People: Hill Dickinson; Pura; JLL; Miller Homes; Armstrong Watson; Roma Finance; SCI-MX; Forward Role; Shipster; Cowgills
Liverpool-based law firm, Hill Dickinson, has marked a strong start to 2024 as it expands its family law team into Manchester with the hire of highly experienced family law partner, Joanne Radcliff.
Radcliff’s addition to the team gives Hill Dickinson a family law presence in both of its North West office locations, and will see her establish a new sub team presence in Manchester to meet growing client demand.
Hers is the latest senior hire in the firm’s fast growing Business Services Group, which has seen more than 12 lateral partner hires join in the past 12 months alone.
With more than 15 years’ experience in family law, Radcliff joins Hill Dickinson from Brabners where she was made partner in 2018 and subsequently headed up its family team.
Radcliff’s appointment follows a number of other recent Manchester hires including dispute resolution partner, Duncan Hope, and banking and real estate finance partner, Debra Cooper. They come as the firm looks ahead to further growth following its confirmation as an anchor tenant at the landmark £400m St Michael’s development, which it expects to move into in 2025.
Craig Scott, CEO-elect and head of Business Services Group, said: “As a partner with a well established reputation for her work in family law, Joanne’s appointment gives us much needed additional capacity across the team as well as very specific expertise in nuptial agreements. Her arrival also gives us the opportunity to extend our family law services directly into Manchester and build a new team presence there to meet growing client demand.”
Joanne Raisbeck, partner and head of Family Law, said: “Family Law is an area that is continuing to grow in 2024 following an upward trajectory since the pandemic. Having previously worked together at the same firm some years ago, I’m delighted to welcome her as a colleague to Hill Dickinson as we look to extend the firm’s growing family law practice into Manchester.”
Joanne Radcliff said: “This is a very exciting time for me and for Hill Dickinson, and I’m delighted to be joining the firm at a time of such growth and opportunity. The demand seen for these services within Manchester in particular provides great opportunities, and I look forward to working with the wider Business Services Group and new clients to bring this offering to life.”
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Katie Morris
Following expansion into the US, eco-friendly baby brand Pura has appointed Katie Morris as Sales Director to oversee its global sales strategy and continued growth.
The North West-based disruptor brand, which launched in 2020, provides parents with wipes and nappies that are high quality, better for the planet and affordable.
Formerly Commercial Strategy, RGM and Sales Operations Director at Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue, Katie brings strategic and operational strengths to the Pura senior team and an ambition to grow the brand’s international sales further. She boasts more than 15 years’ experience at Waitrose, Fox’s Biscuits, PepsiCo and latterly at Johnson & Johnson where she directed the commercial strategy team for their UK business.
Katie said: “I’m thrilled to join Pura and I’m looking forward to building on the brand’s success in the UK and the US. As a mum of two, I also welcome the opportunity to play my part in helping reduce the impact baby care has been having on the planet.”
Guy Fennell, Pura founder and CEO said: “Katie’s appointment comes at a crucial time for Pura as we rapidly expand both in the UK and internationally. Katie brings extensive experience, and we are certain that she will help us to further strengthen our position in the global marketplace.”
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Jonathan Wiedemann
JLL has announced the appointment of Jonathan Wiedemann as the head of the North West.
Steve Hogg, who has successfully led the North West Manchester office for five years, is moving to lead JLL’s UK Development and Regeneration business.
Simon Peacock, head of UK regions and clients at JLL, said: “Steve has significantly grown the North West business throughout his tenure, using his extensive industry expertise and strong connections to establish JLL as a market leader within the region, ultimately ensuring that we are able to provide our clients with the best services.”
In addition to his existing role as head of building consultancy North, Jonathan Wiedemann will now lead the North West region and Manchester office.
Jonathan joined JLL’s Manchester building consultancy team in 2006. He was appointed to lead the team in 2020 and became head of the service line for the North of England in 2022.
Simon Peacock added: “Our North West business will continue to benefit from excellent leadership with the appointment of Jonny, who is very passionate about the region. Having worked together to deliver so many opportunities for clients in the NW in recent years I know the office will continue to grow and excel under Jonny’s stewardship.”
Jonathan Wiedemann said: “I am excited about the opportunity to further contribute to JLL’s growth and success in the North West and look forward to bringing my experiences and market knowledge forward to lead our business within the region.”
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Helen Peacock
Homebuilder, Miller Homes, has appointed Helen Peacock as new Marketing Manager for the North West region of the business.
Helen brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having previously served as the Digital Marketing Manager for Pareto and as a Senior Digital Marketing & Creative Officer at Transport for the North for more than six years. Helen holds a Bachelor’s degree from UCLAN, showcasing her strong foundation and depth of experience in the field.
The appointment comes as Miller Homes is set to complete on a number of land purchases across the North West over the next few months, marking an innovative and progressive start to the year. The homebuilder has recently announced the purchase of Lunts Heath Rise, a 328-scheme in Widnes.
Helen Peacock said: “Together with Miller Homes, I’m looking forward to embarking on an exciting journey, creating better homes for customers and fostering thriving communities in line with the company’s vision of building better places where people and the planet prosper.”
Clare Noakes, North West Sales Director, said: “Helen’s extensive experience in digital marketing and creative will help delivering exceptional customer experiences, as well as reach all the right audiences for our new developments. The collaboration promises a dynamic fusion of innovation, growth, and positive brand identity under Helen’s leadership, marking a significant milestone for Miller Homes in the evolving digital world.”
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Kathryn Hargrave
Armstrong Watson’s financial planning team continues to grow with the appointment of a new financial adviser in Skipton.
Kathryn Hargrave has worked in financial advice for more than a decade and joins Armstrong Watson from Skipton Building Society, where she worked in a variety of financial advice roles since 2013, including supervising a region of advisers where she was responsible for the quality of advice given.
Her appointment follows the hires of financial planning consultants Alexander Hill and Benjamin Walsh in Leeds and the promotion of Michael Usher, who is based at the firm’s Kendal office.
Kathryn said: “I’m really excited to join the fantastic team at Skipton and bring my wealth of skills and experience to help our clients directly. I came to Armstrong Watson as it was clear the company lives and breathes its culture, creating a supportive environment where colleagues thrive and bring their best to clients.”
Regional Financial Planning Manager, James Marlow, said: “It’s fantastic for us as a business that Kathryn has joined to develop our presence in the Skipton area. With her experience of assisting many advisers over the last 10 years, she’s a great asset to the team who can work well with our accountancy and audit service lines to help many owner-managed businesses plan effectively for the future.”
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Alan Collins
Roma Finance, the Manchester-based property finance specialist, has made two senior promotions and two new appointments to strengthen its team following a record year for the business.
Claudine Reynolds and Alan Collins, who have worked at Roma for eight months and one year seven months, respectively, are moving from Business Development roles to Relationship Managers to work alongside Samantha Williamson, Roma’s Senior Relationship Manager.
Reynolds and Collins will now focus their efforts on growing Roma’s nationwide presence amongst private landlords and small to medium housing developers where speed of lending and added value through sector knowledge is key.
Claudine Reynolds
In addition, Amer Watson and Shahed Popat have joined the business and will take up regional business development roles and continue to nurture Roma’s work through the UK’s busy broker network.
Managing Director, Scott Marshall, said: “We had huge success in 2023 with multiple record-breaking months in terms of new lending opportunities coming in, completions and redemptions. As a result, we are starting 2024 in a very strong position and we are looking to harness this by reinforcing our commercial team in line with the needs of our customers. We are delighted that Claudine and Alan are taking up their new roles, and welcome Amer and Shahed.”
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Savannah Marshall
SCI-MX, a player in the sports nutrition industry, has appointed Savannah Marshall as its newest Brand Ambassador in a five-figure deal. The collaboration marks a significant moment in bringing together the world of professional boxing and fitness empowerment.
Born in Hartlepool, Savannah was chosen as the Mancheter-baed brand’s ambassador due to her passion and dedication and challenging of traditional stereotypes: “Savannah is a perfect example of what SCI-MX stands for; a passion and dedication for fitness, pushing yourself to your limits and achieving your goals,” said James Williams, general manager, SCI-MX.
He added: “She’s a natural fit, as she perfectly aligns with our brand values and identity. We believe that Savannah and her passion for fitness and challenging stereotypes will inspire individuals across the country, particularly women, to push their limits, stay healthy, focus on their goals and work at becoming the best they can be.”
Launching in January, the year-long partnership starts with product launches, in-person events, and digital activation across a multitude of channels such as social media, website and content channels.
Savannah said: “I am so excited to be SCI-MX’s brand ambassador. I truly believe in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, both inside and outside of the ring. SCI-MX shares this commitment to excellence, making it the perfect fit for me.”
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Matt Bettis, Nadya Aytekin, Greg Wade
Marketing, digital and technology recruitment agency, Forward Role, has boosted its global Technology search offering across the UK, Europe and the US, with three new hires.
Headquartered in Manchester, with offices in London and New York, the specialist recruitment agency works with international clients such as JD Sports, Regatta, Tesco Bank and Domino’s.
Matt Bettis has more than 11 years of experience, originally building high performing software teams across Europe, before moving into AI and Machine Learning. Matt has built a strong reputation and will lead Forward Role’s expansion into the German AI market.
Greg Wade brings with him more than eight years of recruitment experience. He has joined the Forward Role Technology team to strengthen its expansion and contract capabilities in the Scala & Functional Programming space across the UK and Europe.
Nadya Aytekin is highly experienced in building GTM teams – sales and presales – for tech/SaaS companies across EMEA and North America. Nadya joins the US recruitment team to strengthen its global growth and expand its search offering.
Forward Role Managing Director, Brian Johnson, said: “This is an exciting period of growth in our Technology team as we head into 2024 with three fantastic hires, each with a strong reputation for excellence and expertise in their markets. After several years of unprecedented growth across our Technology division, Matt, Greg and Nadya will enhance our technology search offering across the UK, Europe and the US, launching us into new, exciting markets, as we continue to expand on a global scale.
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Tony Cheetham, left, James Stockton
A shipping technology firm is aiming to double growth after boosting its senior team. Shipster, based in Manchester, has appointed James Stockton as Sales and Partnerships Director.
As a custom shipping integration platform, Shipster connects online retailers, eCommerce warehouses and distributors with more than 100 couriers.
Launched in 2015 by software innovator Oddsphere, the tech scale-up has grown organically to support more than 100 businesses including Rixo, AYBL, Lounge and Bully Billows.
Stockton, who has previously held senior roles at AppLearn and AccessPay, has been tasked with creating and building on key partnerships throughout 2024 and beyond, ahead of the Shipster’s 10th anniversary.
Stockton said: “Shipster is the best kept secret in shipping and logistics. To be able to grow a business year-on-year organically from word of mouth and referrals is extraordinary. This achievement can be attributed to two things – highly customisable and flexible software at an accessible price, and exceptional customer service. I am excited by the opportunity to help grow Shipster’s client base further, form new partnerships and accelerate growth in 2024.”
Stockton joins at an exciting time for the business, following investment from Fearless Adventures in 2022 and a move to Lloyds House in Spinningfields, originally the home of Manchester Shipping Office and Packing Company.
Tony Cheetham, founder and MD, said: “The arrival of James couldn’t have come at a better time. We have huge ambitions to scale Shipster and double the number of customers and partnerships. James’s vast experience working for technology companies and his shared passion for our goals made him the perfect candidate to join the leadership team and take the business to the next level.”
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Ben Day, left, Paul Stringer
North West accountancy and business advisory firm, Cowgills, has promoted Ben Day to partner in its debt advisory team, taking the firm’s partner number to 24.
Ben joined Cowgills in 2017 as funding director, with previous roles held at MarketInvoice and Aldermore. Since his arrival he has completed more than £150m in funds raised.
Managing partner, Paul Stringer, said: “Ben’s promotion is a fantastic testament to his skills and achievements as well as Cowgills’ commitment to growing our debt advisory service across the North West. The division, led by Ian Johnson and Sam Davies, continues to win work from both boutique and the ‘Big 4’ accountancy firms and Ben’s appointment will further strengthen our position in the marketplace.”
Ben said: “There is a significant requirement in the market for debt advisory advice. Entrepreneurial companies are looking for new ways to grow and innovate and we can certainly help them navigate the increasingly complex debt markets to ensure they have the insight and support to achieve their business goals.”
