People: Alliance Manchester Business School; Interpath Advisory; Novacyt; evec; AEW Architects; Veka
Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS), at The University of Manchester, has appointed three new Honorary Professors to support the university’s research and engagement activities on productivity, innovation, business performance and economic growth.
Tera Allas, Catherine L. Mann and Anthony Venables will be associated with The Productivity Institute, a national research organisation headquartered at AMBS and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
The new appointees bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to their roles, which they will share with staff, students, policymakers, and practitioners engaged in shaping productivity policies and practices.
Prof Tera Allas is the Director of Research and Economics in McKinsey & Company’s UK and Ireland office and leads McKinsey’s research on the macroeconomic outlook, growth, and productivity.
Prof Catherine L. Mann is an external member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, a former global chief economist at Citibank, a chief economist at the OECD, and has previously held academic, think tank, and policy positions.
Prof Anthony Venables is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Economics at the University of Oxford, where he was previously BP Professor of Economics.
Prof Kenneth McPhail, Head of School at AMBS, said: “We are excited to welcome Tera, Catherine, and Anthony into our circle of esteemed Honorary Professors. Their appointment underlines the university’s commitment to help tackle the UK productivity problem and translate productivity gains into improved living standards and well-being across the UK.”
Prof Bart van Ark, Managing Director of The Productivity Institute, said: “Catherine, Tera and Tony are highly respected scholars among the productivity research and policy communities and far beyond. All three have greatly supported The Productivity Institute’s work and will help the Institute to be not only world leading on the topic, but also provide actionable pathways to improved productivity performance.”
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Tom Kelly
The Manchester office of Interpath Advisory has completed its latest round of promotions as the firm continues to invest in its team in the North of England across financial advisory and restructuring.
Tom Kelly has been promoted to Director within the firm’s fast growing Valuations practice. Tom joined Interpath in 2022 from BDO and provides valuations in contentious and non-contentious matters. Since joining Interpath his focus has been providing litigation and tax valuations of companies across a range of sectors.
Interpath has also promoted restructuring specialists Cara McNally and Guy Walker to Manager, while Dawn Rosales has been made a Senior Associate. Martyna Trzaska has been made an Associate.
Interpath’s Manchester office is now home to a team of 65 staff, including three Managing Directors, and part of a wider 135 people team across the North.
Rick Harrison, Managing Director and Head of Interpath in Manchester, said: “Tom is part of our fast growing Valuations practice and, since he joined Interpath two years ago, has worked alongside our Managing Directors on a number of large and complex litigation and forensic disputes.
“He’s also been instrumental in developing our national tax valuations practice, in addition to building out our specialist valuations hub here in Manchester – something we’re really proud of as we continue to expand our suite of advisory offerings in the local market.”
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Lyn Rees
Novacyt S.A., the international molecular diagnostics company with a broad portfolio of integrated technologies and services, has announced changes to the board of directors, with Lyn Rees, Executive Director, appointed Chief Executive and James McCarthy stepping down from the board as Acting CEO, both effective from May 1, 2024.
James will remain with the company for a period of time to officiate a smooth transition.
Lyn is a seasoned healthcare executive with more than 28 years’ global leadership and commercial experience and a proven track record of successfully building/scaling companies. He became CEO of Manchester-based Yourgene Health in 2018 where he led the group through four acquisitions and the sale to France-based Novacyt in 2023.
Additionally, Dr Joanne Mason, the company’s Chief Scientific Officer, will join the Novacyt board as an Executive Director, effective from May 1, 2024, subject to shareholder approval at the company’s Annual General Meeting and, Dr Andrew Health, Non-Executive Director, will retire from the board of directors, effective May 1, 2024.
Joanne is a molecular biologist, with more than 22 years’ experience having worked in senior positions both in industry and at prominent research institutes. As Chief Scientific Officer at Yourgene Health, she led the development of next generation molecular diagnostics.
Novacyt Non-Executive Chairman, James Wakefield, said: “On behalf of the board I would like to thank James and Andrew for their hard work and significant contribution to the group, and wish them both well in their future endeavours. We are delighted to welcome Jo to the board and Lyn as CEO – they have been instrumental in the seamless integration of Novacyt and Yourgene and will be key drivers in the accelerated growth of the enlarged group portfolio.”
Lyn Rees said: “I am excited to have the opportunity to lead Novacyt in its next stage of development. The molecular diagnostics market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by the continued demand for fast and accurate diagnostics and with our strong portfolio of molecular assays and instruments combined with our leading expertise I believe we are well placed to capture this. I would like to thank James for his support since I joined the company and look forward to working with the entire team as we continue to deliver our strategy.”
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Tom Bloor, left, and Lee Burgess
Lee Burgess has been appointed as a consultant to Salford-based electric vehicle innovator, evec.
Mr Burgess is the founder and CEO of Stoke-on-Trent-based LB Agency and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the EV sector.
With this partnership, evec, aims to further enhance its collaborations with wholesalers, solidifying its position as a key player in the rapidly-evolving EV market.
Tom Bloor, evec Managing Director, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Lee Burgess as a consultant to work alongside the evec family. Lee’s extensive experience and deep understanding of the EV landscape will really help us strengthen partnerships with wholesalers.”
Since its launch in 2022, evec generated £3m in revenue in its first year. With the increasing demand for EVs and with this new representation, evec said it plans to expand its reach and customer base within the wholesale market and increase its market share with new wholesale partnerships.
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AEW board of directors
AEW Architects has welcomed Mark Turner to its board of directors as the Manchester-based practice looks towards another year of continued growth.
Mark joined AEW in 2015 as a BIM Manager and has since revolutionised the practice’s approach to 3D design and information management. He has developed a team of in-house experts, putting AEW at the forefront of Building Information Modelling and digital transformation.
Managing Director, Andy Rainford, said: “It’s fantastic to recognise the significant contribution of Mark with his promotion to Director. Not only is he an absolute expert in his field and leading our BIM agenda, but he has also been instrumental in transforming our practice management processes and IT systems and will add great strength and resilience to the board.”
Mark’s appointment is accompanied by further promotions at all levels within the business. Karey Wardhaugh has been promoted to Head of People. Meanwhile, Meg Wood has been made an Associate in recognition of her lead role in the practice’s reimage work for longstanding client McDonald’s. Finally, Sam Gallimore has become a Senior Technologist in recognition of his knowledge, skills, and years of experience. Sam recently became a Chartered Architectural Technologist.
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Mohmed Namaji and Graham Fitton
Burnley-based uPVC window system company Veka’s long-standing Finance Director, Graham Fitton, who joined the company in 2008, has retired. Veka’s head of finance Mohmed Namaji, who has been with the business for 12 years, has been promoted to fill the role.
The transition has been smooth, with Mohmed and Graham having worked closely together for many years. The pair marked the succession in a ceremonial ‘passing of the calculator’.
Graham joined Veka from roofing company IKO, where he was the Chief Financial Officer. He said: “It was obviously a difficult decision, but I am confident in the knowledge that I leave the role in a more stable place than I found it, and it couldn’t be left in more capable hands.”
Veka Managing Director, Neil Evans, said: “It is an incredibly difficult departure to accept as Graham has been ever-present during my time at the company. He has been integral in the company’s success, and we would not be where we are today without him. I would like to wish Graham a happy retirement and assure him that he will always be a part of the Veka family.
“I also congratulate Mohmed on his promotion. I have the utmost confidence that he is an astute finance expert, who I have no doubt will continue to play a key part in Veka’s future success.”
