People: Brooks MacDonald; Christie & Co; Colliers; Harrison Drury; Progress Schools; Claritas Tax
Investment manager, Brooks Macdonald, has announced a trio of appointments in its senior team.
Andrew Bennie and Rachael Marsden have been appointed as the heads of investment management for Manchester and Leeds, respectively. These appointments recognise the important role that Andrew and Rachael have played as part of the Manchester and Leeds teams.
Andrew has been a part of Brooks Macdonald for 13 years and last year was promoted to senior investment director. He has a demonstrated history of managing bespoke investment portfolios on behalf of a range of private clients.
Rachael joined Brooks Macdonald in 2019, and was promoted to senior investment director last year. She has more than 15 years’ experience in managing portfolios for advisers, private clients, charities, companies, trusts and pensions.
Andrew Bennie
Leanne Barnham will shortly be joining Brooks Macdonald in the newly created global head of marketing role. Reporting to Sarah Ackland, global head of distribution and marketing, Leanne will be responsible for driving the marketing strategy and execution. She has more than 15 years in investment management and brings a deep knowledge of marketing in the sector. She joins from Ninety One where she was head of UK marketing. She was previously global head of marketing with Architas Multi-Manager and, in addition, has held marketing roles at several investment management houses.
Sarah Ackland said: “Leanne’s experience and proven industry expertise make her a perfect fit to lead the marketing team as we move into our next phase of growth. I am very much looking forward to working with Leanne to continue to drive forward the firm’s proposition.”
Robin Eggar, managing director, head of UK investment management, said: “These appointments reflect the group’s ambitious growth targets and desire to provide outstanding service to our clients and intermediaries. Looking forward, I am excited by the opportunity to continue working closely with Andrew and Rachael to build on our history of success in the North West and Yorkshire regions.”
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Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has appointed Joel Osbourne into its growing North Hotel team.
Joel joins Christie & Co with more than 20 years’ experience in the property industry. Based in Cumbria, he will be working with a range of business owners operating hotels, guest houses, bed & breakfasts and other holiday accommodation throughout the region.
Joel Osbourne
He said: “I’m excited to kick off 2023 within my new role in Christie & Co’s North Hotel team. Living locally in Cumbria with my family, I’m best placed to help hotel, guest house or B&B owners sell for the best price or work with them to grow their portfolios within Cumbria and the Lake District.”
David Lee, regional director-hospitality, said: “Living in Cumbria, Joel is uniquely placed to offer a local service but with the backing of a national hotel agency, with over 100 hospitality specialists across brokerage, valuation and consultancy.
“Christie & Co is very committed to the Cumbria area and Joel, myself and the team look forward to helping owners of hotel business across the region with their plans for the future.”
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Commercial real estate firm Colliers has hired Ian Quinn to join the project and building consultancy team based in the firm’s Manchester office at Chancery Place.
The building surveyor joins as an associate director, following four years as a project manager at consultancy C4 Projects working predominantly within the industrial sector.
Ian Quinn
Simon Long, director in the 20-strong P&BC team in Manchester, said: “Ian will be a great addition to the team. He has a broad range of experience across the range of services we offer, and will be invaluable for our clients in the North West. We’re continuing to strengthen our service offering in the region and we look forward to introducing Ian to our clients.”
Ian qualified as a surveyor in 2010 and has also worked for housing associations as well as consultancy firms across the Manchester region.
He said: “I’m looking forward to switching back towards the specialism of building surveying, and to exploring the buildings that our clients are looking to renovate and build. Colliers is a respected consultancy in the North West and I look forward to working with a broad range of clients and their properties.”
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North West law firm Harrison Drury has appointed an experienced former banking professional to help it support the agricultural and rural community.
Wayne Ellison, who enjoyed a 38-year career with the business banking team at Barclays, has joined the firm as a rural business development consultant.
Wayne will help the firm’s established land, estates and rural business team build relationships with other professionals, agricultural consultants, livestock markets, farmers, and rural businesses.
Wayne Ellison and Nicola Beneduce
Nicola Beneduce, partner at Harrison Drury, said: “Wayne has a strong following in the rural sector having advised and supported it for almost four decades. We’re delighted to have him on board using his experience and relationships to help us provide more support for our clients and professional contacts.”
Wayne, who lives near Clitheroe, said: “I’ve had a great career supporting SMEs and their owners. For the last 10 plus years, I specialised as an agricultural relationship manager covering Cumbria, Lancashire and North Yorkshire. I’ve really enjoyed working with farmers, contractors and other rural businesses on their growth and diversification plans.
“Harrison Drury is a firm I got to know very well due its own established client base and professional network in the agri sector. I’m looking forward to helping the firm to develop this further by cultivating and strengthening relationships.”
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Alternative education provider, Progress Schools, has appointed alternative provision expert Matt McCann as director of schools and education.
The role will see Matt spearhead quality improvement across its provision, supporting staff to deliver the highest quality education possible.
Before joining Bootle-based Progress Schools, Matt served as a headteacher of an independent school with multi-sites, which included two specialist schools and four alternative provision sites.
During his six-year tenure as headteacher, Matt simultaneously completed a Master’s degree in Education at Staffordshire University. After graduating with a distinction, the highest honour, Matt became even more passionate about alternative education and helping support some of the most vulnerable young people in society.
Matt McCann
He said: “I am passionate about the implementation of outstanding safeguarding for vulnerable children. I have always been driven to improve attendance and engagement within alternative education settings.”
Matt has an impressive 12-and-a-half years in the alternative provision sector under his belt, alongside a wealth of experience in different educational settings. Matt pinpointed the early stages of his career as the most rewarding and a catalyst for what brought him into the AP sector.
Coming into the organisation, Matt outlined his core priority will be to improve the quality of the provision nationally. His focus will be to enable staff to deliver the highest quality education they can.
Charlotte Barton, managing director at Progress Schools, said: “Matt epitomises everything we stand for here at Progress Schools. His passion, enthusiasm, and determination to ensure every young person receives the education they deserve is truly amazing.
“Matt’s joins us with a wealth of experience in the AP sector, which he will undoubtedly be able to draw on to bring new ideas to our organisation. I have no doubt Matt will quickly become emersed in our business and go on to help us achieve greats things.”
Progress Schools is an alternative education provider with 13 independent secondary schools located throughout England. They provide high quality, supportive, and personalised teaching to young people aged 11 to 16, at Key Stages 3 and 4, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and qualifications they need to achieve their potential.
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Claritas Tax has announced a succession of promotions for graduates in the firm across both the Birmingham and Manchester offices.
Jacklin Faye
Following their recent and final ACA exams, Faye Jacklin, Mark Cuppello and Brandon Laroiya-McCarron are now fully qualified ICAEW Charted Accountants.
With effect from January 1, 2023, Faye and Mark have been promoted to assistant manager, followed by Brandon on February 1, 2023.
Partner, Iain Wright, said: “Our latest promotions reflect our people’s hard work and dedication. I’d like to congratulate each and every one of them on their fantastic achievement. Faye, Mark and Brandon stand as evidence of the success of our Graduate Scheme and serve as inspiration to our newer graduates just starting their career journey with the firm.”
Brandon Laroiya-McCarron
Matt Hodgson, partner, said: “It’s great to see so many of our team relishing the journey the business continues to go on and, with it, the opportunities for both personal and professional development.
“We are committed to investing in the future of our business and these promotions will further strengthen our work representing the diverse skills we need to continue to grow sustainably while supporting our clients.”
