Appointments: Manchester Digital; Bridging Finance & more
MANCHESTER Digital, the trade association for the region’s burgeoning digital sector, has promoted Katie Gallagher as its first managing director.
Previously business development director, she has been responsible for developing and delivering the organisation’s strategy for the past three years and also led the delivery of its talent and skills programme.
Tony Foggett, chairman of Manchester Digital and chief executive of Code Computerlove, said: “Katie has been leading the management of the organisation and has been the driving force behind the major shift of capability and activity level so appointing her as managing director was a logical step. The move represents the progress we have made in growing the organisation and the ambition we have to lead the thinking of digital in region.”
Katie Gallagher added: “Manchester Digital’s membership has grown by 30% during the three years that I have been with the organisation. We have continued to influence the digital sector and industry, helping set the skills agenda and shape government policy. Being managing director gives me greater autonomy to achieve the organisation’s goals.”
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BRIDGING Finance, the short term property lender, has strengthened its team with the appointment of three new recruits.
The Cheadle company, part of the Blemain Group, It has added three new business development managers tasked with growing the business across the UK. Ibrar Hussain, previously at Yorkshire Bank, will be responsible for servicing clients in Yorkshire; David Sides, previously at NatWest, will cover the West Midlands whilst Jason Fantini previously at West One Loans, will be covering London and the South East.
Chris Baguley, managing director at Bridging Finance, said: “It’s an exciting time for our business as we expand with a new office in London and take on new team members. All three recruits bring decades of experience to our team and I’m confident they have the talent to help us achieve our growth potential.”
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WATES Construction has appointed Christian Bailey as business development manager as it looks to grow its private sector activity.
Mr Bailey joins fromShepherd Construction and has more than 12 years’ industry experience working for the likes of McLaren and Wilmott Dixon in senior business development positions and at regional board level.
Tony Shenton, director for Wates Construction in the North West said: “Christian’s appointment forms part of our ambitious strategy for growth in the North and will serve to underpin our efforts to expand our private sector project portfolio.”
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CARL Cleaver has joined Southport manufacturer Lattimer as business development manager. He is targeting a sales drive in the nuclear, rail, defence, automotive and aerospace sectors.
Mr Cleaver, who has more than 25 years’ experience in the manufacture and supply of Tier 1 and OEM products to the automotive and other sectors, is excited about the challenge of broadening Lattimer’s reach.
He said: “The brief I have been given by Lattimer is a mouth-watering opportunity. More than 80% of the firm’s sales are currently within the niche bottled glass manufacturing sector.
“However, the level of skill and expertise the firm offers as an all-round precision machinist make it hugely attractive to other sectors.”
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UM Manchester, the media planning and buying operation of leading integrated marketing agency McCann Manchester, has strengthened its team with the appointment of Leigh Yoxall as head of broadcast.
Mr Yoxall will join the Macclesfield-based agency later this year and replaces Richard Johnston who left in the summer. He will lead the agency’s broadcast media account for fast-growing discount supermarket chain Aldi as well as overseeing the agency’s other TV based clients.
He is a graduate of Bradford Business School and Tilburg University in the Netherlands and joins UM Manchester from media agency Rocket where he was a broadcast account director in charge of the Co-op Group and Ferrero accounts.
