Appointments: Goldcrest; Fairhursts; Dewhurst Torevell; Aquarius, Napthens
MANCHESTER lender Goldcrest has recruited a senior banker to head its trade finance division as it embarks on an expansion programme.
Mark McGuire has joined the Manchester-based company from Royal Bank of Scotland where he spent four years as a senior corporate manager.
The qualified chartered accountant previously worked at Deloitte and Davenham Trade Finance.
In his new role as managing director of Goldcrest’s trade finance division, he will spearhead plans to double its lending to £20m a year over the next two years. It typically lends between £250,000 and £500,000.
Mr McGuire takes over as MD of the trade finance division from Ravi Chawla, who becomes group managing director of Goldcrest. Goldcrest also operates a property finance arm which currently has a loan book of £17m. The group, which employs 12 staff, is based at Bartle House, Oxford Court.
Mr McGuire said: “I’m delighted to join Goldcrest at a time when the outlook for business growth at last appears to be improving. Goldcrest offers facilities that can help SMEs to expand by removing cash constraints, and I believe there are good foundations in place from which to grow our business.”
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THE Fairhursts Design Group (FDG), an architects firm with its head office in Manchester, has strengthened its senior team with the appointment of Caroline Richards as an executive associate.
Richards, previously at Devereux Architects, has over 15 years’ experience designing and delivering projects spanning the commercial, regeneration, research, education and healthcare sectors. She spent five years in Hong Kong as well as working for clients across the UK, Ireland, France and St Helena.
She said: “FDG is an award winning practice with an enviable client list and I look forward to the challenges ahead.”
FDG was established in 1896 and is managed by a board of five directors – Ian Fitton, Denver Humphrey, Richard Sagar, Ian Chapman and Eddie Fell. It has offices in both Manchester and Southampton as well as ventures in the UAE, France and China. Projects designed by FDG include the MediaCity UK Studios Building for Peel Media, The University of Salford’s new digital learning, teaching and research centre at MediaCityUK, and Robinson’s Brewery Visitor Centre in Stockport.
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DEWHURST Torevell, the Manchester wealth manager, has made a number of new appointments.
Finance director Martyn Torevell becomes joint managing director with Phillip Dewhurst while Phil Shaw joins the main board from the position of assistant director.
Senior managers, Emma Holden, Steve Hughes and Steve Jordan, have become assistant directors.
Georgina Ogilvie-Jones joins the company as a specialist investment manager after spells with McKinsey and UBS in London and New York. She will be responsible for the company’s research and presentation programme.
Chairman Alan Torevell said: “The mainstay of our business has been the maintenance of high quality service and we are responding to the opportunities arising from the Retail Distribution Review. These are the reasons behind the board changes and the hiring of Georgina Ogilvie-Jones, who will develop our independent investment research which has been an important part of the company’s service to clients.”
The company was formed in 1997 and is based at Oxford Court.
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SOLICITOR Matthew Tomlinson has joined the specialist business recovery team at Preston law firm Napthens having previously worked for DLA Piper and Addleshaw Goddard in Manchester.
Tomlinson has experience of insolvency and corporate recovery issues including restructuring, advising lenders on security and enforcement matters and acting on the disposal and acquisition of insolvent businesses.
Head of business recovery Jane Haymes said: “The nature of our work is such that decisions have to be made quickly in order to minimise risks and maximise the options available. Matthew will further enhance our service offering and will work closely with our colleagues in our corporate and litigation support teams to ensure the best possible outcome for clients.”
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AQUARIUM Software of Hale in Cheshire has appointed lawyer Neil Myerson as a non-executive director.
The firm said it wanted to utilise his “considerable experience” gained in over 30 years running his own commercial law practice in Manchester.
“This should ensure Aquarium gets it right first time when supporting existing professional service clients, and is ahead of the game when creating compelling new propositions for prospective clients,” said the company.
Mr Myerson is a trained mediator and in addition to his ongoing work as a consultant, he is also a member of the board of governors of the University of Bolton.
He said: “The company’s growth in clients from the insurance, legal and professional service sectors demonstrates that Aquarium is already doing something right and I am looking forward to seeing what I can add to the mix.”
