People: CG Professional; Slalom; Browne Jacobson; Bibby Financial Services; BeFibre; TLT
North West law firm CG Professional has appointed Michelle Connor as a partner and will lead the commercial litigation team. The appointment has been made to extend their service offering to clients and to assist with an increased growth in demand.
Providing support to clients across a wide range of industries including manufacturing, energy, transport and logistics, construction, and health and beauty, Michelle has gained significant experience, having previously worked at an international and a national firm.
Michelle said: “I’m incredibly excited to be taking on this new role. CG’s ethos is so client-centric and relationship driven it really appealed to me and the way I like to work. Clients see CG as truly part of their team.”
Managing partner, Louise Myers, said: “Michelle is a perfect fit for CG. She is known for her commerciality and outcome-focused approach, putting clients front and centre to deliver the best outcome. Her breadth of experience across a range of commercial disputes and across varying sectors is impressive and a real advantage for CG and our clients.”
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Caroline Grant
Purpose-led, global business and technology consulting company, Slalom, has appointed ex-Accenture executive Caroline Grant, as managing director of Slalom Manchester.
Caroline is responsible for building Slalom’s relationships with clients and its brand presence across the region, overseeing the growth of Slalom Manchester’s diverse set of consulting and technology capabilities, as well as continuing to connect Slalom with the wider community.
Slalom Manchester opened its new offices earlier this year and was recently named one of the UK’s Best Workplaces by Great Place to Work.
Caroline said: “I’ve been watching with interest since Slalom’s inception in the UK. The culture – living purpose-driven values – has become increasingly important to me. It’s easy to say you’re a people-first organisation, but it’s rare to see it evidenced in real life as it is at Slalom.”
Slalom UK & Ireland president, Dave Williams, said: “I’m so excited to welcome Caroline into the Slalom UK and Ireland business. She strongly represents Slalom’s purpose-focus and people-first culture and, as we look to grow our presence in the North, her people skills and client expertise will be invaluable. We look forward to the positive impact she will provide for our team and customers.”
Caroline is taking over from Paul Squire, who founded the Slalom Manchester office in 2019 and has grown the business to a 120-person team serving organisations throughout the northwest, and beyond. Paul will be moving to a new role as director of transformation, supporting Slalom’s client experience for UK and Ireland-based organisations.
He said: “Starting a business in 2019, just before the pandemic, made for unpredictable challenges, but the tenacity and adaptability of our people has helped us grow organically to a 120-strong team today. I’m excited for Caroline to continue building on Slalom Manchester’s momentum and vision.”
Originally launched in Seattle in 2001, Slalom has since grown organically to 45 markets and now eight countries.
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Francis Katamba
UK & Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson has boosted its tech credentials with the appointment of specialist data privacy partner Francis Katamba to the firm.
Francis, who is Manchester-based but will support the firm’s UK & I client base, will play a vital role in enhancing its capabilities in the data privacy and compliance space, underpinning the firm’s wider digital disruption strategy.
He joins Browne Jacobson from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) where he was the organisation’s senior commercial lawyer and key advisor, advising the ICO on its most complex domestic and international commercial transactions.
Prior to his role at the ICO, Francis held inhouse roles as head of privacy and DPO at a financial services regulator and senior legal counsel in Vodafone’s procurement business where he advised on complex outsourcing and technology related matters across EMEA.
Francis will work closely with partners Jeanne Kelly, Richard Nicholas, Anthony Nagle, and Declan Cushley to help further develop the bridge between the firm’s UK& I-based commercial teams that are focused on digital disruption, a key strand of the firm’s overall vision for growth.
Partner, Declan Cushley, who leads the firm’s strategy for the corporate sector and is also one of the founding partners of the firm’s Dublin office, said: “Francis’s experience within the financial services sector positions him perfectly to support the firm’s broadening data capabilities across its other target market groups.”
Francis said: “I am excited to join a firm that is dedicated to delivering outstanding legal services, is known for its client-centric approach, is on a mission to drive positive change across the legal landscape, underpinned by its commitments to O Shaped and to building an equal, diverse and inclusive culture.”
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Colin Johnson
The UK’s largest independent invoice financier, Bibby Financial Services (BFS), part of the Liverpool-based Bibby Line Group, has appointed Colin Johnson as corporate manager – Corporate North.
Colin joins BFS with more than 34 years’ experience in the financial services sector, having most recently held the position of head of corporate sales at Novuna Business Finance.
Daniel Williams, regional head of Corporate North, said: “BFS is in growth mode and attracting, retaining and developing leading industry talent is a key focus for us. Colin has a wealth of experience across invoice finance, working capital and asset based lending, and is perfectly placed to drive forward our business and sales strategies, as we continue to enhance our corporate finance capabilities in the North of England and Scotland.”
Based in Manchester, Colin will join a team dedicated to developing transactions for SMEs with turnover up to £100m supporting a range of funding requirements including working capital and cashflow, growth and expansion, MBIs and MBOs, refinancing, restructuring, and mergers and acquisitions.
Colin Johnson said: “With over 30 years’ experience supporting small businesses, this new role is a great opportunity to shape the future success of a business that I’ve always admired. My existing knowledge will be invaluable to the team, as we continue to expand our offering and product portfolio.”
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Paul Doyle
Next-generation internet service provider (ISP) BeFibre, and its sister brand, alt net, Digital Infrastructure, have appointed a new interim CEO, as the organisations gear up for their next phase of growth.
Paul Doyle joins with more than 40 years’ experience in telecommunications and a track record in value creation and strategic change. Until 2018, he managed the full range of technology, operations, commercial, finance, and support functions, for Ireland’s largest telco, eir Ireland. The last five years have since seen him advise a number of progressive technology businesses, as a non-executive director.
The news marks the latest chapter of expansion in Newton-le-Willows-based BeFibre and Digital Infrastructure’s nationwide FTTP (fibre-to-the-premises) roll-out strategy.
Paul Doyle said: “We are committed to fulfilling our growth ambitions and I’m looking forward to driving this forward as we move into the next phase of our business plan — developing our network and evolving our proposition on a much larger scale.”
Louise Elliott, chief customer and operations officer at BeFibre and Digital Infrastructure, said: “Paul has joined us at a pivotal moment in our roll-out strategy. Not only are we extending the reach of our nationwide roll-out to build better broadband, we’re also embedding ourselves in the communities we serve.“
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Amy Stokes
Law firm TLT has expanded its UK-wide employment team with the appointment of Amy Stokes, employment partner, in Manchester.
Joining from Forbes Solicitors where she was a partner in the employment team, Amy brings more than 15 years of experience providing strategic legal counsel and solutions to clients across various sectors.
At TLT, Amy will be working across a number of sectors providing specialist employment law guidance and strategic advice to support on the continued growth of this practice area.
Graeme Orchison, head of location in Manchester, said: “Amy is an exceptional lawyer, and her experience will be invaluable to our NW and national employment teams, helping us expand the level of service we offer clients across all sectors.
“We welcome Amy to our office in Manchester during what has been an exciting couple of years. We recently announced that we have signed a deal to take the top two floors at Eden, Salford – designed to be one of the UK’s most sustainable office buildings – for our new home in Manchester.”
Amy said: “I was particularly drawn to TLT’s reputation in the retail and hospitality sector, and its breadth of experience working in other key sectors. I’m looking forward to proactively support the growth of TLT’s employment offering, providing key strategic support to a number of key clients.”
