People: Fairhursts Design Group; Praetura Asset Finance; NVM PE; PMD Business Finance; McGoff Construction Services
Architecture and design practice, The Fairhursts Design Group (FDG), has appointed Marion Room as a director.
Room, who has previously worked at tp bennett, Sheppard Robson and BDP, is an accomplished architect with a career spanning more than 20 years and a proven track record of successfully leading design projects across higher education, healthcare, residential and commercial.
Managing director, Mark Adey, said: “We are excited to welcome Marion to FDG where we feel she will make a positive contribution to our team and the knowledge-led services we offer to our clients. Her expertise across a number of industries, as well as her specialism in sustainability, was a big draw for us as we look to further enhance our position within a busy marketplace and diversify our sector capabilities.”
Room said: “The Fairhursts Design Group is synonymous with Manchester’s built environment and has a reputation for delivering high quality, sustainable designs throughout the UK and abroad thanks to its network of regional offices. I am very happy to be joining the business and look forward to helping the team continue to create spaces that innovative and inspire.”
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Ric Simmons
Praetura Asset Finance (PAF) has appointed Ric Simmons as managing director, following a sustained period of growth.
Ric Simmons is one of the original members of the team that established PAF almost 10 years ago and has worked in the finance industry for more than 20 years.
Based in the North West, Praetura Group’s lending division includes PAF, Kingsway Finance, Praetura Commercial Finance, Praetura Invoice Finance and Zodeq. The businesses support clients across a wide array of industry sectors with SME funding solutions ranging from £5,000 to £25m.
Peadar O’Reilly, CEO of Praetura Group’s Lending Division, said: “As a founding member of PAF, Ric has been an integral part of both the team and the company’s growth from the very beginning. He was promoted to the board in the role of sales director in 2018, before taking up the position of commercial director in 2020. Throughout those years, Ric’s dedication to Praetura Asset Finance and the team working with him has been exemplary and this promotion is thoroughly warranted and deserved.”
Ric Simmons said: “I’m both proud and delighted to have been given this opportunity. But the records we’re consistently breaking would not be possible without the amazing team we have built, which without doubt are the best group of people I have ever worked with.”
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Alex Wilson
NVM Private Equity is expanding its investment team with the appointment of Alex Wilson who will join NVM’s Manchester office as an investment director.
Alex, who has more than 15 years’ experience, initially at PwC then at Rickitt Mitchell and most recently Mercia Asset Management, has significant experience across a range of corporate transactions both in the UK and internationally. He has either led or been part of the senior deal team which has completed transactions involving North West success stories including CurrentBody, Intechnica and Pimberly.
Alex will be based in NVM’s King Street offices joining Andy Leach, Oliver Wildig and Karl Cockwill. He will be responsible for sourcing and transacting new investments of between £10-£20m with typical EBITDA levels of between £1-£5m.
He said: “The North West is home to some of the most ambitious management teams in the UK who champion the region as the best place to scale businesses. With the continued support of the corporate finance community, and access to highly skilled employment markets, I am looking forward to the part I can play in growing NVM’s private equity investment activity here in the North West.”
Managing partner, Martin Green, said: “Next year NVM will enter its 40th year of regional investment and I am delighted that Alex joins us as we approach such a significant milestone. Alex is very well regarded by both corporate finance teams and the companies he has backed and I have every confidence he is going to uncover some exciting new deals for us.”
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Nick Dumper
Oldham-based PMD Business Finance has welcomed Nick Dumper as its chief financial officer.
Prior to being appointed, Nick spent 10 years at PwC, both in Manchester and London, leaving as a director in 2019. From 2019 to 2023, Nick served as finance director at 247 Group. This position saw Nick take responsibility for financial reporting and control across both the brokerage and lending businesses – CarFinance247 and 247 Money, respectively – and during his tenure he worked on multiple funding transactions, including the successful refinance of existing debt and a £250m securitisation transaction.
Nick said: “I was attracted to PMD for many reasons, including the vision for the growth and development of the business over coming years outlined by the board, the quality of the people, the positive culture and feeling of ‘togetherness’ across the business.”
PMD director, Tom Brown, said: “Nick’s appointment marks the next phase in PMD’s journey as we look to grow the business following our recent rebrand, office move and recruitment drive. I’d also like to extend the board’s gratitude to PMD’s current financial director and one of our founding shareholders, Mike Rodgers, who has been pivotal to PMD’s success since inception and will be retiring after formally handing over to Nick.”
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From left: Dean Johnston, Lee Sale, Peter Croft
McGoff Construction Services, led by group MD Dean Johnston, is expanding and has appointed two new directors to drive forward the self-delivery ethos of the group.
Currently, McGoff Construction Services comprises principal contractor McGoff Construction, off-site pioneer Panacea Building Systems and total FM, fit-out and passive fire specialists McGoff Group Facilities Services.
To further complement this like-minded group of self-delivery entities, two new companies have been established – a new M&E company known as EdenCroft Building Services and a dedicated housing division called McGoff Housing.
Following the launch of EdenCroft, Peter Croft joins the group as managing director of the new M&E business. With more than 35 years’ experience, Peter plans to develop a dynamic team responsible for full M&E delivery of Altrincham-based McGoff Group schemes together with other third party opportunities. These projects will seamlessly align with the bespoke and often complex requirements of the McGoff Group operational businesses.
Peter said: “The self-delivery approach is really refreshing in the sector and offers far more control from within. I’m really excited to bring my skill set to the business to help continue the successful growth of the group.”
The new housing division residing within McGoff Construction, known as McGoff Housing, will be led by Lee Sale who is appointed as director of housing for the UK. This new division will develop a social housing offering through partnerships, frameworks and relationships with social housing providers who deliver services to local authorities and registered social landlords (RSLs).
Lee, who brings with him a wealth expertise, having worked for Bellway, Wates Group and Lovell Partnership over the course of the past 20 years, will initially be working on current and future McGoff Group schemes in Herne Bay, Bovington, Congleton and Glossop.
He said: “There are over a million households currently on social housing waiting lists in England. Unfortunately, the current chronic shortage of social homes means there are not enough homes for the people who most urgently need it. I am delighted to be part of this new division and support The McGoff Group in the creation of affordable housing for those who have low incomes, special needs, or other disadvantages.”
Dean Johnston said: “My key focus is to build on the extensive track record the business has successfully garnered over the last 50 years. We offer a unique, vertically integrated approach, and I want to continue to bring more expertise ‘in house’ ensuring sustained future growth. I am delighted to welcome Peter and Lee on board and look forward to seeing these new divisions to our business flourish.”
