People: Reward Finance; Plus Dane; Bertazzoni; H&H Land & Estates; We Do Business Services; Champion Accountants
Reward Finance Group has strengthened its North West team by promoting Harriet Gibbs as the company’s first sales director, to drive forward business growth and deliver high-performance funding.
Harriet, who has more than 10 years’ experience in the finance sector and has been part of the Reward team since 2021, will lead the sales team at its Manchester office. She will play a key role in expanding the lender’s introducer and broker network, and work to build stronger connections with customers.
Harriet will also be responsible for developing and executing the company’s sales strategy, with the aim of doubling lending capabilities in the region over the next few years. She will help launch the upcoming expanded product offering.
She said: “Over the last three years I have worked shoulder to shoulder with clients and colleagues at the forefront of the industry, and I’m looking to build on this in my new role with an ambitious and energetic team behind me.”
Steve Noble, Reward’s regional managing director, said: “It is a very exciting time at Reward, and this investment in the team allows us to better help entrepreneurial people and businesses thrive.
“Reward has set the standard in alternative finance by creating dependable funding through an expert team, and Harriet will be driving that even further.”
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Angela Needham
Plus Dane, the Liverpool-based housing group, has appointed Angela Needham to its board as a customer with lived experience of its services.
Angela, from Cheshire, was formerly the chair of the housing association’s Customer Assurance Panel, or CAP.
She has nearly 20 years’ experience of working within housing, latterly working with all local authorities and housing associations in the UK as Operations Manager for a tenant mobility service, and has been part of a senior management team reporting directly to the Housing Minister.
The Lived Experience Board member role is part of Plus Dane’s ongoing commitment to making sure the customer voice is heard and represented throughout the organisation.
Angela took up the role at the start of August, as well as a seat on the Purpose Committee, which is focused on overseeing the organisation’s key business functions and delivery of its social purpose, while making sure the needs of current and future customers are at the heart of its decision-making.
Alison Horner, director of governance at Plus Dane, welcomed Angela, saying: “As a board member with lived experience of being a Plus Dane customer along with her housing background, she will be able to provide a valuable insight into the effect of Plus Dane’s policies and services on customers.”
Angela Needham said: “From my role on the Customer Assurance Panel I have seen that Plus Dane is committed to hearing the voice of its customers in how it shapes its policies and services. As a board member I look forward to working with colleagues to ensure the customer remains at the forefront of all Plus Dane’s activities.”
Amanda Graham (another CAP member), and David Foxcroft have been appointed independent members of the Purpose Committee. Amanda has been a shared owner tenant with Plus Dane since 2019 and David has significant experience of being a board member and a background in areas such as retail, local government and housing.
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Paul Whyte
Prenton-based premium Italian kitchen appliance brand, Bertazzoni, has recruited Paul Whyte to the newly-created position of commercial director.
Established in 2017, Bertazzoni UK has grown steadily, expanding its customer base and retailer network in the process.
Paul’s appointment is set to take the business to the next level, applying skills and knowledge accumulated through countless years of white goods experience.
Having held positions at Comet, Indesit Group, Glen Dimplex and AO.com, the former group purchasing director has extensive knowledge across the entire white goods spectrum.
Paul said: “The company has so much untapped potential, as well as fleet of foot flexibility and I’m energised by the prospect of working with the team to explore just what the business is capable of.”
Maurizio Severgnini, managing director at Bertazzoni UK, said: “This high calibre appointment demonstrates our commitment to solidifying and strengthening our position in the UK market.
“Matching great products with a fantastic person is a true recipe for success and I’m looking forward to navigating the future together.”
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Jonathan Hird
H&H Land & Estates has promoted Jonathan Hird to the position of Associate Director.
Jonathan, who began his career with Carlisle-based H&H Land & Estates as a placement student in 2015 and returning as a graduate surveyor in 2017, brings a wealth of experience and a deep-rooted connection to the agricultural sector.
Growing up on a beef and sheep farm on the edge of the Lake District and now living on a farm near Wigton, Cumbria, Jonathan’s background and expertise have made him an invaluable member of the team.
Jonathan said, “I’m very happy. I’ve been here since my placement year in 2015, so I’m very much a part of the furniture now. My day-to-day job won’t change massively, but I am looking forward very much to being more involved with supporting the team and helping those who are looking to progress their careers with us.”
Thomas Armstrong, Director & Chartered Surveyor at H&H Land & Estates, said: “Jonathan has been a key part of our success and his promotion to Associate Director is well deserved. He brings not only professional expertise but also a deep personal commitment to rural life and the challenges faced by our clients. He has been a great role model for everyone here and his insight and leadership will continue to be a tremendous asset to our team.”
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Sam Wilson, left, and Eileene Hardy
The WeDo Business Services group has made two key hires to support its expansion strategy.
Sam Wilson has joined as chief commercial officer, taking responsibility for the group’s sales functions with a focus on securing new business and maintaining and growing relationships with key partners.
Eileene Hardy has been appointed as business development manager to support the sales team as WeDo looks to expand into new sectors.
Both are new national roles for the group. Sam and Eileene are based at WeDo’s head office in Oldham.
They have more than 45 years’ combined experience in the banking industry and the commercial finance sector, including invoice finance and asset-based lending.
Both have joined from 4Syte, where Sam was regional managing director and Eileene was business development manager.
The WeDo group provides invoice and trade finance, asset finance, loans and start-up funding, as well as accountancy, HR, back-office and IT services.
Joint chief executives, Mark Lindsay and Chris Robinson, founded WeDo in 2019 with just four staff, and the business has grown through organic expansion and acquisition. It currently has more than 70 staff based in Oldham and its network of offices.
In the past year, WeDo has launched its asset finance and loans divisions and has welcomed James Broadhead, a former chief executive of Close Brothers Motor Finance, as its new chairman.
Mark said: “Sam and Eileene have enjoyed long and successful careers in the finance sector and have excellent reputations, and they will play pivotal roles in helping us to achieve our goals.
“Sam’s knowledge and experience will be invaluable to the team, and her leadership qualities will help to drive the business forward and develop the team in her charge.
“Eileene’s expertise in banking and invoice finance and managing relationships with SMEs, alongside her financial analytical and lending skills, will enhance our business development team in targeting clients across a wider spectrum of sectors.”
Sam said: “This is an ideal time to join WeDo, as the company is growing in staff and client numbers. It has a solid product offering which fits perfectly with my experience, and I’m looking forward to contributing to the group’s journey.”
Eileene said: “I’m really excited to join the team at WeDo. I hope to further enhance its invoice finance offering and support the existing business development team as we look to the future.”
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Jake Edwards and Fahim Ashraf
Champion Accountants has bolstered its thriving audit team with the appointment of two talented audit professionals, Fahim Ashraf and Jake Edwards.
The appointments follow significant growth in Champion’s audit arm, after the group recorded a 31% revenue increase in its audit services in 2023, compared with the same period in 2022.
Possessing several years of accounting experience from Greater Manchester firms, much of it delivering audits, Fahim joins Champion’s Manchester HQ as audit and accounts senior, while the appointment of Jake Edwards as audit and accounts semi-senior adds further depth to the team’s audit function.
Fahim said: “It’s been fantastic to become part of the Champion team. In the short time since I joined, I’ve been able to put my experience to use while also benefitting from the extensive expertise of my new colleagues.”
Jake said: “Joining the audit team will help me achieve my personal goal of making an impact on businesses in our region. I’m also very much looking forward to embracing the diversity of the clients that Champion represents.”
Mark Turner, audit partner at Champion Accountants, said: “There is a real shortage of audit talent in our industry, and we’re thrilled to have Fahim and Jake joining us as skilled, experienced professionals.”
