Appointments: Paver Smith; Cushman & Wakefield & more

LIVERPOOL PR agency Paver Smith has appointed former Trinity Mirror executive Sara Wilde as its new managing director.

Ms Wilde, formerly commercial managing director at newspaer group, has also taken a “substantial shareholding” in the business and plans to grow its small London office.

Agency founder Dougal Paver remains a major shareholder while Paver Smith’s non-executive chairman, David Heal, and current managing partner, Jon Brown, have increased their shareholdings.

Paver Smith said former agency director and shareholder Martyn Best, had left to concentrate on his other business interests.

Ms Wilde said: “The agency’s owners have a shared vision about what they want to achieve and it quickly became clear that their ambitions chimed with my own aspirations.

“Our focus is to continue to deliver the very best in integrated communications to our clients in the North West and to continue to recruit and retain the brightest and best people.”

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COMMERCIAL real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield has formally appointed Mark Walsh as head of its Manchester office.  

Mr Walsh, who joined C&W in 2005 as a partner, leads its occupier representation team and has been running the office since late last year.

Commenting on his new role Mr Walsh said: “We have been very encouraged by the recent changes in the market and as a team we have won some very high profile new instructions this year so we needed to recruit to ensure that we can continue to offer the highest level of professional service that our clients have come to expect.”

“Since I first took over the management of the Manchester office in  November we have boosted our team to 31 members of staff following five new appointments and will be continuing to add to our team in the coming months.  Our turnover is steadily growing and we are confident that the next 12 months will prove to be very positive for our office

The Manchester property and asset management department has also boosted its team. Tiffany Rushall has joined as a regional facilities manager and Greg Archer will join from GVA as a senior surveyor.

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FAST-growing law firm Darbys has made another senior appointment at its North West office.

Paul Basger has joined the corporate team as a partner having previously worked in Manchester city centre for gunnercooke.

Managing partner Simon McCrum said: “Paul is a good man, a good lawyer, and a good businessman. We are delighted to have him and his clients on board. We had huge plans to establish Darbys as a presence in the North West legal and commercial scene – we have surpassed our aspirations and as well as Paul there is more on the way.”

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SWEDISH-owned Bury-based safety seal manufacturer Roxtec has appointed Phil Ridley as an engineering, procurement and construction manager.

The 51-year-old, who has had a 30 year career in industry replaces the recently retired Mike Elkins.

Roxtec UK managing director Graham O’Hare said: “Phil is a highly experienced professional and is regarded as an industry expert.

“Roxtec’s UK operation plays a vital role in growing the company worldwide and we are looking to Phil to reinforce our energetic and ambitious growth campaign.”