People: NHSA; WestBridge; Caddick; Totally Stockport; Peel Ports; Afford Bond
The Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) has appointed Hannah Davies as deputy Chief Executive Officer; Ruth Boston has been promoted to Head of Communications; and Alexis Darby becomes Head of Public Affairs (pictured above, left to right).
Hannah Davies will continue in her role as Executive Director of Health Equity North.
She joined the NHSA in 2016 leading its communications and public affairs work. Since 2018 she has supported the development of the alliance’s health inequalities programme, with outputs including seminal work such as the Health for Wealth, Child of the North and Covid-19 reports.
The Northern Health Science Alliance represents leaders from the North’s top research universities and research intensive teaching hospitals and works with industry partners, from SMEs to large multinational corporates, to collaborate on innovation projects.
In her new role Hannah Davies will work with NHSA Chief Executive Dr Séamus O’Neill to support governance, strategy and operational delivery on behalf of the NHSA member organisations.
Dr Séamus O’Neill, NHSA Chief Executive, said: “We are always looking to develop and strengthen the NHSA as a team and organisation. In doing so we will offer value to our members in terms of excellence in convening and advocacy. That’s why these well-earned promotions are so key to the NHSA’s future – we have the right expertise available to our members and have an increasingly impressive track record in impactful public relations, communications, and policy-related research.
“We take staff development and succession planning very seriously in the team. That is a strength, and we will continue to prioritise it as a company. I also take immense pride in offering these opportunities to women within our organisation. The NHSA has, for some years now, celebrated and supported women in innovation, and I believe supporting equality and opportunities in the workplace remains crucial to our success.”
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(L to R) Peter Barkley and Thomas Dutton
Private equity firm WestBridge has hired Thomas Dutton as senior investment manager.
He will be responsible for deal origination, execution and providing support to portfolio companies as a board member. He joins from Dow Schofield Watts, where he spent six years and completed over 40 transactions.
Manchester partner Peter Barkley said: “The WestBridge team has had experience of working with Thomas on a number of deals in recent years and we have all been mightily impressed with his approach. He takes a pragmatic approach to deal making which is appreciated by all parties involved in a transaction.
“Most of our portfolio companies are pursuing strategic buy and build activity and Thomas brings valuable experience in this area. He is also very well connected, which is always a huge asset!
“Meanwhile, WestBridge’s reputation for providing excellent strategic and operational support to businesses through delivery of our value creation model continues apace so he joins us at a particularly exciting time.”
The appointment of Dutton follows a successful 12 months for WestBridge which saw the firm close its third fund; support MBOs at Alpine Fire Engineers, Tryzens and Survey Solutions; support several acquisitions by APEM; win several industry awards; and publish its latest Annual Impact Report which revealed ESG improvements across all portfolio companies.”
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Paul Dodsworth (L) and Dave Saville (R)
Caddick Construction Group has appointed Dave Saville as Regional Managing Director for the North West, representing new leadership for the region following what the company says is its most successful year to-date with turnover in excess of £150m in 2023.
He joins Caddick Construction from Wates Construction where he has been Managing Director for the North and Midlands since 2022 following three years as Business Unit Director for the North West.
With 30 years of industry experience, he has worked on private and public sector projects before leading John Sisk & Son and Wates’ North West regional businesses.
As Regional MD at Caddick Construction, he will lead a team of 130 in delivering a diverse portfolio of projects across the North West, including high profile residential, commercial, manufacturing and industrial developments.
He will succeed Ian Threadgold, who is set to retire following a nine-year tenure at Caddick.
Dave has held a number of leadership roles, including 20 years with Laing O’Rourke, with projects including a number of PFI, healthcare and education projects delivered using modern methods of construction.
He oversaw projects across the North and Midlands in the leisure, low-rise residential, blue light, education and manufacturing sectors. The latter included Astrazeneca’s new Sterile Production Plant in Macclesfield.
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New Stockport BID team
Mark Ross has been appointed chief executive of the Stockport Business Improvement District, Totally Stockport. He previously worked in a similar role at both Swindon and Mansfield BIDs and he also worked as lead for the ATCM’s National BID Programme.
Other new team members include a replacement for Paul Taylor who stood down after seven years as BID in the shape of Shaun Freeman-Jones who, in his previous position as the BID’s Engagement Manager, has a well-established rapport with many of the town’s newest and vibrant independent retailers.
A new board consists of Charlie Wood, Partner in Employment Law at SAS Daniels; Claire Stott, Marketing Director; and Paul Kelsall, Architect and Director at Kelsall Architects.
Lisa Noel will continue to provide essential support in her role as Office Manager.
Chair of Totally Stockport’s board Rhys Owen, said: “By working with our partners at Stockport Council, at Merseyway and with our external consultants, we are ensuring that our work supports our town centre businesses; that we maximise on Stockport’s £1bn ongoing plan of investment and regeneration that brings opportunity for us all and oversees the biggest transformation of Stockport.
“Finally, Totally Stockport’s move to the new Merseyway Innovation Centre is the perfect way to
start a new year and a new chapter in what has already been a very successful seven years for
Stockport’s BID. I wish every member of the team a successful 2024.”
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Marcus Connolly
Peel Ports Group has strengthened its global container operations with the appointment of a new Strategic Commercial Director.
Marcus Connolly joins the port operator with more than 25 years’ experience in international container shipping and logistics, having held roles at A.P. Moller – Maersk and NYSHEX.
Based at the Port of Liverpool, he will be responsible for developing relationships with major shipping lines.
Before NYSHEX, Marcus spent more than 25 years at A.P. Moller – Maersk, including 8 years as Head of Trade & Marketing and Customer Experience functions in the UK & Ireland as well as 6 years as Head of Sales UAE, Oman, Qatar and Iran, based in Dubai.
David Huck, Chief Operating Officer at Peel Ports Group, said: “Marcus’ experience in the global container shipping and logistics industry is second to none, while his knowledge and results-driven approach will play a vital role as we look to strengthen our operations internationally.
“In the year ahead, our main aim is to further support cargo owners, strengthen our relationships with global shipping lines and importers, and continue to grow our presence as the UK’s second largest port operator. Marcus will play a crucial role in achieving this.”
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Chris McEnaney and Jen Johnson have risen to Associate Directors at accountancy firm Afford Bond
Accountancy firm Afford Bond, founded in Nantwich in 1929, has promoted four team members and recruited a trainee as part of its growth strategy.
Senior managers Chris McEnaney and Jen Johnson have risen to Associate Directors taking on additional management responsibilities and a growing share of the firm’s high profile client portfolio.
Meanwhile accountants Lauren Griffin and Dan Nixon have stepped up to become managers and Sam Parkinson joins as a trainee accountant.
Afford Bond director Paul Edwards, who began as a trainee with the firm in 1996, said: “Afford Bond has prospered significantly in the last decade by abiding to our core values of strong technical ability delivered with sound commercial understanding.
“The culture remains very much about people and combining traditional values with forward-thinking. Chris and Jen have been at the heart of this growth strategy for many years and we are delighted to welcome them to the board room as Associate Directors.”
Afford Bond provides accounts, audit, taxation, payroll and corporate finance services to a wide variety of sectors across the region with offices in Nantwich, Wilmslow and Manchester.
Its roots in Nantwich can be traced back 95 years when Norman Afford set up his practice at District Bank House in the town centre. In the 1960s it merged with V C Bond & Co of Edleston Road in Crewe and then relocated to 31 Wellington Road in 1973 as Afford Bond & Co.
Growth over the past decade has led to many key appointments with more than 50 people now employed at the Nantwich office and a further 20 in Wilmslow and Manchester.
