People: Buttress Architects; North West Business Leadership Team; Victrex; Ascend; Sapphire

Grant Prescott

Buttress also promoted Grant Prescott who celebrates 20 years at the practice this month, a conservation architect who specialises in the sensitive restoration and redevelopment of historic and listed buildings. Jenna, who has been at Buttress over 11 years, leads the Heritage Consultancy team supporting clients to deliver projects with historic environment considerations.

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Charlie Louet

The North West Business Leadership Team has welcomed Charlie Louët, Deputy Managing Director of Equans Sci-Tech, as a new member of the organisation, bringing to the group significant experience in energy, infrastructure, industrial development and highly regulated environments.

Based in Manchester, he leads strategic development and growth across Equans Sci-Tech, a specialist design, engineering and delivery partner supporting clients in life sciences, advanced manufacturing, defence and other mission-critical sectors. His work focuses on supporting investment, enabling innovation and delivering complex projects in sectors undergoing significant technological and industrial transformation.

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Ian Melling is to step down as Chief Financial Officer of Victrex and as a member of the Board. A search for a Chief Financial Officer is in progress. 

Separately, Andrew Ng has joined as Chief Commercial Officer and Daniel Diffenderfer has joined as Managing Director, Medical.

Michael Koch, Managing Director, Sustainable Solutions, Jane Brisley, General Counsel, and Andrew Hanson, Director of Investor Relations, Corporate Communications and ESG, have each decided to leave the Company with effect from 31 July 2026.

James Routh, Chief Executive Officer, said: “I would like to thank Ian, Michael, Jane, and Andrew for their contribution to Victrex and for their support in helping me integrate successfully during my first 7 months as CEO. I wish them all the very best for the future. With a new leadership team now embedded, I look forward to setting out our strategy and priorities at the upcoming Capital Markets Event in September.”

On the board ​Peter Kiernan has joined as a Non-Executive Director, soon to be joined by Maria Antoniou who will succeed Janet Ashdown as Chair of the Remuneration Committee on 1 October 2026. ​Janet Ashdown and Brendan Connolly will retire from the Board at the conclusion of the Company’s AGM in February 2027, having each completed nine years’ service.

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Andrew Seldon

Manchester-based property manager Ascend strengthening its senior management team with the appointment of Andrew Seldon as Head of Operations.

Andrew arrives with considerable senior experience across the residential property sector, inlcuding lettings, property management and business operations. In his new role he will be working on further improving Ascend’s market-leading lettings and property management operations.

Ascend holds management mandates with leading institutional investors and oversees around two thirds of the entire UK SFR asset class, alongside wider living sector instructions. Ascend Living, the firm’s unique ‘white label’ resident-facing brand is one of the UK’s largest operators of institutional living assets, providing investors with a turnkey identity for unbranded platforms. More than 4,000 homes across the UK, from a variety of portfolios, are operated under the Ascend Living name.

Paul Stockwell, Chief Executive Officer of Ascend’s parent company Alvesta Living Group, said:“Ascend has long led the market in its operational excellence, and part of that success has been underpinned by identifying and securing new talent to drive further improvements to our team. As we continue to see significant growth and attract new instructions, Andrew’s arrival represents a significant strengthening of our senior team, and his expertise and insight will be vital in driving our operational platform to ever greater heights.”

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Chris Bloor

Chris Bloor, Compliance Director at Sapphire, the global operations partner for recruitment businesses, has been appointed to the board of the Freelancer & Contractor Services Association (FCSA).

Having joined the FCSA’s member council in 2023, Chris’s appointment comes at a time of increased regulatory and compliance changes for recruitment agencies and umbrella companies, with the Employment Rights Acts and establishment of the Fair Work Agency expanding employment protections and standardising pay transparency across the industry.

In his role, he will be focused on furthering the work of the FCSA by championing high standards of compliance, transparency and ethnical practices.

For Sapphire, this will also help to bolster its work across the global recruitment sector, reinforcing its commitment to compliance, transparency, worker protection and industry leadership.

Chris Bloor, Compliance Director at Sapphire, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how important the umbrella industry is to the supply chain and equally how much change they have experienced in recent years. Throughout this, I’ve been committed to ensuring the industry can best navigate compliance, while allowing them to scale sustainably in the long-term.

“By joining the FCSA board, I’ll be able to bring a strong voice to the sector, combining my experience across umbrella companies of varying sizes with an understanding of operational, commercial and compliance challenges. This is all ensuring that our proposition at Sapphire continues to support the global recruitment agency sector, sharing knowledge and providing industry leading support and advice.”

Mark Connor, CEO at Sapphire, added: “Chris’ appointment to the FCSA reflects the expertise, integrity and leadership he brings to Sapphire and the wider industry. His experience across umbrella companies of all sizes means he’ll bring a strong understand and represent the wider industry in policy discussions. As we continue to grow Sapphire, this also ensures we have a presence at board level and that we remain a trusted global partner to the recruitment industry.”

Founded in 2008, the FCSA supports and represents the professional employment services sector. It is the UK’s leading membership body for umbrella employers, contractor accountants and CIS payroll services providers with over 70 member firms who support more than 200,000 contractors.