People: Open Media; Total Processing; DC Advisory; Forbes Solicitors; MHA Moore and Smalley; Sustainable Building Services
Open Media has appointed Lisa Pearson, former head of marketing for Arriva UK Bus and ex-Merlin Entertainments, as its marketing director.
She brings a broad range of experience spanning both media owner and brand side, as well as a variety of sectors and disciplines including professional services, leisure and tourism and most recently, the transport sector.
As well as her professional accolades, Lisa also proudly serves in a number of trustee and board roles across the public and private sector, including The Women’s Organisation.
Lisa’s chief focus will be to further Open’s marketing output, through devising the business’s annual marketing strategy, while working closely with the sales team to raise awareness of the Open Media brand acrossits Liverpool, Manchester and London offices.
She said: “Open Media continues to go from strength to strength and city to city. I am incredibly proud to be joining the team, becoming a part of a business that truly recognises the important role of marketing in ensuring future growth and sustainability.”
CEO, Mike Smith, said: “As a company, over the next 12 months we have significant ambitions to further our current People, Planet, Place strategy and raise awareness of the Open Media brand. Lisa’s invaluable marketing experience and expertise will be key to our success and driving our strategy forwards.”
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Martin Gilbert
Total Processing, the Manchester-based payments fintech founded in 2015, revealed that Martin Gilbert will be joining its board. Gilbert’s invaluable knowledge and experience will be instrumental during a time of rapid growth as the company continues to scale its operations.
Martin Gilbert, current chairman of Revolut and founder of Aberdeen Asset Management, brings with him extensive experience in both traditional and disruptive financial services. As CEO of Aberdeen Asset Management from 1991 to 2017, he helped grow the company into one of the world’s leading independent asset managers with £308bn of assets under management.
Over the past three years, Gilbert has also played a key role in Revolut’s growth from an innovative fintech company to a challenger bank.
He is well equipped to provide guidance to the board at Total Processing as it seeks to scale the business and expand its international reach.
Rob Pallin, CEO, said: “It’s a real privilege to welcome Martin to the Total Processing team. His wealth of industry knowledge and strategic business experience is second-to-none, and his guidance will be invaluable.
“It also comes at a perfect moment for us. We have big plans for 2023 and with Martin’s support, I am confident that the upward trajectory of Total Processing will only continue as we strive towards our mission to be the most customer-focused payments company in the world.”
Gilbert said: “I’m eager to start working with Total Processing’s board to help scale its operation globally. With its focus on providing a complete service to its customers and the global shift towards digital payments, there is a huge opportunity here.”
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Richard Darlington
DC Advisory, an international investment bank committed to making a difference, has hired Richard Darlington as executive director, based in Manchester.
Darlington brings more than 15 years of investment banking and accounting experience, primarily in the technology, media and gaming sectors. He joins from Zeus Capital, where he was director in the investment banking division, and has previously held positions at Barclays Capital and KPMG.
Darlington has a wealth of experience leading transactions across M&A, equity capital markets (including IPOs and fundraisings) and debt financing. His recent deal successes include representing clients such as Sumo Group, Devolver Digital, tinyBuild, Catalis Group, LBG Media and MSQ Partners.
Richard Madden, CEO of DC Advisory UK, said: “Ensuring we have diverse tech coverage for our clients is critical – particularly during a challenging climate. Rich’s expertise helps us to deliver this, particularly the intersection with both media and gaming.”
Richard Darlington said: “I am thrilled to be joining DC Advisory and utilising the firm’s extensive global platform to deliver the best possible outcome for clients. I am excited about the opportunity and look forward to supporting founders, sponsors and entrepreneurs with the right advice.”
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Forbes Solicitors new team members
Forbes Solicitors has announced 11 promotions across a range of its specialisms including employment, insurance, contentious trusts and probate, commercial property, crime, housing and regeneration, and commercial litigation.
The promotions will create two new partners, two senior associates and seven associates across the firm’s Manchester, Salford, Leeds and Lancashire offices.
John Lambe becomes a contentious trusts partner in Manchester and Andrew Halpin has been named an employment partner in Preston.
Louise Goss has been made a senior associate in the firm’s insurance team and Emily Jordan is now a senior associate in housing and regeneration (litigation). Olivia Jack, Joanna Dunstan, Loretta Woollams, Fern Gordon, Adil Hussain, Sheroze Nadeem and Samuel Martin have all been named associates.
Managing partner, Pauline Rigby, said: “We’re a full-service regional law firm with national reach and we’re proud to be at the top of our game. It’s so rewarding to see our people growing as we grow as a firm and I want to personally congratulate each of these well-deserved promotions.”
John Lambe has been with the firm since December 2020. Having trained as a teacher, he taught law to students from GCSE to post-graduate level before qualifying as a solicitor. He has 25 years’ experience in legal practice.
Andrew Halpin joined Forbes’ employment team in January 2021, having previously been an employment solicitor at The University of Liverpool and head of legal and HR for a large group of GP Practices in Liverpool. As well as advising on day-to-day HR issues, Andrew is a confident advocate in the Employment Tribunal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal for public and private sector clients.
John Lambe said: “What sets Forbes apart from other firms is the focus on culture and our people. With these foundations, I look forward to working towards our combined growth ambitions.”
Andrew Halpin said: “I look forward to continuing to build on our reputation for delivering pragmatic, commercial advice.”
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Sean Mitchell, centre, with Graham Gordon and Tony Medcalf
Accountancy and business advisory firm MHA Moore and Smalley has made a new senior appointment in its Manchester tax team.
Sean Mitchell has joined the firm as tax partner. His experience includes two spells at Grant Thornton, the first in a variety of roles between 1997 and 2015. Sean returned to the firm in July 2018 as tax director.
He also spent three years as tax director at BDO between 2015 and 2018.
Sean specialises in tax advice for entrepreneurs and the businesses they own and operate. He has extensive transaction tax experience and regularly assists high net worth individuals with their wealth and succession tax planning. He also has significant experience in the property sector.
He will be based at MHA Moore and Smalley’s Manchester office and support clients across the North West.
Graham Gordon, managing partner, MHA Moore and Smalley, said: “Since we opened our Manchester office, it has grown steadily across a range of business support services. Ensuring that we appoint senior experts is vital to that continued growth and Sean’s appointment will bring further experience and leadership to our tax team.”
Sean Mitchell said: “I’m excited to be able to contribute to the firm’s future growth and to work with people and clients who aren’t afraid to take a fresh approach.”
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Steve Roberts, left, and Ian Jones
Lancashire-based specialist retrofit decarbonisation turnkey provider, Sustainable Building Services (SBS), has made two new promotions to its board of directors as annual turnover is forecasted to increase to more than £50m.
Steve Roberts and Ian Jones, both regional directors, have joined managing director Gary Lawson, divisional director Mike Easdon and chairman Derek Horrocks on the now-five-man board. These promotions are two of four senior appointments across the business, with Daniel Owens and Dwayne Jones both stepping into roles as regional operations managers.
Mr Roberts said: “Having progressed through the company, I can safely say that there is opportunity here for those that want to seize it. Not only can we learn a lot from recent success and growth, but we can also influence change, too.”
Managing director, Gary Lawson, said: “The recent changes and appointments are proof that you can work your way to the top at Sustainable Building Services and there is no limit to the rewards that success can bring.
“Moreover, there is not just one route for doing so. For example, Daniel Owens has risen from quantity surveyor to regional operations manager, which should inspire others who have similar ambitions to grow as individuals and be the deciders in their own destiny.”
