People: Gilbanks; Franchise Brands; CBRE; Aaron & Partners; Placefirst; Freeths; Suprafilt; Hill Dickinson; Slater Heelis
Premium serviced office provider, Gilbanks, is supporting its growth plans with the appointment of Joanna Pawlikowski to the new role of head of commercial.
Joanna brings a wealth of experience, having held senior positions with flexible workspace providers in Australia for more than 10 years. As the company expands nationally, she will be responsible for business development and the commercial team.
Joanna said: “Gilbanks brings something unique to the market with exceptional workspaces designed for professional companies. The service the team provides is exemplary, and I look forward to supporting the company’s growth as it expands across the UK.”
Gilbanks is currently letting its latest 34,000 sq ft development in the £400m St Michael’s development in Manchester. It will create its largest community for office professionals to date and build on successful operations in Leeds and 11 York Street in Manchester city centre.
Alex Duckett, managing director of Gilbanks, said: “We have ambitious growth plans this year, and Joanna will play a key role in supporting our expansion. She brings a deep understanding of the market and a passion for our approach to supporting our customers.”
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Louise George
Macclesfield-based multi-brand franchise business, Franchise Brands said Louise George has joined the board as an independent Non-Executive Director. She is also appointed as Chair of the Audit Committee and will be a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees.
Louise is a highly experienced Chief Financial Officer with more than 20 years’ board-level experience with AIM-quoted companies including substantial experience of franchised businesses.
Between 2014 and 2024 she was CFO of Belvoir Group, (now part of The Property Franchise Group), one of the largest UK property franchise groups. She helped take the business, via a buy and build strategy, to a multi-brand franchise group of scale providing a range of complementary services to customers. Prior to that role, she was Finance Director and Company Secretary of Image Scan Holdings between 2002 and 2014.
Louise is a Chartered Accountant, having qualified with Ernst & Young in 1991. She is also a Chartered Governance Professional.
With the appointment of Louise, the plc board now comprises three executive directors, and four non-executive directors, of whom three are considered by the board to be independent.
Stephen Hemsley, executive Chairman, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Louise to the board of Franchise Brands as a non-executive director and Chair of the Audit Committee. Her substantial financial and board level experience combined with deep franchising experience will be particularly valuable given our strategic focus on integration, driving operational gearing and deleveraging.
“The appointment of an additional independent non-executive director is also supportive of our commitment to operate to high standards of corporate governance.”
Louise George said: “The group has a strong track record of delivery and has built an impressive portfolio of franchise brands of scale in the UK, US and Europe with significant growth potential. I look forward to bringing my financial and franchising experience to supporting the team in realising the group’s strategic ambitions, as it integrates the businesses it has acquired and deleverages.”
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Mike Shufflebottom
CBRE has appointed North West office sector expert, Matt Shufflebottom, as Director within its Manchester Office Agency team.
Matt joins after nine years with Knight Frank, where he was a Partner. He brings more than a decade of expertise within the North West office market, and will be focusing on office leasing and occupier mandates in his new role at CBRE.
Joe Rigby, MD North, CBRE said “This is a key appointment for us, as we plan to double down on the market following a record breaking year across the region. Matt’s appointment will further cement and support our growth plans within the office agency team and we welcome him at a time when the market is reaching a turning point and expected to gather pace and strength throughout the year.”
Matt said: “I’m excited to join CBRE and I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead. The Manchester team are market leaders in the office agency field and are renowned for providing best in class advice to our clients. I’m looking forward to adding my expertise to the team and building on their success.”
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Danielle Blaylock
Aaron & Partners has announced the appointment of Danielle Blaylock as a Senior Associate Solicitor to support the growth of its Contentious Trusts and Probate team.
The new hire joins from Liverpool-based Jackson Lees Group and brings extensive experience in contentious probate disputes, with particular expertise in cases involving the farming and agriculture sector.
Danielle will divide her time between the firm’s Chester and Wirral offices and help meet the increased demand from private clients regarding disagreements over trusts and complex probate matters.
She said: “I’m thrilled to join Aaron & Partners and be part of such a highly respected firm. The team’s reputation for excellence and their commitment to achieving the best outcomes for clients is something that resonated with me, and I’m excited to contribute to its continued success.”
James Wallace, Contentious Trusts & Probate Partner, said: “Her skills and experience are a perfect match for our department, and I have no doubt she’ll make an invaluable contribution to our clients and the firm as a whole.”
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Mark Hawley
Salford-based build to rent provider, Placefirst, has appointed Mark Hawley to the newly created role of Operations Director.
Having previously held the role of Operations Director at Bruntwood SciTech, which saw him lead on the mobilisation of Bruntwood’s largest developments and acquisitions, Mark brings with him a wealth of operational expertise.
Placefirst has transformed into one of the fastest-growing Single Family Housing developer-operators in the UK.
In 2025, Placefirst will complete five new developments, welcoming an additional 678 residents to its neighbourhoods – 30% more residents than last year.
This new role was developed specifically to support the acceleration of the growing business.
David Mawson, CEO at Placefirst, said: “Placefirst has seen remarkable growth in recent years. As we continue our transition from being a regional developer to establishing a nationwide presence, expanding our senior leadership team and refining our internal operations is essential.
“Mark’s proven expertise in scaling operations across both development and acquisitions will be key in ensuring we continue to grow efficiently while maintaining the quality of service our residents expect.”
Mark Hawley said: “This is a hugely exciting time to be joining the Placefirst team as their expansion across the UK progresses. With operational success being key in delivering this next phase of growth, I look forward to building on Placefirst’s existing reputation for creating and operating quality neighbourhoods.”
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Jake Pennington-Slater
National law firm Freeths has appointed Jake Pennington-Slater as its first in-house eDiscovery Manager in its Manchester office. He joins from Deloitte, where he supported the business at a global level.
Jake has more than nine years’ experience in the sector, progressing through digital forensics into eDiscovery. Jake’s expertise extends across the whole spectrum of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model, having supported on a large scale data collection in a global class action, to managing large document reviews with up to circa ten million documents.
Jake’s diverse and transferable range of eDiscovery skills will be invaluable to the wider Commercial Dispute Resolution (CDR) team, as he will work on mass litigation projects such as the Post Office Horizon scandal, and support with complex data challenges in the ever-growing and vast data landscape.
Nick Pryor, Director of Knowledge and Innovation, said: “eDiscovery sits at the core of how we innovate and optimise our dispute management services. Sourcing the technical expertise to support and enhance this key vertical is pivotal to our CDR growth plans, and to our GenAI strategy.”
Jake said: “I am thrilled to be joining Freeths, and I am very much looking forward to working on the firm’s breadth of legal engagements. I’m excited to see what challenges are ahead, and its great to see the commitment the firm has to its clients in providing a service that is second-to-none.”
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Hannah Nolan with Graeme Fielden and Jonathan Lord
Rossendale-based Suprafilt has announced its next managing director, who joined the business to help with filing more than 20 years ago and never left.
Operations director, Hannah Nolan, has been named as managing director designate, a role that will see her gradually lead the business into its next chapter.
She will work alongside current managing directors Graeme Fielden and Jonathan Lord as the transition takes place over the next few years.
Hannah joined Suprafilt as a graduate in 2004, initially working in the finance department in a temporary position.
But the opportunities she was given to grow and progress within the manufacturing business gave her a passion for the water industry.
The business, which was acquired by Essex-based Aerzen Machines in 2024, designs, manufactures and installs aeration systems for the wastewater treatment sector.
She said: “Graeme and Jonathan have always been very supportive of my progression at Suprafilt and given me opportunities to develop right the way through my career. I’ll be learning more from them over the coming year, getting more involved in the strategic direction of the business and making more decisions as we look to grow the business. I’m really excited about the role – it’s been on my radar for a while – and everyone else in the business has been really supportive.”
Graeme said: “One of the best parts of running a business is watching, helping and encouraging our young recruits develop and Hannah is a great example of someone who has risen to the top, meeting all the challenges set for her and taking on and thriving on more responsibility.
“Her knowledge in all aspects of our business and her level-headed approach make her the perfect person to take the company forward when me and Jonathan decide to hang up our hats, although we hope this will be later rather than sooner.”
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From left: Fiona Parry, Mark Gaffney, Kevin Lee
Liverpool-based international law firm, Hill Dickinson, has appointed Mark Gaffney, who has joined the firm’s Manchester office as a real estate partner.
With more than 23 years of partner-level experience, Gaffney brings extensive expertise in property development and regeneration, property joint ventures, public sector funding, leasing, management and portfolio transactions.
Over the past 10 years he has acted for a developer client (in a longstanding collaboration with Manchester City Council) to deliver circa £1bn of residential-led regeneration to transform the Ancoats and New Islington areas of Manchester.
He will continue to service property developers in his role at Hill Dickinson, both in the North West and nationally.
Joining from Squire Patton Boggs, Gaffney has acted for a number of public and private sector clients leading regeneration projects across England. He has also been recognised as one of the top real estate lawyers in the North West by both The Legal 500 UK and Chambers UK.
Fiona Parry, head of Business Services Group at Hill Dickinson, said: “Mark’s arrival at Hill Dickinson is the latest in a series of over 20 top quality lateral hires we have made firmwide in the past two years, adding capacity and depth to our overall legal services offering. And the market is sitting up and taking note. Mark’s addition to our national Real Estate team, and the clients he has brought with him, make him a valuable addition to our Manchester office.”
Darren Hamer, head of Manchester real estate at Hill Dickinson, said: “Mark’s appointment has come at a significant time for our real estate team, especially given the Government’s strong focus on delivering major regeneration projects over the next few years.
“Throughout his career, Mark has worked on a variety of projects and is recognised in the industry for his deep sector expertise. He will support us in providing industry-leading legal advice to our clients and we’re all excited that he’s become part of our team.
Mark Gaffney said: “Hill Dickinson is home to some of the top legal talent in the region so I’m proud to have joined its real estate team in Manchester. With the firm being in such an exciting period of growth, not just here but across the UK and internationally as well, this move gives me the platform to work with Hill Dickinson’s diverse client base and contribute further to expanding our team’s presence in the region.”
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From left: Danny Varhalamas, Rachel Fletcher, Chris Bishop
Slater Heelis has appointed Danny Varhalamas as its Chief Operating Officer (COO), a newly created position at the Manchester-based firm.
It said this strategic hire marks an exciting milestone in the firm’s history and will ensure its ambitious plans to further consolidate its standing as a leading legal services provider across the UK are realised.
With a vision for growth and innovation, Danny brings more than 20 years of experience in operational delivery, leadership, strategic development and transformational change having held senior roles across various industries and dynamic sectors.
Rachel Fletcher, Managing Partner at Slater Heelis, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Danny to the team. His proven track record both within and beyond the legal sector across a wide range of highly regulated and complex environments will be invaluable as we continue to expand our services and strengthen our position.”
Danny said: “I am excited to join Slater Heelis at such a pivotal moment in its journey. Having recently been acquired by Lawfront and the opportunities this brings with investment in technology, our people and our culture is a great launch platform for me.”
Axel Koelsch, Chief Operating Officer at Lawfront, said: ”Danny brings over two decades of operational and leadership experience and deeply understands the legal sector. This and his proven ability to deliver transformation will be key in driving long term success for Slater Heelis.”
With its head office in Sale, the firm offers a range of legal services to both private and business clients.
