Appointments: Avalon; Forbes; DSW & more

WILMSLOW-based Avalon, a provider of pre-paid funeral plans, has appointed Mike Emery to lead its UK sales operation.

Mr Emery joins the private-equity-backed company from Emerco Business Services and brings more than 25 years’ experience in developing and leading sales teams to the role.

Commenting on his new posotion he said: “Avalon is an ambitious company with a real determination to succeed. The business offers a unique range of products that are popular with consumers in the UK and overseas.”

Steve Chambers, Avalo’s  chief executive added: “With his expertise and track record, Mike is an excellent addition to the Avalon team. His appointment is yet further evidence of our determination to maintain our growth trajectory, and strengthen our position in the pre-arranged funeral market.”

Avalon’s products are available in the UK, Spain, Cyprus, Turkey, Malta, Portugal and Tenerife.

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LANCASHIRE law firm Forbes has beefed-up its wills, probate, tax and trusts department with the appointment of solicitor Kirsty McNulty.

Kirsty, who is originally from Nottingham, joins from BBE Law where she spent the last five years. She qualified as a solicitor earlier this year after completing her studies at UcLan.

Victoria Motley, head of the team said: “Kirsty’s appointment strengthens our department and allows us to continue to offer a high level of specialist advice throughout the region.”

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DOW Schofield Watts, the corporate finance advisory and equity finance firm based in Daresbury and with an office in Leeds, has  expanded its transaction services team in Yorkshire with the appointment of Rob McCarthy as a partner.

He joins DSW after spending a number years in North America, where he continued to build a successful career as an M&A adviser with KPMG and latterly working in a senior finance role with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. 
 
Roger Esler, who leads the firm’s corporate finance team in Yorkshire and the North East said: “Rob’s appointment reflects our ambition and ongoing investment in the region and further reinforces our high quality, distinctive partner-led offering. This is an exciting time for Rob to be joining the firm – the M&A market continues to gather momentum and finance is increasingly available for businesses seeking to implement strategic plans or facilitate ownership succession. We plan to invest further across all of our specialist corporate finance services.”
 
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MANCHESTER digital agency Corporation Pop has recruited three new staff on the back of what it says has been a record year of trading.

The new hires are: senior developer Chris Baker, who has joined from Uniform in Liverpoo; developer Rich Jones and senior digital designer Mike Stanley.
 
Dom Raban, managing director at Corporation Pop said: “It’s great to welcome three new faces to the team. All have strong online skills honed over many years, so they will strengthen our existing specialism of mixing strong design with technology expertise to provide digital solutions that not only work, but look good too.”

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LEGAL firm Harrison Drury has added experinced commercial property team lawyer Amanda Marwood to its Lancashire team.

She joins the firm as an associate after four years with Thomson Hayton Winkley in Cumbria. Previously she worked for Temple Heelis, also based in Cumbria. She is based at Harrison Drury’s Garstang office.

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ACCIDENT accident repair group Karl Vella has appointed Ian Ramsden as general manager of its Skelmersdale body shop.
 
Apart from a year in New Zealand, Mr Ramsden, 37,  from Bury, has spent the whole of his working life involved with the body shop industry.
 
He said: “This site has expanded so much.  It’s experienced massive change and I’m here to play my part in keeping it stable while it moves forward.”