People: Now You’re Talking Therapy; Dow Schofield Watts; TLT; Vypr; Wain Group; Cegedim RX

Now You’re Talking Therapy, the newest commercial venture from domestic abuse, separation and counselling charities, TLC: Talk, Listen, Change, has appointed Helen Stuart as Managing Director.

Helen brings a wealth of experience with more than 10 years in the social care and voluntary sector both operationally and strategically. She has played an integral role with TLC: Talk, Listen, Change for more than five years as Head of Domestic Abuse for Children and Young People’s Services and will be based in the Stockport office.

Helen’s appointment came when she was eight months pregnant and preparing to go on maternity leave. Her role will be covered while she’s on maternity leave and she will receive support when she returns.

Now You’re Talking Therapy is a paid-for counselling service which will be available for individuals and businesses, with profit generated being fed back into TLC: Talk, Listen, Change to help offer support for domestic abuse, mental health, separation and other issues, launching in April, 2024.

Helen said “Good mental health and access to mental health is something I am extremely passionate about and a topic close to my heart for many reasons. Accessing good mental health services is getting harder and harder for people, particularly for the most marginalised individuals in our community. I am so passionate about creating a socially responsible business for good, enabling us to contribute to TLC’s mission as a charity and extend our support to more people.”

Now You’re Talking Therapy launches nationally both online and in-person this month.

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Dan Walker

Dow Schofield Watts (DSW) has promoted Dan Walker to Director at its North West corporate finance team.

Dan joined DSW’s corporate finance team almost seven years ago after qualifying as an accountant at KPMG. He has advised on more than 25 completed corporate transactions acting for both buyers and sellers of owner-managed and private equity-backed businesses.

He has led on several transactions in recent years, particularly in the business services sector. Key recent deals include advising South Staffordshire on its £36m acquisition of Infrastructure Gateway, Marston Holdings’ seven most recent acquisitions and subsequent investment by Inflexion Private Equity and the sale of Leisure Lakes Bikes to JD Sports. Dan also plays a central role in deal origination and internal operations within the team.

Dan said: “It’s rewarding to be recognised by Gregg Pendlington and Gerard Lucas. I am eager to strengthen our status as one of the most active M&A advisory teams in the thriving North West region and continue supporting our clients in reaching their M&A and fund raising goals.”

Gregg Pendlington, Partner at DSW, said: “Dan is a hard working and driven member of the team. He is well respected in the market and dedicated to providing high quality advice to clients. The promotion reflects Dan’s continued progression, his extensive deal advisory experience and significant contributions to mid-market transactions. We are seeing signs of a more buoyant M&A market in 2024 and Dan will play a key role in DSW capitalising on these emerging opportunities.”

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James Chadwick

TLT has appointed partner James Chadwick as its new head of location in Manchester, to lead its team of more than 200 colleagues, building on a decade of growth in the North West.

James succeeds partner Graeme Orchison who has stepped away from the position after 10 years at the helm of TLT in the region.

Under Graeme’s leadership, TLT has achieved record financial growth in Manchester, expanded from a team of three to a headcount of more than 200 employees and supported some of the most successful and prominent businesses in the North West. Graeme will continue to play a key role in the development of the firm’s offering to key retail clients on all aspects of IP dispute resolution.

James first joined TLT in 2013 when the firm first opened its doors in Manchester. He joined as an associate in the financial services litigation and contentious financial regulation team, before being promoted to partner in 2015.

James said: “From winning Manchester Law Firm of the Year in 2022 to signing the lease to take the top two floors in Eden this summer, the last few years have been phenomenal for the team in Manchester.”

Managing partner, John Wood, said: “Growing our presence and capability in Manchester is a critical part of our strategy. James has the vision and ambition to support TLT as it looks to continue to build its footprint in the North West and take the firm to the next level.”

Graeme Orchison said: “It’s been an outstanding decade leading the team in Manchester and I’m proud to look back at where we started to where we are now. James’s expertise and knowledge of the NW market will instrumental in supporting the next stages of growth.”

The news follows the recent announcement of three colleagues being promoted to partner in Manchester, as well as several key lateral hires in the region, including the appointment of Matthew Johnson as legal director in the housing and regeneration team.

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Glenn Porter

Vypr, the product intelligence platform, has appointed Glenn Porter as Chief Commercial Officer.

The Manchester-based business has quadrupled revenues since YFM Equity Partners invested in 2021 and supports major international brands in sectors including Retail, Food & Drink, Health & Beauty, Automotive, and Professional Services.

Glenn joins Vypr to lead an ambitious phase of customer growth spanning the UK and international markets. He brings extensive experience from previous roles as Chief Revenue Officer at global digital identity and fraud solutions specialist, GBG, and Chief Commercial Officer at consumer financial product and market intelligence firm, Defaqto.

Chris Williams, Vypr CEO, said: “We’ve experienced tremendous growth over the last three years, underpinned by the value we’ve demonstrated to some of the world’s largest businesses. It’s from this foundation I’m delighted to welcome Glenn. His experience scaling commercial operations in tech and data businesses globally sets us up perfectly for the next step of our growth journey.”

Glenn said: “I’m excited by the company’s current investment in technology, including its adoption of AI, which will enable material value to new and existing clients.”

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Jim Wood

Warrington-based land and property company, Wain Group, has appointed experienced property professional, Jim Wood, as Group Managing Director with responsibility for the day to day operation of Wain Homes.

He takes the helm at an exciting time for the independent house builder with 16 new residential developments launching this year across three regions – the North West, Severn Valley and the South West.

Previous roles include Managing Director of Barratt London (incorporating the East and West London divisions) and the Group Managing Director at the privately-owned Weston Group.

He said: “I was looking for the right role with the right people and found it with the Wain Group.“

Jim lived in Cheshire for 20 years before moving to London and returns to the North West where he will be based at the Wain Group headquarters in Warrington.

He will also join the Group Board alongside Executive Chairman Will Ainscough, Finance Director Andy Campbell, Legal Director Nina Chesworth and non-exec Director Iain Slater.

Will Ainscough said: “Jim’s wide ranging experience will be hugely beneficial as we continue to develop the full potential of the group and drive the high standards at Wain Homes which has just achieved five-star builder status.”

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Adam Dennett, left, and Phil Galt

Based in Chorley, Cegedim Rx, the pharmacy entity of Cegedim Healthcare Solutions UK, has named former superintendent pharmacist and National Pharmacy Association director, Phil Galt, as its new managing director in the UK.

A qualified pharmacist, Phil has more than two decades of experience working at the coalface of community pharmacy, both in care and technology delivery and as a successful business leader within it.

Phil has held the positions of non-executive director on the board of the National Pharmacy Association Insurance Company (NPAI) and as a director of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies (AIMp).

He has been passed the Cegedim Healthcare Solutions’ leadership baton from Adam Dennett, who, after a successful 10-year tenure with the award winning pharmacy software provider, is stepping down to pursue a new career outside of healthcare.

Tristan de Foucher, head of European operations for Cegedim Group, said: “Adam has been a force of nature in this business for the past 10 years. Under his leadership the team has continuously and successfully invested in and driven product innovation to stay ahead of the ever-changing demands placed upon community pharmacy.”

Phil said: “I know the pressures of delivering frontline care in community pharmacy and just how challenging it can be to juggle this alongside managing a sustainable and profitable business. I’m therefore truly looking forward to bringing Cegedim Rx my 20 years of customer experience and industry expertise in order to accelerate the company’s product innovation and revenue growth.”

Cegedim employs more than 6,500 people in 10 countries and generated revenue of €616m in 2023.