People: Wain Estates; Mills Hill Developments; Total Processing; Roq; Excello Law; Caroola Group
Land and property company Wain Estates has appointed an in-house management accountant as it continues to expand its team and skill base.
Danielle Grimshaw, 27, who gained her AAT qualification in private practice, has more than 10 years’ experience in accounting and joins Wain Estates from Manchester-based Charles & Ivy.
Danielle, who got a Saturday job book-keeping while still at school, is a passionate advocate for apprenticeships and work-based learning. She said: “I always knew I wanted to be an accountant and discovered you could take your AAT qualifications while working so wrote to all the local firms in my area giving them information about an AAT apprenticeship scheme and asking if they would take me on. Ella Associates gave me the opportunity and I qualified with them.”
She added: “I made the jump from practice into industry in 2020 and really enjoyed the fully hands on role.”
Wain Estates finance director, Mark Booth, said: “We are delighted to have Danielle join the team as the scale and momentum of work across the business continues to grow. Her skill and enthusiasm will help support this growth.”
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Carlos Gomes
Carlos Gomes has been promoted to executive head chef at Mills Hill Developments, operators of El Gato Negro, Canto, and Habas.
The acclaimed chef joined the business in 2017, working alongside chef patron and creative director Simon Shaw to open Mediterranean tapas restaurant, Canto, in Ancoats, Manchester.
Over the past six years the Portuguese native and former head chef of Michelin-starred Barrafina has played a pivotal role in the continued success of the independent restaurant group, supporting Shaw with the opening of El Gato Negro in Liverpool and Leeds in 2019, followed by the launch of modern Middle Eastern restaurant and bar Habas in Manchester in 2021.
The promotion comes as Shaw confirms plans for further growth with the business “ready to expand subject to finding the right site.”
Gomes said: “I look forward to continuing my journey with the business as it looks to future growth.”
Shaw said: “To watch Carlos at work in the kitchen is something else. He has a quiet confidence about him, an attention to detail and pride that’s hard to find. This promotion is thoroughly deserved, I couldn’t ask for a better right hand man.”
El Gato Negro, Canto, and Habas are a partnership between Simon Shaw and Mills Hill Developments Ltd.
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Elaine Deehan
Total Processing has appointed Elaine Deehan as the new managing director for its expansion into the European Union (EU) market.
The Manchester-based company has already achieved considerable success in the UK and MENA regions with its innovative and secure payment solutions. As part of its continued expansion, the company plans to grow its workforce in Ireland and hire 25 new employees within the next two years.
With more than 20 years of experience in the financial industry, Elaine brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Total Processing. Prior to joining, Elaine held several senior leadership positions at CurrencyFair and Starling Bank in Ireland.
Based in Ireland, Elaine will be responsible for overseeing the establishment of Total Processing in Ireland and leading the company’s expansion into other EU markets. She said: “I am excited to join Total Processing and lead its expansion into Europe. Total Processing has already established itself as a reputable and disruptive payment processor and I look forward to building on that foundation to deliver growth and value for our customers and stakeholders.”
Rob Pallin, Total Processing CEO, said: “We have big plans for 2023. With Elaine’s support, I am confident that we can replicate the success we’ve seen in the UK and MENA region within the EU as we continue our mission to be the most customer-focused payments company in the world.”
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Sarah Jane Riggott
Engineering consultancy, Roq, has announced the appointment of Sarah Jane Riggott to the newly-created role of Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Sarah has been promoted into the new role having been with Chorley-based Roq since 2014. The move follows a successful tenure as part of the leadership team and driving the company’s people team, where her focus has been on employee engagement and career support, as well as training and wellbeing.
CEO of Roq, Stephen Johnson, said “Sarah is an exemplar of professionalism, and her career progression has been one of continuous improvement – which is reflective of how the company operates.
“Roq is on a significant growth journey and we’re projecting to at least double in size over the next three years. Her appointment in this key role is to ensure we embrace the exciting changes, whilst guaranteeing our clients and our employees remain a key focus.
Sarah said: “I am fortunate to have grown my career with an organisation that truly embraces growth – both that of the business and of its people. I am looking forward to making things happen, delivering quality outcomes and taking our great internal culture externally to our clients, so every experience of Roq is exceptional.”
Sarah now begins a period of transition before the appointment officially commences in October 2023.
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Katie Brassington
Katie Brassington has joined national consultancy law firm Excello Law, based in Chester.
Qualifying in 2004, Katie has more than 18 years’ experience advising individuals, families, trustees and business owners across Cheshire and North Wales. She joined Excello from Knights where she headed up their private client team in Chester.
She said: “I work to build good relationships with clients allowing us to work together to plan pragmatically based on their individual circumstances. Working in a more flexible and collaborative working environment within Excello Law, I look forward to building on those relationships with existing and new clients.”
Joanne Losty, chief operating officer, said: “Katie is an experienced private client lawyer and joins a senior team in Chester offering the full range of commercial and private client legal services. With offices in Chester, Liverpool and Manchester, and further expansion planned in the region in Preston, we’re continuing to enjoy great interest from lawyers looking to work in a more liberating environment and collaborative culture.”
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Andrew Shingler
Accountancy, tax and umbrella payroll solutions provider, Caroola Group, has strengthened its executive leadership team with the appointment of Andrew Shingler to the role of chief sales officer.
Andrew, has more than 30 years of experience in sales and business management. Before joining Warrington-based Caroola Group, he performed a range of senior roles including founder of a SaaS e-learning solution through to sale and for the last five years as sales director at MHR International.
The appointment aligns with the group’s ambitious growth plans as the firm has recently unveiled a new corporate brand identity, announcing a move from Optionis Group to Caroola Group Limited.
Andrew said: “The rebranding process is an opportunity for us to further enhance our service offering across tax, accountancy and umbrella employment solutions and bring it up to date with our bold and exciting ambitions.”
Caroola Group CEO, Andy Ross, said: “I am very pleased to welcome Andrew to our team and I look forward to us working together to deliver Caroola Group’s ambitious growth strategy.”
