People: Champion Accountants; Eat My Logo; Peel Waters; Provenio Litigation; Astra Group; One Agency
Champion Accountants has strengthened its Hesketh Bank practice with the appointment of partner, Lucy Panchal.
With more than two decades of experience, Lucy’s track record as an expert advisor to SMEs and entrepreneurs stands her in excellent stead to take up the role. Champion’s clients will benefit from proactive tax planning, budgeting, funding, and cash flow expertise, coupled with Lucy’s experience in management accounts, financial performance and delivering critical support to businesses in distress.
Lucy said: “I’ve been aware of Champion Accountants for quite some time. For several years, the business carried out audits for numerous clients of mine and I’ve always held the team in high regard. It was an easy decision when the opportunity arose for me to join them.”
Peter Buck, partner at Champion Accountants’ Preston practice, said: “Lucy brings an excellent pedigree and a real tenacity for delivering a first class service that marries perfectly with our ambitions for growth. Her appointment marks another exciting chapter for us, and we’re delighted to have her on board.”
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Martin Evans
Supplier of branded treats, Chorley-based Eat My Logo, has appointed a new production manager, Martin Evans.
Starting from the age of 15, Martin has worked in several restaurant kitchens, within pubs, hotels, fine dining, and Michelin star. Over the past seven years however, he has looked after a total of 115 Michelin star chefs , as well as managing a full production team which made fresh pasta and ready to eat consumables.
He will play a crucial role in overseeing the bakery production team, ensuring product quality is maintained and timelines are met to ensure success and growth. He will also play a part in new product development and help to streamline projects.
Martin said: “I am feeling very positive about my new role, looking forward to getting to know the Eat My Logo business more and getting stuck in with new projects. I am very thankful that Ruth and Andy gave me this opportunity and welcomed me into the Eat My Logo family.”
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Jonny Kent
Waterside regeneration specialists, Peel Waters, has appointed Jonny Kent as its Finance Director as it continues to grow its UK wide portfolio.
Jonny will lead a team of four accountants who will oversee the business plan and performance of Peel Waters’ growing portfolio which represents more than £750m-worth of land and investments and currently spans in excess of 900 acres with developments in Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Kent and Scotland.
With more than 10 years’ experience working across financial projects in property, real estate and infrastructure sectors and audit. Jonny joins Peel Waters from his previous position as Head of Finance at Bruntwood. Prior to Bruntwood, Jonny also worked in a range of financial roles with companies including Deloitte and Vercity (formerly HCP Social Infrastructure).
Jonny will be working closely with Peel Waters’ Executive Director, James Whittaker on establishing new partnership opportunities and continuing Peel’s long term and trusted partnerships with many of the UK’s leading developers, lenders and investors.
Jonny said: “Joining Peel Waters is a huge opportunity. The variety, diversity and scale of Peel Waters’ portfolio is completely unique. I’ve seen first hand the impact Peel Waters has had in transforming and regenerating areas. Pairing Peel’s clear vision for each of their developments with their adaptability, means they aren’t afraid to do things differently – it’s a very exciting team to be part of.”
James Whittaker said: “We are very pleased to welcome Jonny to the Peel Waters team. Peel Waters has a very exciting and unique development pipeline, filled with major transformational projects. The key to delivering these fantastic projects is a partnership approach, Jonny will play a key role in working with our current and future partners and finding new opportunities for collaboration.”
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Daniel Jude
Provenio Litigation has continued its expansion by welcoming construction disputes specialist Daniel Jude to the firm.
Daniel joins as a consultant from DLA Piper, where he was a partner in the Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations Practice based in Dubai.
He specialises in contentious construction and engineering matters on behalf of contractors, sub-contractors, employers and professionals in all sectors of the construction and engineering industry, including power, civils, building, rail, nuclear, process and mechanical and electrical engineering.
Provenio founder and managing partner, Mark Goodwin, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Daniel to Provenio. With over two decades of experience dealing with construction and engineering disputes he is regarded as a leader in his field, both within the UK and internationally. We are looking forward to developing our construction disputes practice with Daniel’s expert guidance.”
Daniel Jude said: “I know Mark and the Provenio team really well from my time at DLA Piper in Liverpool. They’re outstanding lawyers and great people. By attracting high value domestic and international instructions, Provenio has established itself as one the country’s leading litigation boutiques. It’s the perfect fit for my practice as I return to the UK.”
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Anthony Bright
Full service provider of traditional and digital signage solutions, Astra Group, has welcomed Anthony Bright to the board of directors in the position of Design and Delivery Director.
The promotion of the former Design Manager further strengthens Astra Group’s senior leadership team as the fully fledged end-to-end signage business looks to continued expansion in the UK and internationally.
In the newly created role Bright will be responsible for Astra Group’s 15-strong design and delivery department, including product design, manufacturing design, project planning, project management, and project delivery, ensuring that all products are delivered on time, on budget and to the highest standards of quality.
Bright, a long serving member of the Astra team with more than 22 years’ experience, said: “As the business looks to continued growth in the UK and overseas, I’m delighted to join the board and to continue to play a role in the business’s future growth, delivering excellence as standard.”
Astra Group CEO, Jim Kerr, said: “Tony’s contribution, experience and knowledge within our business is second to none. Over the last 20 plus years he has played an instrumental role in the growth of the organisation, from the early days to the multi-skilled, multi-location business we are today. I have every confidence he will play a pivotal role in the business’s continued success, just as he has to date.”
The design and delivery team will be driven out of Astra Group’s Manchester headquarters, where last year the business’s sales and marketing departments were centralised, with input from regional hubs in London and Dublin.
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From left: Amy, Daniella, Ella, Cary
Manchester-based One Agency has announced a raft of new hires across several different teams on the back of a number of new business wins cross-sector.
Amy Quinn joined the Sales Team in December from Global, bringing with her a depth of knowledge and experience in the OOH and Audio industry. She will be working alongside the existing team on a number of different clients, new and existing.
Daniella Rimmer joined the team in December 2023 as a Junior Media Executive on an apprenticeship after approaching One Agency and pitching herself for the role. She will support the media team on a six-month contract, looking to extend to a permanent role following her successful internship.
On the back of a number of creative wins, Chun Yip Au (Cary) has also bolstered the creative team by joining as a Videographer. With a wealth of experience working in TV in Hong Kong, this will be Cary’s first job at a UK-based agency working on some of One Agency’s largest clients in the events and beauty sector.
Ella Connolly has also recently started working within the growing media team as a Senior Media Executive. Ella joins One Agency from national broadcast station TalkSport. She also has previous agency experience following a stint at Dentsu and will work closely with Ellie Rogerson, who currently leads the team.
Vickie Butterworth, co-founder at One Agency Media, said: “We’re fast approaching our ninth birthday and want to continue to grow one of the best teams in the North. Amy, Danielle, Cary, and Ella will be a massive part of our 2024 growth plans. It’s been absolutely amazing to welcome them to the team, and we can already see the difference they are making.”
