People: Acumen Financial Partners; Roadshow Promotions; Momentum Group; AG Built Environment Consultancy; Identity Consult; Poke

A West Lancashire-based independent financial adviser (IFA) has appointed two new financial planning co-ordinators.

The double appointment at Acumen Financial Partnership, whose head office is in Burscough, comes following a successful year which has seen the company take on 200 new clients and manage more than £400m of investments.

Emma Chegwin is an administrator with more than 15 years’ experience in financial services while Rebekah Winstanley joins as a trainee with the firm supporting her to obtain further industry qualifications.

Angela Maher, managing director, said: “These appointments further strengthen the team who support our advisers and are often the first port of call for our clients.

“Emma’s experience and our commitment to supporting Rebekah proves how we like to not only bring in those already established within the industry but also to grow our own talent.”

Emma Chegwin said: “After 15 years in a similar role, Acumen feels like a close knit and loyal team. The company’s reputation as a good place to work is well known in the industry.”

Rebekah Winstanley said: “It’s a real boost to find a company which is prepared to support and encourage its staff to achieve relevant qualifications.”

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David McCallum

Roadshow Promotions, the bus promotions company, has appointed David McCallum as its new partnership director.

With more than 30 years of experience in the industry, McCallum has worked with some of the biggest names in the business and will be helping drive growth at the Blackpool-based company.

In his new role, McCallum, who is based in Glasgow, will be responsible for developing the company’s offer in Scotland, as well as working in partnership with UK-wide organisations. He will be working alongside global brands, public sector organisations and creative agencies to share his experience and expertise on the effective use of promotional buses for training purposes, education campaigns, awareness campaigns, as well as at exhibitions, and for staff engagement.

McCallum said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Roadshow Promotions at such an exciting time for the company. The team has built an impressive reputation for delivering innovative and effective promotional bus tours and campaigns across the UK, and I’m looking forward to working with them to take the business to the next level.”

Company director, Natasha Greenley, said: “David brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role, and I’m confident that he will play a key part in helping us to continue our growth and success in the years ahead.”

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Philip Hutchinson

Liverpool-based property company, The Momentum Group, has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Philip Hutchinson as senior project manager to its Momentum NW division.

Philip, who joins from Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, where he was deputy head of property and projects, takes on important roles with a number of Momentum’s clients, including Grosvenor at Liverpool One and Queensberry at Metquarter, focusing on the delivery of feasibility studies and acting as employer’s agent.

Chris Renshaw, co-founder and director of The Momentum Group, said: “Philip’s extensive client-side experience and proven success as a project, programme and estates manager, combined with his background in building surveying, will help us further reinforce the strong working relationships and trust we have nurtured with our clients. He is a top operator whose depth of knowledge will be invaluable as we continue to grow Momentum.”

Philip said: “This is something of a homecoming for me because of my long association with Grosvenor, including in Liverpool, which has allowed me to hit the ground running. With our successful work on industry-leading developments in Liverpool One and Manchester Arndale, The Momentum Group is increasingly becoming a first choice for many looking to repurpose big spaces as well as those who want their smaller spaces to work harder.”

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Michelle Brooke

North West-based AG Built Environment Consultancy (AG) has appointed Michelle Brooke as its new head of business development as it plans for further growth.

With more than 20 years’ experience, Michelle was previously the head of client development at European real estate firm Hollis. At AG, she’ll be responsible for helping grow the practice’s service lines and footprint across the UK.

Established more than 15 years ago in Preston, AG has been organically growing, but in the past three years it has expanded its service line and offering due to increased demand for specialist support.

Jonathan Shaw, AG’s chief executive, said: “Michelle brings her with the skills and abilities to help us achieve our vision, and she’ll play a significant role in ensuring we get to where we want to be.”

Michelle said: “What struck me about AG was the energy there is in the business. It’s ambitious, but its growth plans are pragmatic and achievable. The other key factor that attracted me to the firm is its people. They all share the same values and are committed to AG’s vision.”

The firm, which is based in Preston and Manchester, has recently opened a base in Liverpool and now employs 46 people across its three sites acting for a variety of clients including Langtree and SIG.

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Russell Gallagher

Independent development and construction consultancy Identity Consult (IC) has announced the promotion of eight colleagues across its offices in Salford, Preston, York and Sunderland.

The company’s head of people and HR, Michelle Merry, said: “We are proud investors in our people, nurturing and promoting from within, rewarding the hard work and dedication of our 70 colleagues based across the North of England. These promotions reward those who have been an instrumental part of the business’s success over the past 12 months and have proactively driven opportunities to develop their own skills and industry knowledge.”

Colleagues who have been promoted from the North West’s Preston and Salford offices include Akintayo Aremu who has become consultant project manager, John Gee who has become marketing co-ordinator and office manager, in addition to Russell Gallagher who has become associate project manager.

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Emily Kench and Alex Pankhurst

Creative marketing agency Poke has expanded its team after welcoming two new recruits.

Designer Alex Pankhurst and account manager Emily Kench join the North West business.

Established in 2020, Poke currently works with Professional Liverpool, Liverpool Cathedral and Oxford River Cruises. Head of strategy, Nicola Docking, said: “Retaining good staff is one of our key objectives as a business. We have a great team here at Poke and it’s brilliant to be able to add to the strength of that by attracting some very talented individuals.”

After moving from IMA-Home where she included adidas as her clients, Emily has worked on in-store client experience activations within Sports Direct and JD Sports, as well as time spent in-house at Matalan on the brand comms team working on TV and charity campaigns, including NSPCC and Alder Hey’s famous pyjama campaign. Her other clients include Chester’s Grosvenor Shopping Centre and Nuffield Health from her time at dewinter.

Alex has a BA Hons in Graphic Design and has been working as a designer with brands including Everton FC, Liverpool FC, Wolves FC, Newcastle FC, Rangers FC and Castore Sportswear.