People: Project One; Kinaxia Logistics; DCBL; Conferma Pay; Glaisyers ETL; Bexley Beaumont
Project One has grown its leadership team with the appointment of Estelle Eades as consulting director leading key customer accounts.
Estelle brings more than 20 years’ experience in delivering large, complex change and transformation, following 10 years at Deloitte and more than 10 years in industry roles, specifically within financial services.
Now in their 25th year, Project One has recently moved to a new eco-friendly head office in Holmes Chapel. Estelle’s appointment will be key to its continued journey of growth and this exciting next chapter for the business.
CEO, James O’Sullivan, said: “Estelle brings a wealth of experience leading multi-function change management programmes, driven by risk and regulation, cost reduction, digital and the changing nature of work. Welcoming Estelle is a great way to start the New Year.”
Estelle said: “Working for an organisation that drives cross-industry transformational change in some of our largest UK employers is a privilege and an opportunity not to be missed, as well as working alongside people who are experts in their field, inspiring me to go further and be my best self every day.”
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The chief executive of North West-based Kinaxia Logistics has been appointed to the board of business group Logistics UK.
Simon Hobbs has been appointed as a non-executive director of the group to help guide it as it leads the industry in its post-pandemic recovery.
Simon has been CEO of Kinaxia since January 2020. Kinaxia is a top 15 UK logistics group employing more than 1,800 staff nationwide and has a fleet of more than 850 vehicles which transport goods for the retail, leisure, food and drink and manufacturing sectors.
Simon Hobbs
The group, which has its HQ in Macclesfield, has 2.7 million sq ft of warehouse facilities nationwide, offering contract packing, e-fulfilment, returns management, storage services and a complete distribution service. It is one of the UK’s fastest-growing logistics businesses, with annual revenues now exceeding £200m.
As well as its HQ, Kinaxia has a strong presence across the region, with sites at locations including Trafford Park, Stalybridge and Appleton in Warrington.
Simon has more than 35 years’ experience in the sector across the UK and overseas.
He said: “Logistics UK is a major player in the sector, representing more than 20,000 members across the supply chain. The UK’s logistics sector employs over seven million people and provides the backbone to our national economy.
“Leading one of the UK’s major logistics companies ensures I am keenly aware of the key challenges facing our sector, and I look forward to being a voice for the industry on behalf of Logistics UK and the sector as a whole.”
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A former British Parking Association (BPA) director of operations and business development has joined Runcorn-based DCBL, the parking enforcement debt recovery company, ahead of reforms to the Government’s Parking Code of Practice Act.
Parking industry veteran, Steve Clark, who retired from the trade association in 2022, has joined as a technical parking consultant to exclusively support its operator clients with queries and problems pertaining to the Parking Code of Practice Act.
He said: “In my new role I am really looking forward to supporting the group, my new colleagues, and clients through uncertain times for the private parking sector, which could see significant changes enforced on the way it operates and collects on behalf of its customers. Key to this will be assisting our operators with their understanding of the code and its implementation into new working practices.”
Steve will also organise and conduct workshops for DCBL staff and operator clients on multiple aspects of the new code, the Conformity Assessment Scheme (CAS) and the Conformity Assessment Body (CAB).
Steve Clark
Darren Connor, DCBL managing director, said: “The private parking sector is at a pivotal time in its existence and could face significant changes to the way it operates in the coming months. To help us and our clients navigate this we have appointed one of the most experienced people in the industry who has represented the sector and helped shaped legislation.
“Steve has more than a decade’s experience at the BPA and he is uniquely experienced to guide us, and those that we work with, through the upcoming changes. He has an excellent knowledge of parking and has demonstrated excellent levels of integrity over the time we have worked together.”
DCBL has also appointed a new group operations manager and group financial controller to its senior team, as well as making a series of internal changes to strengthen its management.
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Cheadle-based Conferma Pay and Sabre Corporation have appointed Jason Lalor as chief executive of Conferma Pay. The appointment follows Sabre’s acquisition of Conferma Pay in August 2022, and its announcement of a new partnership and minority investment by Mastercard in November 2022, which was completed on January 31, 2023.
Lalor brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in commercial operations, strategy development and partner engagement at some of the world’s most well known and innovative fintech companies. He most recently served as chief executive of Square’s European business, headquartered in Dublin, as well as serving as executive director on several of Square’s international boards.
Before joining Square, he spent more than six years with Mastercard in various roles, including general manager of Ireland and vice president of European Digital and Fintech Partnerships. He has previously held senior roles at Barclaycard, American Express and Dell.
Jason Lalor
Roshan Mendis, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Sabre Travel Solutions, welcomed Jason to the role, saying: “He brings extensive commercial leadership experience and a deep understanding of the payments ecosystem. This will be integral in advancing our goal to accelerate the digitisation of business-to-business (B2B) travel payments.”
Lalor said: “I’ve already been impressed by the dynamic and inspirational team at Conferma Pay. It is clear that its people are one of Conferma Pay’s greatest assets and I look forward to working with so many of the payment industry’s brightest minds.”
Conferma Pay connects issuers to more than 700 travel management companies, all the major global distribution systems and more than 100 online booking tools. It is fully integrated with all the major card schemes and serves more than 50 banking partners, who issue Conferma Pay-generated virtual cards in nearly 100 currencies.
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Glaisyers ETL has appointed Steve Kuncewicz as partner in its recently established entertainment, media and sport practice.
Mr Kuncewicz is a well known lawyer in the North West market, and a leading practitioner in the fields of intellectual property, media and social media.
He joins Manchester and London-based Glaisyers ETL from Clyde & Co, where he was partner and head of the firm’s creative, digital and marketing sector group. His appointment follows that of partner and head of corporate, Daniel Varney, who joined Glaisyers ETL from Clyde & Co in autumn 2022.
Steve brings a range of new expertise to the firm and was one of the first lawyers in the country to build a practice focused specifically on social media, having been an authority on this area for more than a decade.
Steve’s practice focuses on creative, digital and marketing agencies, and he is co-founder of the Bulletproof Agency Network, a business support and professional development organisation for the owners of these businesses across the UK.
Steve Kuncewicz
He said: “From my first conversation with Glaisyers, I knew that the firm would be the right fit for me in terms of my practice, but also its values and entrepreneurial focus.
“The firm is at a very exciting stage of its continued growth, and I’m very much looking forward to making my own contribution in the years ahead. It’s a great team, and I’m delighted to be working with Daniel again.”
At Glaisyers ETL Steve will work alongside solicitor Sara Shulman, an entertainment and sports specialist who joined the firm in 2021. Glaisyers ETL is part of the ETL Global network of professional firms which includes some of the UK’s leading entertainment, media and sport accountancy practices.
David Jones, executive partner at Glaisyers ETL, said: “Steve is a pioneer in social media and marketing law, and an acknowledged expert in his field. I am really pleased to welcome him on board and look forward to working with him to build a market leading practice.
“Since becoming part of the ETL Global network in 2018, Glaisyers has been attracting ever higher quality work, both locally, nationally and internationally. Steve’s appointment means we can now offer our clients, and ETL Global partner firms, an even greater breadth and depth of service, particularly in the fields of media, marketing and digital industries.”
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Bexley Beaumont has reinforced its commitment to helping develop future legal talent with the firm’s appointment of its first graduate solicitor apprentice.
Harry Jenkinson’s arrival follows the introduction of a new qualification, the Solicitor Qualifying Examination (SQE).
It replaces the Legal Practice Course (LPC), which is being phased out having been the standard training process for almost 30 years.
Mr Jenkinson will study for the qualification, which is being funded by Bexley Beaumont, while working at the firm as a trainee solicitor.
Chief executive, Karen Bexley, has described how apprenticeships offered even greater flexibility for those looking to start out on a legal career: “The way in which solicitors have trained has changed very little over very many years.
From left: Anna Beaumont, Harry Jenkinson and Karen Bexley
“It has generally been something of a three-step process involving doing a university degree, the LPC and then a two-year training contract with a law firm.
“Yet it has been widely accepted for some time that it potentially means missing out on individuals who could be good lawyers but might not have taken an orthodox route to a legal career. The SQE is an important step forward in that it certainly allows more flexibility.”
She added: “Whilst some firms, though, have chosen to insist on it being completed before a training contract can start, we felt that it worked better for Harry and for ourselves to do something different.
“Bexley Beaumont is funding his apprenticeship, during which he will work with our partners acquiring the same of kind of experience as he would on a training contract while also studying or attending college on a day release basis. We firmly believe that the legal profession would benefit from having fewer obstacles in the path of those with the talent and ambition to become a solicitor.”
Mr Jenkinson has begun his apprenticeship after studying in Belgium, Germany and Spain for his European Masters Degree in Law and Economics. He had earlier gained a law degree from Bristol University.
The Solicitor Qualifying Examination (SQE) was introduced in September 2021 as part of the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority’s ‘Training For Tomorrow’ initiative.
It is replacing the LPC and is intended to provide a “single, rigorous assessment” for those wanting to become solicitors to ensure that everyone “meets the same consistent, high standards”.
Mr Jenkinson’s arrival underlines how Bexley Beaumont’s embracing of new approaches to training for and provision of legal services is generating success. Last month, employment lawyer Alice Kinder became the firm’s second associate solicitor, following the appointment of real estate specialist Katie Boardman in October.
In addition to offices in the City of London, the firm maintains premises in the heart of Manchester’s business district.
