People: CMSPI; ATPI Group; Hydrogen Safe; DWF; Burnley BID; P3 People Management; Alcedo Care Group
Global payments consultancy CMSPI, which was founded in Manchester, has appointed tenured President, Elley Frost, CEO effective May 1, 2024.
Elley assumes the role after 20 years with the company where she began as an analyst working her way up through the business to Managing Director and later to President and Head of North America.
CMSPI works with more than one third of the top global Fortune 500 merchants to optimise their payment acceptance environments by delivering cost savings and increased performance.
CMSPI founder and CEO, Brendan Doyle, has overseen its rapid growth from a domestic business to a global payments consultancy. He said: “I have built CMSPI around talented and ambitious people like Elley who work their way up through the business.
“Elley has been part of CMSPI since its inception and as a leader within the business, she has had a tremendous impact on our company, our clients, and our culture and I look forward to the CMSPI of the future with her at the helm.”
Elley will transition to CEO on May 1, when Brendan will become a strategic advisor and remain on the CMSPI board of directors.
She said: “We are thrilled to continue to benefit from the wisdom, vision, and strategy that Brendan brings to the table. I’m grateful to Brendan, our team, our investors, and most importantly, our clients for placing their trust in me to move our business forward, innovate, and adapt alongside the rapidly changing payments industry.”
Elley led CMSPI’s expansion into North America laying the groundwork for further globalisation of the company. When she assumes the role of CMSPI CEO, she will take over a thriving global business with offices in Atlanta, Düsseldorf, Manchester, San Diego, and Sydney.
CMSPI has achieved significant growth with the support and investment from UK-based private equity firm Inflexion. Chris Wright, partner at Inflexion, said: “We have tremendous confidence in Elley, Brendan, and the CMSPI team to continue to grow and expand the business. We commend Brendan for his vision and success in founding CMSPI, and we look forward to Elley continuing the client-first mentality that has anchored CMSPI’s global success.”
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Louisa Toure
Manchester-based global travel management and events specialists, ATPI Group, has appointed Louisa Toure as its first Sustainability Officer.
Louisa will spearhead the group’s internal sustainability initiatives and develop integral Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategies across the entire global business.
She said: “After nearly a decade with ATPI, I’ve seen first hand how the business has grown and evolved into the powerhouse it is today. It is a privilege to be tasked with the role of Sustainability Officer. I am looking forward to continuing to work with my colleagues across the globe in an area central to our continued success.”
CEO, Ian Sinderson, said: “Louisa’s appointment signifies not only an exciting, but pivotal next step in our sustainability journey. We aim to become the number one travel and events provider for international businesses seeking sector expertise, high touch service and innovative technology, and sustainability plays a fundamental role in achieving this objective.”
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Katie Finnegan
Hydrogen Safe, the Manchester-based specialist training provider equipping people with the skills and knowledge they need to work safely with hydrogen, has appointed Katie Finnegan to its team as a specialist training instructor.
It coincides with an expansion by the firm, moving to a bigger space at Colony, in Silk Street.
Katie has 11 years’ experience as an electrician, the last six within the renewables sector as a Wind Turbine Electrical Technician and an Electrical Technician for hydro turbines.
She will work with colleges throughout the country to provide students with the qualifications and certifications they need to work confidently and safely with hydrogen.
She said: “I’m genuinely looking forward to delivering training that students can enjoy. I want to inspire people to see the value in safe practices especially because this new to market fuel is so different in characteristics to other fuels.”
CEO and founder of Hydrogen Safe, Andy Lord, said: “Katie will be a great asset and is a further example of the specialists that we appoint, to bring first hand insight, as well as training provision we require when delivering our courses.”
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Ian Sydenham
DWF, the Manchester-based global provider of integrated legal and business services, has appointed Ian Sydenham as a partner in the private capital team in Manchester.
Ian brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having previously worked as a partner at Hill Dickinson and in leadership roles at firms in Chester and Warrington.
With expertise spanning more than 20 years in general non-contentious wills and probate, trusts, estate planning, and Court of Protection matters, he has acted as a professional trustee on numerous cases and served as a Court of Protection Deputy.
Jon Stevens, global head of tax and private capital at DWF, welcomed Ian, saying: “His previous leadership experience and expertise play a crucial role in further expanding our offering for clients. We look forward to the valuable contributions Ian will bring and infusing our team with more new talent.”
Ian said: “I am thrilled to join DWF, attracted by its sterling reputation and the opportunity to grow and lead the tax and private capital team in Manchester. Working alongside expert colleagues, I am excited about contributing to DWF’s continued success in delivering top notch legal and business services.”
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Jen Allen
Independently-owned and family operated Alcedo Care Group has appointed a new head of marketing and group brand lead.
Jen Allen, from Southport, joins the North West home care specialist to develop the group’s marketing strategy in line with its business plan and growth objectives and to support the fast growing company as it expands and launches new specialist business divisions.
Jen said: “After watching the development of Alcedo Care Group over the last couple of years, and being aware of the company’s great reputation within the sector, I am so pleased to finally join the team and look forward to the challenges ahead.
“The next six to 12 months will be incredibly exciting for the group as we expand our complex care division and launch a new specialist mental health offering which need supporting with strategies to enhance brand awareness and attract and retain new customers.”
Managing director, Andy Boardman, said: “With the business continuing expand this year, it’s hugely important that our marketing continues to communicate our core values and unique service proposition and I am confident that Jen and the team will be able to do this. I’m looking forward to working with them as we grow.”
Alcedo Care Services Group now has 20 offices in the North of England and Wales: Birkenhead, Blackburn & Darwen, Blackpool & Fylde, Bury, Chester, Crewe, Lancaster & Wyre, Liverpool (Kirkdale), Liverpool (Speke), Ormskirk, Preston, Southport, South Lakes, St Asaph, St Helens, Trafford, Ulverston, Warrington, Wigan and Wirral.
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Laura Diffey, left, with Shirley Blackledge
Burnley Business Improvement District (BID) has appointed Laura Diffey as its new Project Manager.
Laura has more than 20 years’ experience in marketing, communications, partnerships and customer service, and will now be responsible for raising the profile of Burnley and its businesses as the BID approaches the final year of its first five-year term.
Laura, with support from Assistant Project Manager, Shirley Blackledge, is the first point of contact for retailers, shops, hospitality venues and organisations within the Burnley BID area, and is aiming to increase the town’s footfall and drive trade to its array of businesses.
Prior to her appointment, Laura worked as Marketing Manager and Duty Manager at The Mall Blackburn for more than a decade and also spent more than eight years as Partnership and Marketing Manager at Blackburn Rovers FC.
Laura said: “I’m excited to have joined the Burnley BID team and I’m looking forward to helping all of our members thrive as 2024 progresses.”
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From left: Sean Turner, Charlotte Dean, Rachel Robinson
HR and people management experts, P3 People Management, has appointed two specialist consultants to drive growth as it enters its 20th year and expands its services to clients.
Founded in 2004 by managing director, Charlotte Dean, P3 is based at Altrincham Business Park.
Rachel Robinson has been appointed as P3’s first Business Development Manager. Rachel’s background in sales, as an account manager and a team leader, will enable her to support Charlotte in driving growth for the businesses through more robust networking and relationship management strategy.
Rachel, from Manchester, is a graduate from Liverpool John Moores University and, prior to joining P3, spent six years working in the waste management sector. She said: “I am really excited to join P3. It is a great opportunity to develop this brand new role and I am looking forward to getting to know our clients.”
P3 has also appointed a new Learning and Development Consultant, Sean Turner, to lead and deliver its CPD accredited leadership and management training programmes.
Sean, from Birkenhead, has worked in learning and development for more than 12 years. He has worked with several global and national brands, across the public and private sector, to deliver leadership and management training. Sean has also developed HR expertise in areas such as change management, diversity and inclusion, mental health and wellbeing, and succession planning.
He said: “The culture and fit of an organisation is very important to me and at P3 our values are very much aligned.”
Charlotte Dean said: “Rachel and Sean are real assets for us as we prepare for growth across the UK so that we can support more businesses to put their people first as they strive for their own growth.”
