Based at the firm’s Chester office, Jan became a partner at Aaron & Partners in 2015. She specialises in insolvency, business recovery and turnaround for both corporate and private individuals, also handling solvent liquidations, commercial dispute resolution and litigation.

Her pre-qualification experience includes five years at a cross-media publishing company in London. Since 2001, Jan has also been secretary of Chester Regatta, the oldest regatta in the world.

Roy Shelton, MD and owner of Chester-based specialist business advisory firm DropJaw Ventures Group, and current chair of Chester Business Club, said: “This fantastic club gives local business leaders the chance to join a ‘big tent’ organisation to which they want to belong, rather than one they feel they have to belong.

“The Chester Business Club is at the heart of the city’s business community. With her brilliant track record and reputation, I can’t think of anyone better suited than Jan to take on the role of vice chair and then chair once I have completed my two-year period of office.”

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