People: Informed Solutions; EET Fuels; Salford Uni; 18 St John St Chambers; Anwyl; People’s History Museum; GSC Grays
Manchester-based Informed Solutions has appointed digital technology specialist, Jude Williams, as Director of Healthcare and Life Sciences.
This senior addition follows significant UK healthcare growth over the past 24 months alongside Informed’s growing international focus across healthcare, public safety, environmental management, and transport across public and private sectors.
Bringing a wealth of experience in data and analytics, Jude joins Informed Solutions from Cognizant, where she led its UK&I practice for Data, AI & Analytics.
Jude’s healthcare background includes experience as an oncology statistician for Astra Zeneca, and significant healthcare leadership roles within IT software and tech services companies, including Microsoft and Talend.
She said: “I’m excited by the opportunity to develop digital and data solutions that help make the world a smarter, safer, cleaner, and healthier place.”
Informed UK CEO, Seth Finegan, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Jude to Informed, supporting the sustainable scaling of our healthcare and life sciences offering both domestically and internationally.”
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Naresh Nayyar
EET Fuels – the trading name of Essar Oil (UK), – has welcomed Naresh Nayyar back to the company’s board of directors as Non-Executive Director. The appointment was agreed on October 2, 2024.
Renowned for steering multibillion-dollar projects and orchestrating turnarounds, Naresh is a seasoned expert in oil and gas market development. Naresh’s career includes pivotal roles as Chief Executive and Managing Director of Essar Oil Limited – then India’s second largest private oil company – and Chief Executive of Essar Energy Plc UK, then a FTSE 100 energy company.
A Chartered Accountant and an alumnus of the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (Ahmedabad), Naresh’s industry prowess is augmented by specialised education, including the Advanced Financial Management Programme in Oil and Gas from the University of Texas, Dallas, USA.
Prashant Ruia, Chair EET Fuels, said: “I am pleased to welcome Naresh back to EET Fuels at this pivotal time for our business. We are on track to make Stanlow the world’s first decarbonised process refinery with a 95% cut in emissions and I look forward to working with Naresh to deliver on this ambition.”
Naresh said: “It is great to be back at EET Fuels and help steer the company as we create a leading UK energy transition hub.”
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Suzanne Robinson
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, Suzanne Robinson, has been appointed by the University of Salford’s Business School as an Honorary Industry Fellow.
Suzanne, who is a Salford alumna after graduating from the university in 2001, joins the School to help foster the next generation of talent in the region, while opening their eyes to a career in healthcare finance.
She said: “I have a huge amount of gratitude to the university, as a result of how much the team helped me to pursue the career I now love. It’s now my opportunity to give something back and to do the same for the students in the very same position I was back when I was stuck at a crossroads on my career route.”
During her time at Salford, Suzanne studied BSc Accounting and Finance. She now leads the finance provision within Greater Manchester’s Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, which comprises 7,000 staff members and supports more than 100,000 service users across Greater Manchester, including Salford.
Dr Francine Morris, Associate Dean for Enterprise and Engagement at Salford Business School, said: “Having already delivered a series of guest lectures for us, we’re excited to have Suzanne elevate this through internships, placements and graduate opportunities, bolstering students’ CVs while further enhancing their career prospects. Seeing Suzanne’s career journey, further highlights to our students what they can achieve.”
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Mukul Chawla KC
Manchester-based 18 St John Street Chambers has announced that Mukul Chawla KC has joined chambers as a door tenant.
Mukul is a white collar crime and criminal silk who is a leader in his field with a reputation as being one of the finest advocates of his generation. He specialises in complex financial litigation of a criminal and regulatory nature. In 2015 he was awarded the prestigious Chambers & Partners UK Bar “Crime Silk of the Year” award.
Mukul has experience in prosecuting and defending the most serious allegations of fraud, corruption and allegations of insider dealing. He advises companies and individuals on a wide range of criminal and regulatory matters including Financial Services, compliance with the Bribery Act 2010, internal investigations, export and trade control compliance and anti money-laundering compliance.
He is instructed in all areas of serious criminal law, defending and prosecuting in equal measures in cases including homicide, offences against the person, Health & Safety, breaches of export controls and offences of dishonesty.
Head of 18 St John Street Chambers Criminal Department, Richard Vardon, said: “Mukul Chawla KC is a prominent silk with a national and international reputation that speaks for itself. It is a fabulous achievement to attract Mukul to Chambers and we look forward to working with him in the future.”
Richard Chapman KC, Head of Chambers, said: “Mukul is a fantastic addition to Chambers. His work profile, experience and approach are outstanding and make him a perfect fit for our Criminal Department, which continues to go from strength to strength.”
Mukul Chawla KC said: “I am delighted to be joining 18 St John Street and working with some of the very talented members of Chambers”
He will continue to practise from his London set, Foundry Chambers.
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Tom Grundy
Switching from professional rugby league to quantity surveying, has led to Tom Grundy tackling his biggest role yet – as Anwyl’s new managing director for Cheshire and North Wales.
It’s Tom’s second stint with the homebuilder, following a short time as MD at Eurogold. Tom, from Appleton, Warrington, was previously commercial director for Anwyl Lancashire.
He said: “It’s a privilege to take on this role and lead such a great group of people. My focus is building on our success across all areas of the business, from construction quality and commercial processes to sales and customer service levels, while ensuring a strong pipeline of new land acquisitions.”
Tom has worked in construction since joining Barratt Homes as a trainee quantity surveyor in 2008.
Tom said: “I joined Anwyl Homes in 2017 as a founding member of the Lancashire region. My role developed in line with the growth of the business and I was made group commercial director in 2021.”
Keen to develop his career further, Tom joined Liverpool-based groundworks and civil engineering contractors Eurogold last year, before taking up an offer to return to Anwyl, as managing director, this time based in Ewloe, Flintshire, within the Cheshire and North Wales region.
Tom played professional rugby league for Warrington, Leigh Leopards, and Swinton Lions.
Anwyl’s Cheshire and North Wales division has 11 live developments across Cheshire, Shropshire, Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Conwy, where homes are currently on sale. Work has just started work at two new developments; Dalton Fields, in Chorlton, Greater Manchester, and Lottie Gardens on the Wirral.
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Clare Barlow
Clare Barlow has been announced as the new Director for People’s History Museum (PHM) in Manchester.
Clare joins PHM from the Foundling Museum in London, where she was Director of Programmes and Audiences. She brings a wealth of experience and vision to the national museum of democracy, having worked at leading cultural institutions and museums including Science Museum, Wellcome Trust, Tate and the National Portrait Gallery.
In 2017 Clare curated the highly acclaimed exhibition Queer British Art, 1861-1967 at Tate Britain and in 2019 opened Being Human, a new permanent gallery at Wellcome Collection that was shortlisted for the Arts + Heritage award for Permanent Exhibition of the Year.
In all her work she has placed considerable emphasis on how museums can better engage with themes of identity, justice and equality.
Bernard Donoghue, Chair of People’s History Museum, said: “Clare has incredible experience of programming ground-breaking exhibitions from roles at world class museums. In all of her work Clare’s values of inclusivity, social justice and providing platforms for unheard voices shine through, and fit seamlessly with PHM’s mission and vision.”
Clare Barlow said: “I fell in love with People’s History Museum on my first visit, seven years ago, and I’ve been back many times since to see their superb exhibitions and spectacular collections. I’ve been inspired by their work with community experts on LGBTQIA+ rights, disabled people’s rights and stories of migration, projects that have been beacons to the sector.”
Clare follows in the footsteps of Katy Ashton, who was Director of People’s History Museum for 14 years during a period that saw the museum expand to its current location in Manchester’s Spinningfields, where it occupies a purpose-built space combined with a Grade II-listed Edwardian building. Katy is now Head of Culture and Place Marketing at Sheffield City Council.
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Lauren Dennison
Sean Penellum, who formerly headed the property department at Ulverston Auction Mart, and Lauren Dennison, have joined the GSC Grays team at the Kirkby Lonsdale office as the company continues its expansion in the North West of England.
Sean is a rural land agent and senior surveyor, having graduated from Harper
Adams University with a degree in Rural Enterprise and Land Management. He grew up on a sheep and beef hill farm in South Cumbria, where he remains actively involved, including contributing to the agri-environmental schemes introduced over the past 30 years.
He said: “I am very excited to join GSC Grays who are one of the most respected and well known rural land and property experts in the North of England. Local knowledge and expertise are a real strength of the company.”
Sean Penellum
Lauren, who joined GSC Grays as a graduate trainee in 2021, has been working from the company’s offices in Colburn and Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire.
Having relocated to the North West, Lauren will now be working from the Kirkby Lonsdale and Penrith offices as part of the expanded regional Farm Business Department.
Guy Coggrave, Managing Director, GSC Grays, said “Sean brings a wealth of expertise to the team with his in-depth understanding of the local area. Lauren will use her experience to deliver farm business advice, including all aspects of financial forecasting and cost of production analysis, as well as assisting clients when applying for, and managing Environmental Stewardship agreements and Capital Grants.”
