Appointments: GMCC; Lea Hough & Co; Dunlop Heywood & more

ANDREW Roberts, the managing director of Bury-based Pennine Telecom, has become the town’s president of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

He takes over from Rob Isherwood, operations manager at O2, who has held the role for the past two years.

As well as becoming president Roberts will also now chair future meetings of the Local Council, a group of Bury-based business people in which he has been active for the past five years.

The council determines topics to be discussed at a regional level by the Chamber’s Policy & Campaign Committee and its main council.
As chair he will also liaise with key local stakeholders including Bury Council, Bury College – with whom his company already works closely – and the borough’s two members of parliament.

“It is a great privilege to be given this opportunity to represent the interests of Bury’s thriving and diverse business community at a regional level,” he said.

“Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce already offers excellent support and resources to Bury businesses but, through listening to our local members and Action For Business Forum delegates my aim is to ensure it can be even more effective and responsive to our needs.”

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MARTIN Kerry has joined Blackburn chartered surveyors’ practice Lea Hough & Co.

Kerry, a senior valuation surveyor, is well known in the field with 30 years’ experience in residential survey and valuation services.
For the last 14 years he has been working for a national firm covering the Lancashire area.

Senior partner Richard Prest said: “It is important to us to have a varied and experienced team made up of surveyors with different and specialist skills, and when it comes to valuations, local knowledge is essential. Martin brings to the practice a wealth of valuation experience having been North West based throughout his entire career.”

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CHARTERED surveyors Dunlop Heywood has expanded its Manchester office with key appointments on the back of recent business wins.

Joining the Police Street head office are Jonathan Killeen (data analyst) who joined from CVS in Manchester, where he was part of the corporate sales team, and Aaron Mcleod takes over business rates audit, having previously worked in a similar role  at Manchester City Council.

Richard Scott has joined Dunlop Heywood from Edwin Hill where he was a senior surveyor and  Alexandra Weatherilt came on board on as Graduate Surveyor.

Managing director Stuart Hicks said: “It is great to see the property sector bounce back across the region, confidence is high across the board and it is reflected in our client’s increased activity, both existing and new.”

DTZ has announced the appointment of Sam Holmes as surveyor in its Manchester-based project and building consultancy team.
 
Holmes will specialise in core building surveying for DTZ’s broad range of clients. He is currently acting on behalf of tenants NHS Property Services  and Home Group in relation to two separate dilapidation claims in Stockport and Warrington.

Previously a building surveyor with AECOM, Holmes was responsible for the contract administration for London university halls of residence refurbishments alongside working with clients on industrial unit refurbishments in Birmingham.

He was also responsible for numerous surveys as part of large scale stock condition survey commissions in the West Midlands, Norwich and North Somerset.

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SARAH Barnes, head of the residential property team at Preston-based Napthens solicitors, has been promoted to partner.

Joining Napthens in 2009, Barnes became head of the department in 2011, and manages an experienced team of property lawyers.

Recently she has led the department through a significant period of growth with a number of new appointments. The department was also named Regional Conveyancing Firm of the Year at the end of 2014, at the National Conveyancing Conference, an award judged by industry experts including The National Association of Estate Agents.

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JOANNE McTiffin has joined recruiter PhD Search & Selection at its Manchester office to help build its business in the North of England.

McTiffin has arrived with previous experience in executive management and recruitment in retail.

Chief executive of PhD Chris Forbes said: “Joanne is an excellent addition to the team. Her background complements our expertise in digital technology, consulting operations and customer services.

“Manchester and the North West has been a pivotal part in the growth in the UK economy and are delighted to be part of it.”

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A LIVERPOOL business has appointed a new director to strengthen its services across the region.

David Cowan, the former head at Volkswagen Van Centre Liverpool, has stepped up to the role of Volkswagen commercial vehicle brand director for the Swansway Group, which owns the Evans Road business. 

The role of brand director is a new strategic post that will help drive business improvements across the Group, which currently has van centres in Preston, Wrexham and Birmingham and employs 720 people with an annual turnover of £420m, across the entire group.