People: Flowlio; Two Stories; Kuits; Azets; Manchester City Council; Urban Splash; Weightmans; Seventy7
Flowlio, a provider of project management software and project management fundamentals training, has moved to new premises at dishMCR and promoted two key team members to the senior management team.
Sophie Brown has been appointed as Commercial Director. With her proven track record and dedication to driving business growth, Sophie will play a pivotal role in shaping Flowlio’s commercial strategy and forging key partnerships.
Katie Fradley has been appointed as Product Development Director. Her deep understanding of product innovation and commitment to excellence make her the ideal leader to steer Flowlio’s product development initiatives to new heights, the Manchester-based company said.
The new office sees Flowlio join the Barclays Eagle Labs programme, a vibrant community of tech and cyber businesses.
Stephen Repton, founder andCEO, said: “We are thrilled to embark on this new chapter of growth with our relocation to dishMCR. With our enhanced infrastructure and talented team, we are poised to accelerate innovation, drive customer success, and solidify our position as a leader in global project delivery solutions.”
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Stacey Waugh
Lancaster brand consultancy and design studio, Two Stories, has made a senior promotion in its brand communications team.
Stacey Waugh has joined the newly-formed leadership team, alongside Managing Director Rob Ellis and Creative Director Bekkie Hull, and becomes Brand Communications Director, moving up from Head of Brand Communications.
Before joining the studio, Waugh was a freelance consultant and with experience at several large agencies, including Smoking Gun PR, moves into the director role at the agency.
Co-founder, Rob Ellis, said: “When Stacey first joined the studio three years ago, her incredible skills, enthusiasm and her impact were felt immediately. We are delighted to recognise this with her promotion to Brand Communications Director and moving up to join Bekkie and I as a senior leader of the team and the business.”
Co-founder, Bekkie Hull, said: “The appointment of Stacey to our leadership team is a pivotal move for Two Stories. We have ambitious plans and personal development planned for the team and this structural move will enable us to do that. Stacey brings energy, excitement, and empowerment to everything she does for us and being recognised as a leader in our business is just the start for her progression.”
Stacey Waugh said: “It’s been an amazing three years at Two Stories, working alongside its creative and supportive team to develop new brands, as well as creating the brand communications department to support its clients after launch. I’m so excited to now join the senior leadership team at Two Stories to help Rob and Bekkie drive Two Stories further forward as the studio reaches its fifth year.”
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Michelle Spark
Manchester commercial law firm, Kuits Solicitors, has strengthened its property offering with the appointment of Michelle Spark as Planning Partner.
Michelle joins Kuits’ Commercial Property team as a planning, highways and compulsory purchase law specialist bringing with her 18 years of experience having worked in local government and global and national law firms. She advises private and public sector clients on complex developments including large mixed-use developments, regeneration projects and nationally significant infrastructure projects involving major highways projects and renewable energy.
Michelle said: “I’m really pleased to be joining such a successful team who advise some of the most exciting clients in the region working on some of the most complex projects. I have had a very warm welcome and I am very much looking forward to working with the team to provide clients with specialist advice.”
Nick Nyunt, Head of Commercial Property at Kuits, welcomed Michelle’s appointment, saying: “Her expertise and experience further strengthen our position as one of the most commercial and experienced property law teams in the North West providing a full service offering to our clients.”
Michelle is ranked as a Next Generation Partner in Legal 500 and is a ranked lawyer in Chambers UK.
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Lee Stott
Azets has strengthened its regional tax team by appointing Lee Stott as a Partner in its Manchester office.
Lee joins as part of the national employer solutions team and will lead its offering in the North West. Azets’ North West offices include Bolton, Lancaster, Preston, Stockport, St Asaph, Shrewsbury and Burnley.
Joining from another Top 10 firm, Lee has more than 17 years of experience in tax, advising both businesses and individuals, predominantly on employment tax, global mobility and reward matters across all sectors. Lee also has a particular specialism in tax matters affecting the sports sector and brings a wealth of knowledge from working with various domestic and global sporting organisations.
He said: “Within my role, I will be establishing the employer solutions service line in the North West, where my knowledgeable team will be supporting clients in areas such as employment tax, global mobility services and reward schemes. We see a great growth opportunity in this specialism so it’s an exciting time to be joining Azets as the company continues to expand, and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Susanna Cassey, Regional Managing Director of Azets in the North West, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Lee both to the local team in Manchester, as well as to the wider Azets group. He brings a wealth of experience, and will play a key role as we further expand our employer solutions and tax services locally and across the UK.”
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Paul Marshall
Manchester City Council has confirmed that Paul Marshall will be recommended to Full Council for appointment as Deputy Chief Executive.
As Deputy Chief Executive Paul will become a part of the council’s core leadership team, helping to set a strategic direction for the organisation and guide it not only on a local, but an increasingly global stage. He will also be responsible for key pillars of council policy – delivering on its Zero Carbon ambitions, running corporate services, as well as leading on Digital Strategy and transformation of services.
Prior to his appointment Paul served as the council’s Strategic Director of Children and Education Services, a position he has held since 2016. Since then Manchester’s Children Services has transformed from one that was judged by Ofsted in 2014 to be failing children to being judged as ‘good’ for the first time in 2022.
Paul is the council’s Armed Forces Lead, a fitting role considering his status as a veteran, having served in the Royal Artillery. In addition, as part of Paul’s wider responsibilities he is actively engaged with Government Departments and leads the Greater Manchester Youth Justice Transformation Board.
In the interim Sean McKendrick, Deputy Strategic Director of Children’s Services, will serve as the acting DCS until a full time successor is appointed.
Paul Marshall said: “I am incredibly privileged to have worked for the council for so many years and am truly proud to be taking up this new role as Deputy Chief Executive.
“I believe that there is huge potential in Manchester that if harnessed, will provide significant benefits from everyone who calls it home. I am now eager to take up a new challenge and play my part in realising this ambition.”
Joanne Roney, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council said: “Paul has shown through his years as Director of Children’s Services what an asset he is to our organisation and why he was the right choice to take up the vacant deputy chief executive position.
“He has shown his ability to make a positive change on a vital council service, as well as demonstrate the long term strategic view which is essential to drive the growth and future success of the council and the city. I have no doubt Paul will excel in his new role.”
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From left: David Warburton, Suzie Scott, Peter Hadfield
Manchester-based regeneration company, Urban Splash, has announced the appointment of three seasoned property colleagues to its business, each supporting its work across the country.
David Warburton joins as development director, bringing a wealth of experience from Homes England and the West Midlands Combined Authority. The role is David’s second stint at Urban Splash following his secondment in 2020. He will now focus on the delivery of large-scale regeneration schemes, notably delivering a £750m redevelopment initiative with Swansea Council that will see Urban Splash work on across various sites in the city.
He said: “I had the pleasure of working with the company for a year from 2020 to 2022 as part of a secondment from Homes England. The company’s appetite for innovation hasn’t waned, and I’m incredibly excited to be back and ready to deliver innovative new neighbourhoods in Swansea and other parts of the country over the coming years.”
Other new appointments include asset manager Peter Hadfield who joins from Peel L&P to help promote and manage Urban Splash’s commercial portfolio and workspaces in Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield and Plymouth.
Suzie Scott also joins as Executive Assistant, supporting the directors and executive board. Suzie brings a wealth of sector experience to Urban Splash having worked with Sequre Property Investment, Pinnacle and Ascend Properties.
Urban Splash CEO, Julian Curnuck, said: “Our forward pipeline comprises over 5,000 new homes and over 500,000 sq ft of commercial space so we’ve been working behind the scenes – growing and investing in our team as we prepare to deliver those projects.
“Our newest colleagues each bring their own talents and brand of ambition and we are delighted to have them with us as we get ready to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
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From left: Elliott Kenton, Sarah Pennington, Nichola Halpin
Liverpool-based national law firm, Weightmans, has welcomed three new partners to its teams in London and Liverpool.
In regulatory, Elliott Kenton will work with colleagues in health and safety and transport to grow the firm’s offering across the south east, while Nichola Halpin joins the healthcare team in the north west and will work specifically with NHS Trusts to help them grow and develop their legal practices.
Sarah Pennington joins Weightmans as a partner specialising in residential property matters and will be based in the real estate department in the London office.
Dewi Ap-Thomas, partner and head of regulatory, said: “Elliott’s arrival at Weightmans signals a pivotal gear change for the regulatory department.”
Welcoming Nichola to the firm, Richard Jolly, partner and head of health at Weightmans, said: “This is another significant appointment for the health segment and comes on the back of several key hires and big client wins in recent months. I am delighted to welcome Nichola back to the firm where she began her career over 15 years ago. She will play an integral part in the continued growth of the segment.”
Nichola began her legal career with Weightmans in 2008, where she trained for almost seven years. She has since held roles as head of legal services at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and general counsel at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Her appointment further strengthens the expertise in the healthcare segment and follows other top hires including Ben Troke earlier this year.
Commenting on Sarah’s appointment, partner and head of private wealth, Jon Shankland, said: “This is an excellent hire for our already leading property team in London.”
Also in London, Andrew Krausz becomes equity partner. Since joining Weightmans in 2018, Andrew set up the aviation team in the city but is now providing work for colleagues in Manchester and other offices.
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Seventy7 new starters
Seventy7, a creative content agency spanning three offices around the globe including Manchester, London and Mumbai, has added seven new team members.
They are: Jess Jepson-Newby, Joe Clarke, Kieran Wilson, Georgina Flores-Laird, Mimi Barlow, Will Hilton and Kerena Bamrolia.
CEO, Jayne Riley, said: “We are thrilled to welcome these exceptional individuals to the seventy7 team.
“Their diverse talents and fresh perspectives and energy will undoubtedly contribute to our continued success and innovation in the digital marketing and photographic space.
“With their expertise on board, we are poised to achieve new heights and continue to exceed the expectations of our clients.”
