People: First Choice Homes Oldham; Metro Bank; NW Mutual; Global Business Group; Leasing.com; Weightmans
First Choice Homes Oldham’s (FCHO) latest senior leadership appointment is now in post as Jayne Lawson takes up the role of executive director of customer experience.
Jayne started in her new position at the beginning of this month as chief executive Mark Gifford continues to strengthen his senior team.
This latest announcement follows the recent permanent appointment of FCHO’s new executive director of homes, Steve Agger.
Jayne has extensive experience within the housing sector since she started out as a housing officer aged just 16.
Since then, she has worked in a variety of roles including anti-social behaviour, income and financial inclusion. Her strengths lie in connecting with people, problem solving and innovation to provide excellent customer and colleague experience.
She said: “I’m looking forward to getting to know our customers and colleagues, using my housing and customer experience to make sure First Choice Homes Oldham is both a landlord and employer of choice.”
Mr Gifford said: “Jayne will be pivotal in delivering our customer experience strategy in the years to come as it leads us to a future where increasing numbers of people are proud to be FCHO customers and would recommend us as their first choice landlord.”
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Louise Molloy
Metro Bank has appointed Paul Gaynor and Louise Molloy as commercial lending directors within the North West region.
Paul Gaynor has 36 years of banking experience and has spent the past two decades working in corporate and commercial lending, most recently at NatWest.
His new role will see him based out of the bank’s Manchester store where he will cover most of the North West. Paul will work with new and existing business customers with a turnover of £2-£25m looking to borrow between £0.5-£5m.
Louise Molloy brings more than 15 years’ lending and relationship management experience from a successful career at NatWest. Louise will be responsible for supporting SMEs in all sectors across the North West with debt requirements over £500,000 to achieve their growth ambitions. Louise will also help drive forward Metro Bank’s ambitions as a signatory to the Investing in Women Code.
Paul Gaynor
Mark Davies, director commercial banking at Metro Bank, said: “I’m thrilled to welcome Louise and Paul to Metro Bank. They are joining at a particularly exciting time in the Bank’s journey as we look to grow further and lend to more businesses in the North West and ahead of us opening two new stores in the North West this year.”
Paul Gaynor said: “Metro Bank’s relationship banking ethos really resonated with me and I’m excited to get started. The North West is full of inspirational business, entrepreneurs and with two new stores opening this year in Chester and Salford, I know we will be able to help and support many local businesses in their growth journey.”
Louise Molloy said: “I’m so happy to work for a lender which truly lives and breathes its relationship banking values particularly in the great work it does to support female entrepreneurs and female-led businesses.”
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Iwan Jones
Iwan Jones has been appointed chief financial officer of NW Mutual, a mutual bank with a proposed network of 60-plus branches to be owned by, based in, and for the people and small and medium-sized businesses of the North West.
A financial services executive with more than 30 years of experience, Iwan has worked at organisations including Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, NatWest, JP Morgan Chase and Deutsche Bank.
He has also been chief risk officer at Saffron Building Society, deputy financial director with Principality Building Society and, most recently, financial director at Monmouthshire Building Society.
The location of the headquarters of the mutual bank, headed by senior financial services executive, Dave Burke, is yet to be confirmed but will be in the North West and is due to open in the second quarter of 2025.
Dave said: “Iwan’s wealth of experience in banks and building societies will be invaluable to progressing our plan to provide a mutual bank owned by and dedicated to delivering services for the people and small and medium-sized businesses of the North West of England.”
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Bill Addy, CEO, Liverpool BID
Liverpool BID Company’s CEO, Bill Addy, has been made director of the Global Business Districts Innovation Club.
The GBD Innovation Club says it is the world’s most influential non-profit organisation dedicated to global business districts, with 14 member institutions from regions including Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo and Casablanca from Europe, America, Asia and Africa.
The international group will join Liverpool BID Company at MIPIM in Cannes this week to join a conversation on the role of commercial districts and business districts in post pandemic cities.
Bill Addy said: “Business Districts play a unique role in the modern city, connecting the private and the public sector to attract investment and shout about opportunity.”
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Mike Fazal
Stockport-based Leasing.com, the car leasing comparison website, has appointed Mike Fazal as CEO as part of a significant leadership transition.
Founder, Dave Timmis, has stepped down as CEO after 25 years at the helm, passing the reins to Fazal who will lead the company into its next phase of growth and innovation.
Since founding the business in 2000, Dave Timmis has overseen the development of the UK’s first leasing comparison site and helped drive the growth of the sector itself over the past two decades.
While stepping back from day-to-day operations, Dave will continue to play a vital role as founder, brand ambassador, and advisor, focusing on the company’s strategic direction and long-term vision.
Mike Fazal, a seasoned automotive executive with extensive leadership experience, brings deep financial and strategic expertise to his new role as CEO.
Dave Timmis said: “I am incredibly proud of what we have built over the past 25 years. With Mike’s leadership, Leasing.com is well positioned to drive further innovation and success. I look forward to supporting the business in my new capacity as we continue to shape the future of car leasing.”
Mike Fazal said: “It’s an honour to take on the position of CEO at such a pivotal time for Leasing.com. I am excited to lead this talented team and build on the strong foundations laid by Dave. Together, we will continue to evolve and deliver exceptional value to our users and partners.”
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From left: Lee Cook, Jessica Neary, Jen Hankinson
Liverpool-based national law firm, Weightmans, has welcomed three new partners to its Manchester office.
The healthcare litigation team is joined by Jessica Neary, formerly a partner at Hill Dickinson. Jessica specialises in clinical negligence litigation, representing both NHS Trusts and private medical providers.
Lee Cook joins the large loss team from Keoghs and will deal with complex injury claims on behalf of insurers, public bodies, and corporates, with a particular interest in functional neurological disorders. He also has a proven track record in cases involving fraud, securing notable findings of fundamental dishonesty in several high value claims.
Lee’s arrival follows the recent hires to the large loss team in Manchester of Luisa Lamb and Elizabeth Wallace.
Jen Hankinson joins the real estate team from Capsticks and brings with her extensive experience in the housing sector, with expertise in residential development and regeneration programmes. She is recognised both by her clients and in legal directories as a leading expert in her field.
Carole Spiller, partner and Manchester office head, said: “Our Manchester practice continues to grow and expand, and it is great to attract such highly experienced partners and legal practitioners to our office. They really are the best of the best in their respective fields and truly understand our client-first approach. I wish them all the best for the future.”
These latest appointments follow the announcement that Weightmans’ Manchester-based client relationships director, Sarah Walton, will assume the role of managing partner from April 2025, after current MP, John Schorah, hangs up his hat after 12 years in the role.
