People: CRM; Stein IAS; Hydrogen Safe; Quirky Digital; Door4; Sambro International; New Care; Express Solicitors
Debt recovery and credit management specialists Cerberus Receivables Management (CRM) has appointed Lesley Balmer as a new Receivables Executive.
CRM works with asset-based lenders, restructuring and insolvency firms, and other advisers to devise proactive strategies to deal with various financial challenges for companies in distress and non-distress circumstances.
Lesley joins from a background of debt recovery with more than 15 years of experience working in a customer-facing environment and will be based in the firm’s Salford HQ with a UK-wide remit.
Lesley said: “Joining CRM will bring my communication skills into play across the board, but will be especially important with companies in crisis, where there is a need for smooth, calm handling of challenging situations.”
Director, Tony Roche, said: “Lesley’s years of experience in the finance industry, together with a great understanding of what makes people tick, will play out well in the situations we deal with – helping our clients maximise recoveries in trying circumstances – we wish her every success.”
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Hannah Lane
Stein IAS, the global B2B brand-to-demand agency with a UK HQ in Bollington, has appointed agency stalwart, Darin Albers, as Media Director in the US and experienced B2B practitioner, Hannah Lane as Client Services Director, EMEA.
Lane’s extensive B2B agency knowledge, including roles at Transmission and gyro London, coupled with her experience on the brand side, leading B2B campaigns across Canon Europe’s Office and Professional Print divisions, means she is well placed to support clients in their creative and digital partnerships with Stein IAS and to help expand operations across EMEA.
Both will work closely with Derek Stewart, Global Chief Operating Officer at Stein IAS, who said: “Making two such high calibre appointments to our senior team is fantastic. Darin has just the right blend of technical skills and client services know-how to build our West Coast offering, and Hannah’s multi-disciplinary experience aligns perfectly with our growth in EMEA.”
Lane, who has more than 25 years’ experience working both agency and client side in the UK and Australia, said: “Joining Stein IAS and leading the client team in EMEA is a great opportunity. I’m looking forward to growing our award winning offering, and to doing this with a smart, ambitious and collaborative group of colleagues.”
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Dean Lee
Weeks after announcing a move to a larger office and appointment of a further Training Instructor, Hydrogen Safe, the Manchester-based specialist training provider equipping people with the skills and knowledge they need to work safely with hydrogen, has welcomed Business Development Executive, Dean Lee to the team.
With previous experience as a Partnership and Business Development Manager at Hydrogen Industry Leaders (HIL), Dean will use his transferable skills to engage with prospective clients and spearhead the sales activity for the company.
He said: “Having provided events, magazines, webinars and podcasts in my previous role, the focus was on bringing together key elements of the hydrogen sector to push the industry forward into the mainstream. A large part of this was creating a platform for companies to form strategic partnerships, and that’s why I feel I was attracted to this new and exciting challenge.”
CEO and founder of Hydrogen Safe, Andy Lord, said: “I was impressed with Dean from our first meeting and his passion for hydrogen and the green energy sector was evident from the start. He brings valuable experience to the team, and this will support the business as we continue to expand our sales efforts.”
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Rachel Walton
Liverpool-based digital PR company Quirky Digital has welcomed a new Head of SEO to strengthen its senior team.
Founder, Liam Quirk, 26, has recruited Rachel Walton, who has excelled in previous roles including Head of SEO at Castle International and Senior Organic Performance Manager at Manchester’s Wavemaker.
Rachel, 26, was headhunted after establishing herself as one of the leading SEOs in Liverpool, working alongside other members of Quirky Digital’s SEO team in other roles.
Liam Quirk said: “Rachel is a significant hire to help us accelerate our organic SEO offering and take our internal processes to the next level. She has a wealth of experience working with local, national and international clients and this has already started to demonstrate this as we are continuing to show growth.”
Rachel said: “I’m excited to become part of a team brimming with enthusiasm to establish a new standard for SEO agencies in Liverpool. The team is motivated, receptive, and talented – so I have no doubts that we will achieve that.”
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Beth Moore
Burnley-based brand and performance agency, Door4 has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Beth Moore as Head of Client Services.
Beth joins the business from Return on Digital, where she held senior client services roles for more than a decade.
As well as experience in client relations, Beth brings an unrivalled knowledge of paid search, social and SEO channels and her expertise spans both eCommerce and B2B sectors. She will work alongside founder Leon Calverley and Managing Director Sean Dwyer to support Door4’s ambitious client growth and retention strategy, as it solidifies its expertise within core business sectors including homes and gardens, automotive and family.
Leon Calverley said: “Beth’s appointment marks a deliberate step in our continued commitment to achieving outstanding results and performance for our clients, to support our new clients and expanding teams. I’ve been aware of Beth’s exceptional abilities for several years, admiring her knack for fostering strong relationships and her focus on driving tangible growth for her clients.”
Beth said: “It’s an extremely exciting time to be joining Door4. I’ve been charting the growth of the agency for a number of years and have always been particularly impressed with their events programme, which shares best practices and provides a considerable amount of value to brands. As an established business, the agency has a clear strategic growth strategy and has not been afraid to carve out niche specialisms, in which they are excelling.”
Door4 was founded in 2000 and has offices in Lancashire and Manchester, with clients including Ego Power+, Plumbs and National Fostering Group.
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Kate Ratcliffe
Bury-based global toy supplier, Sambro, has strengthened its UK finance team with a new hire, Katie Ratcliffe as Financial Controller.
Katie will be working alongside Steve Townsley, who joined the business in November as Interim Chief Financial Officer, bringing with him a wealth of experience working within private equity-backed businesses, including Accrol, UK Fast and Help-Link.
She is a CIMA-qualified accountant, with more than 17 years’ experience in the sector, including at Marks & Spencer and Paradigm Precision.
Steve Townley
CEO, Paul Blackaby, said: “These new hires are strategically fundamental to bolstering our already successful team and further developing our existing finance department.
“Steve brings with him a wealth of financial knowledge and leadership qualities, while Katie brings a clear, practical approach to problem solving and the drive to see projects through to completion.
“Both Steve and Katie have already hit the ground running in their respective roles and we’re delighted to have them onboard. They are joining a well established department with long standing, experienced team members and they will be made very welcome.”
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Darren Molyneux and Maria Zolotnikova
New Care’s Grosvenor Manor Care Centre has recognised two of its most experienced and long-serving team members with promotions.
Carer Darren Molyneux and nurse Maria Zolotnikova have been promoted to deputy home manager and clinical lead, respectively, at the care home, located on Heath Lane just a short walk from the centre of Chester.
Both have more than 17 years’ experience in health and social care.
Home manager, Anne Hughes, said: “Both are invaluable assets to the team here at Grosvenor Manor, highly experienced, they work with passion and enthusiasm to deliver a wonderful quality of care and are well loved by all of our residents. I’m pleased to have them working alongside me to further enhance and develop Grosvenor Manor’s great local reputation.”
Darren said: “I would love to support Anne and guide the team to us achieving an Outstanding CQC rating at our next inspection, this would be an incredible achievement for us all.”
Originally from Estonia, Maria qualified as a general nurse in 2007 and then went on to complete her Degree in Intensive Care Nursing. She said: “New Care is a company where everyone is working together towards quality and service.”
New Care is part of the Altrincham-based McGoff Group.
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Charles Layfield, left, and James Maxey
Personal injury law firm, Express Solicitors, is continuing to bolster its senior team by appointing Charles Layfield as its Chairman Non-Executive Director.
Charles has been tasked with readying the firm for the next series of business growth and brings with him a wealth of experience from his various director roles in the legal, insurance and connected sectors.
CEO, James Maxey, said: “Charles joins us at a really exciting time. We’ve been improving in all areas of the business, with increased turnover and profitability year-on-year, a new south Manchester office, a refreshed brand, and a significant increase in the number of customers we support in their time of need.”
Charles Layfield said: “I’m really looking forward to bringing my energy and experience to the table to help further the Express success.”
Express has also welcomed the following new Partners to the Occupier and Public Liability team in the past few months: Monina Ramsden; Sukhdev Chhokar; Nicola Simmons; Michael Hardacre; Kerry Millward; and Peter Bancroft.
Paul Kimber, Partner, has also recently joined the Costs department having come across as part of the Amelans acquisition.
