People: IoD; MIAA; High Street Solicitors; Together; H&H Insurance Brokers; Hope Capital
The Institute of Directors (IoD) has strengthened its Liverpool team with the appointment of experienced property development professional Gavin Currie.
Gavin is managing director of Legacie Developments, one of the UK’s largest privately-owned real estate investment and development companies, which operates in the residential, commercial and hospitality sectors across the North West.
He joins IoD Liverpool’s leadership team as an ambassador, with a brief to ensure that everything the Institute does places members first. Ambassadors enable greater connectivity, create influence and drive professional development opportunities while giving the Institute its all-important local voice.
Gavin is an IoD Chartered Director and has more than 10 years’ experience in senior leadership positions within UK property development and construction businesses.
He said: “Having completed the Chartered Director qualification, I fully understand the importance of strong governance, strategy and leadership – underpinned by clear fiscal control. The IoD leads the agenda on good governance and I’m looking forward to connecting with local directors to encourage the adoption of best practice in business.”
David Wafer, chair of IoD Liverpool, said: “Gavin is another excellent addition to our team. Not only does he bring an outstanding pedigree in leading property development businesses but he embodies the IoD’s passion for creating better directors, a better economy and a better community.”
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Chris Harrop has been appointed as the new managing director of MIAA, the North West-based provider of assurance and solution services for the NHS and wider public sector. Chris, previously chief executive of the Walton Centre, has been part of MIAA’s executive team since 2018 as solutions director.
He has overseen the growth of MIAA’s solutions service, following its formation by current MD, Steve Connor. MIAA solutions provides leadership of the Cheshire & Mersey Medicines Optimisation, has provided wider support to CCGs to address CHC deferred assessment backlogs and supported clients to pilot virtual COVID wards.
Chris Harrop
Chris is also passionate about the core assurance services, as the provider of choice for internal audit and anti-fraud services to the NHS in the North West.
Chris said: “I have seen MIAA grow over the last 30 years and so much has been achieved.
“MIAA is a values driven organisation that punches well above its weight. To be one of the first to embrace the ISO process, to achieve IIP Gold status and to be recognised as a Level 3 Finance Development organisation are just some of the amazing things that MIAA has achieved. I am so excited to have the privilege to lead such a great team into what I know will be a successful future.”
Retiring MD, Steve Connor, said: “Chris will bring the continuity and leadership to continue MIAA’s long track record of success.”
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Liverpool-based High Street Solicitors has appointed a new director, Sarah Kearney, who was previously head of litigation for the firm.
Sarah, 37, who specialises in civil litigation cases, qualified in 2012, first starting at High Street Solicitors as a solicitor in 2019.
She was then promoted to head of department, followed by head of litigation where she managed 40 members of staff.
Sarah is the only female director and was appointed on International Women’s Day, Tuesday, March 8, and has been settling into her new role ever since.
Sarah Kearney
She said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have been appointed director of High Street Solicitors and join the other two fantastic directors at the firm. Having been with HSS since 2019, I’ve seen the firm enjoy substantial growth and continue to thrive throughout the pandemic and beyond.
“I’m incredibly proud to be taking on this new role and to be the firm’s first and only female director, and look forward to taking High Street Solicitors to the next level, developing further areas of law and focusing on our workforce expansion.”
Tom Hardwick, managing director, said: “Sarah has been a much valued member of the team since she joined the firm in 2019 and due to her commitment and dedication to the HSS, it was only a matter of time before her efforts were met with a further promotion. The other senior members of staff join me in congratulating Sarah for all her hard work in managing the litigation department and we’re all very excited to see Sarah flourish in her new position.
“Sarah brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her new role and shares the firm’s vision for growth and continued success.”
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Specialist lender Together is focusing on growth in the commercial lending market by expanding its teams with a series of senior appointments.
It has bolstered its regional teams with two additional corporate relationship directors and a business development director, in response to fast growing demand for its flexible secured lending products across the UK.
Cheadle-based Together – which has a loan book of more than £4.4bn – aims to provide finance for a wide range of customers from large businesses clients to individual investors, who are seeking to raise capital or acquire property or land.
The new appointments include Geoff O’Brien and Robert Souter who join as corporate relationship directors for Scotland, and London and the South East, respectively. Matt Boggan has been appointed the specialist lender’s new business development director for Yorkshire.
Sean Williams
Geoff has extensive experience in business development, corporate finance and property lending – most recently with Assetz Capital – having worked across mainstream banking and the alternative finance sector in the past.
Experienced banker Robert joins from Lloyds, where he was sector head for customer and business services. Previously, he was a relationship director for Barclays, managing a portfolio of corporate clients in the hospitality and leisure industries.
Matt, who has 15 years’ experience in financial services, has been appointed to grow Together’s business by working alongside professional introducers across Yorkshire. He joins from Triodos Bank, where he managed relationships with clients such as third sector organisations, charities, social enterprises and housing associations.
He will report to Sean Williams, head of professional sector at Together, while Geoff and Robert will report to the lender’s corporate managing director, Chris Baguley.
Sean welcomed the joiners, saying: “They bring with them exceptional levels of experience, knowledge and ambition to drive forward our successful business. They will help us meet our ambitious growth aspirations by supporting even more individuals, businesses and their advisers with fast and flexible finance, tailored to their needs.”
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Carlisle-based H&H Insurance Brokers has strengthened its team in Wales with the appointment of a new account executive.
Tomos Jones has joined as part of the firm’s continued expansion across Wales, Shropshire and Cheshire. Tomos, who lives at Cymau, near Wrexham, will work alongside associate director Hâf Rowley, with account handler Lee Baines making up the third member of the team based in Wales.
The 29-year-old joins the firm from NFU Mutual, where he worked across a range of products and services for several years.
Tomos, whose first language is Welsh, said his local knowledge and links with the farming community will be an asset in his new role with HHIB, which specialises in the agricultural sector. He said: “H&H Insurance Brokers is an exciting, forward thinking company which offers great opportunities for me to develop my career.
“I was brought up in and among the farming community which gives me a good understanding of the day-to-day issues which farmers experience – and how important it is that they deal with someone they can trust and rely on to provide the best possible service in a straightforward and uncomplicated manner.”
Tomos Jones Hâf Rowley
H&H Insurance Brokers arranges a broad portfolio of insurance for farmers, agricultural contractors and all types of rural businesses. The firm also operates in the commercial, tourism and hospitality, and property sectors, and offers a number of specialist products.
Along with Hâf, Tomos will work out of HHIB’s bases at Ruthin Farmers’ Auction Mart and St Asaph Livestock Mart in North Wales.
Hâf, who leads the HHIB team operating in Wales, Shropshire and Cheshire, said: “Tomos brings a wealth of experience to the role and will be an integral part of our expansion plans. Tomos’s appointment is a reflection of our commitment to the region, and to providing a high quality, professional service to our clients.”
Originally from Ruthin, Tomos’s farming roots date back to his grandfather who farmed at Tyn Llechwedd, Gwyddelwern. His father, Ifor, is well known in the farming community in North Wales as a key account manager for the global animal health company Zoetis. He previously ran his own agricultural supplies business in Cerrigydrudion.
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Specialist short term lender, Hope Capital, has announced a further boost to its growing sales team with a dual appointment.
Sam Lea has taken up the role of a BDM and will oversee the firm’s cases across the Midlands. Sam began his career in the financial services sector over seven years ago, where he worked in various roles at Dudley Building Society and ML Financial Consultants.
As well as bringing a huge range of skills in the finance sector with him, Sam also holds a CeMAP, DipFA, and CeRER qualification from the London Institute of Banking & Finance.
Sam said: “I’m really excited about my new position at Hope Capital. After hearing many great things about the firm, I was keen to have an opportunity to join the team. I am passionate about building meaningful, long term business relationships and I look forward to offering the broker market the great products and service available at Hope Capital.”
Sam Lea and Kim Parker
Kim Parker joins Bootle-based Hope Capital as an internal BDM and has an extensive track record in sales positions, with more than 11 years working at Barclays. In her new role, Kim will be using her experience and skill set to help Hope Capital continue to grow and take on increased business volumes.
Kim said: “Hope Capital is a dynamic and fast moving company, which has been experiencing a surge in enquiries and completions. With plans for further growth, this is a fantastic time to join the team. I am really looking forward to helping the firm deliver more record numbers in the coming months.”
Roz Cawood, director of sales, said: “As we continue to expand and develop our proposition, our recruitment process has had to be highly selective, ensuring we are best positioned to move the business forward. Sam and Kim tick every box – they both have a deep understanding of the specialist lending sector and reflect the values we strongly believe in.”
Earlier this year, Hope Capital revealed that the 2021/22 financial year marked its strongest year in its 10-year history, with a 107% increase in completions from 2020/21 to 2021/22 and nearly a 50% increase in AIPs.
