People: Alliance Manchester Business School; First Install; Yumi; Hugh Jones Solicitors; Clarke Willmott
Professor Ken McPhail is to succeed Professor Fiona Devine as Head of Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS). Currently Professor of Accounting at AMBS, he will move to his new role on 1 August 2023, when current Fiona Devine becomes the Vice-President and Dean of Humanities at The University of Manchester.
Professor McPhail joined the University of Manchester from Melbourne in 2014 in the role of Vice Dean of Social Responsibility in the Faculty of Humanities. From 2017 to 2021, he was Director of Research, and Deputy Head of AMBS where he led the business school’s 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) submission and was involved in bringing the £32 million ESRC Productivity Institute to Manchester.
His research focusses around the symbiosis of financial and ethical success in business, addressing the role of accounting in helping business be successful in generating profits for shareholders as well as contributing value for the environment and society.
Professor Ken McPhail
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Accident management company Claimsline has appointed Andrew Simcott as its new non-executive director, following previous work with the company and a subsequent interest in its growth trajectory and future plans. Simcott brings a wealth of over 23 years’ experience in business development from his previous roles as director and shareholder of Michael
W Halsall Solicitors – one of the North West’s most prominent personal injury firms.
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The British Business Bank has appointed Delyth Edwards to the role of senior manager for the North West. She joins from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC, within UK Research and Innovation) and will work closely with funding delivery partners, business development agencies and other organisations across the small business finance ecosystem to improve access to financial support. “My new role will help support businesses in the region looking to grow access the finance they need to succeed whatever the stage of their development,” she said.
Delyth Edwards
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Boutique law firm Bexley Beaumont has made five senior appointments. Ian Thomson becomes a partner in the firm’s Commercial team while Emma Tattersdill is made environmental partner and Rachael McConaghie join as real estate disputes partner. Alice Kinder has become Bexley Beaumont’s second associate solicitor, taking her place in the Employment department. Meanwhile, Lauren Fleming is a new face in the firm’s central support team.
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Liverpool Chamber has appointed Vicky Rooney as events manager, responsible for planning and overseeing a range of Chamber events including its annual Innovation in Business Awards, monthly Well Connected networking events, Chamber-Business Networks and a series of engagement, training and wellbeing events. James Parker has also joined the Chamber as a business engagement officer and will work alongside the Chamber’s membership and policy teams to understand and respond to the needs of businesses in the Liverpool City Region.
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Salford-based furniture installation and interior fit out specialist First Install has underlined its plans for growth next year with a trio of new appointments.
Part of The First Interiors Group which operates nationally and also has a manufacturing base in Ipswich and furniture business in Leighton Buzzard, First Install has ambitious expansion plans for 2023 and the new team is tasked with ensuring these growth objectives are achieved.
Based at First Install’s warehouse on Fairhills Industrial Estate in Irlam, the three new appointments are Liam Croft, Tom Hindle and Tom Sexton. All three will report into head of group sales and operations, Mike McVey.
Previously operations manager, 29-year-old Liam Croft has been with First Install for three years and has been promoted to head of operations. He will now oversee the day-to-day operations of the Irlam base, from warehousing and logistics to the installation teams working for clients out on site.
Tom Hindle, 44, joins as commercial manager responsible for developing and implementing an effective commercial strategy that delivers on the growth aspirations of the rapidly-expanding business and ensures continued success.
Finally, 33-year-old Tom Sexton assumes the role of key account manager with the brief to retain and nurture key relationships and support the growth of the company by identifying new opportunities and maximising new prospects and leads.
All three bring a wealth of experience to their new roles having worked in the industry for many years in similar roles for competitor businesses.
Head of group sales and operations at The First Interiors Group, Mike McVey, said: “It’s great to welcome Tom and Tom to the team and I am delighted with Liam’s promotion. All three appointments will strengthen our team and service offering as we prepare for a concerted period of growth and expansion early next year. I’m looking forward to working with them and am confident that they will help us achieve our goals.”
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Chewable supplement brand, Yumi, has announced the appointment of Sam Gill as managing director.
With 10 years of experience working in e-commerce and nutrition, Sam has played a key role in scaling Yumi as head of marketing since joining the business in 2021.
In his new role, Sam will oversee the strategic direction and overall growth of the Salford Quays-based company’s two supplement brands, Yumi and Yumi Dogs.
Sam Gill
Yumi made the decision to separate the role of managing director and CEO to allow for more time and attention on all aspects of the business as it continues to grow and scale. Sam will take up his new position on January 1, 2023.
Sam Gill said: “It’s great to finally announce this change. I’m grateful to the guys – Seb, Josh and Adam – for their faith in me and looking forward to working with them for the next phase of Yumi. There is lots of growth opportunity for the business in 2023, and we’re all excited to get started in the new year.”
Sebastien Vanderlinden, CEO of Yumi, said: “Since joining Yumi, Sam has had a significant impact on the business. His leadership, initiative, problem-solving skills and passion for ecommerce made him the perfect candidate for managing director.
“We always look to promote from within wherever possible and we realised that eventually, we were going to need to hire a managing director that could help us run the company so I’m delighted to welcome Sam into his new position.”
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Boutique law firm, Hugh Jones Solicitors, has announced two promotions at its Manchester office.
David Jones
Court of Protection specialist, David Jones, has been promoted from senior associate solicitor to director, having joined the firm in 2016. Elsewhere in the team, director Chris Gallagher has been promoted to head of Court of Protection.
The multi-award winning firm boasts one of the largest teams of Court of Protection lawyers in England and Wales and has built an impressive reputation for supporting vulnerable people in a professional, friendly and cost effective manner.
David Jones has a wide understanding of the Court of Protection and mental capacity law, managing a case-load of files that ranges from young children with acquired brain injuries to elderly clients living with dementia.
In addition to his usual caseload, David regularly works with social workers in local authorities across the North West both in a professional capacity and to provide training and guidance on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and The Court of Protection generally.
Chris Gallagher
He said: “Being given the opportunity to join the board of directors in such an outstanding firm as Hugh Jones Solicitors is a real privilege and I look forward to the ongoing challenges and opportunities my new position will bring.”
Chris Gallagher is a highly regarded legal professional who has been listed as a Rising Star in the Legal 500 for the past four years. He is heavily involved in the management of deputyships of clients who lack capacity and works closely with both his colleagues and other professionals involved in the clients’ financial, legal, care and welfare matters.
He said: “I’m passionate about providing quality advice and helping to support those who need it most. I work alongside an unrivalled team of individuals that share this passion and the opportunity to lead the department as we continue to grow and make a difference is one that I’m thrilled to take on.”
Managing director, Liz Hughes, said: “Both David and Chris have demonstrated extraordinary talent during their time at the firm. Colleagues and clients alike benefit from their knowledge, experience and hardworking nature and their promotions are well and truly deserved.”
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National law firm Clarke Willmott has strengthened its social housing sector team with the appointment of Matthew Wilson as a new partner and head of its asset management team.
Based in Manchester, Matthew’s main focus will be supporting Registered Providers (RPs) and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) with housing condition claims.
He brings 16 years of experience to the role, advising social landlords on contentious and non-contentious housing and asset management matters.
Lindsay Felstead, joint sector head of the housing management team, said: “We are thrilled to have Matthew join our growing housing management team in the North West.
“Matthew has unrivalled experience of housing conditions claims related to the state of properties and has successfully defended countless cases at trial. Over that time he has developed an in-depth understanding of building pathology which provides a unique ability to formulate defences to claims.
Matthew Wilson
“His appointment is an important part of our strategy to grow our housing management specialism and further demonstrates our commitment to the sector.”
Matthew, hailed by the Legal 500 as displaying a “depth of knowledge which puts him way ahead of his competitors”, joins Clarke Willmott from Weightmans.
He will provide support with litigated cases including claims surrounding the fitness of a property for habitation and prosecutions raised on grounds of prejudice to health.
He will also supply strategic guidance on clients’ internal processes to ensure that they future-proof themselves against further claims and manage their assets effectively.
Clarke Willmott is a national law firm with offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton and Taunton.
