Appointments: House moves up to partner at PwC & more
JONATHAN House, a former local government chief, has been promoted to from partner at accountants PwC.
House, who joined the firm as a director two years ago, is a former chief executive of Cardiff City Council, and works in the government and public sector team.
In addition to House’s promotion, Asam Malik is joining the firm’s Manchester office from Newcastle, to lead its cyber security and technology risk team. Malik has more than 15 years’ experience working with clients to improve cyber security and manage their technology risks. Kate Finn, assurance director also joins the Manchester office from the firm’s Middle East practice, after a cycle of experience.
These follow the recent appointment of big data expert, Jon Gibbs, who joined the Manchester office as a director in the firm’s forensics team and David Byrne who joined its corporate finance team as director and who will lead PwC’s renewables practice across the UK regions.
Iwan Griffith, PwC’s North West chairman, said: “Whether it’s austerity challenges in the public sector, or cyber security and big data challenges in the private sector, many of our clients are being impacted in ways that they weren’t 10 years ago. These appointments therefore reflect our strategy of building the right team of specialists for this day and age, so that we can continue to help our clients be successful and support their growth ambitions.”
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JOHN Gittins, finance director of AIM-listed financial and professional services company Fairpoint, has joined the board of Nichols, the North West drinks manufacturer.
He has joined the Haydock company, best known for its Vimto brand, as an independent non-executive director and chair of its audit committee.
His appointment follows the decision of Eric Healey to step down from the board in March.
Gittins also serves on the Board of North West Electricity Networks and has been finance director of Manchester listed companies Begbies Traynor Group and subsequently NCC Group.
John Nichols, non-executive chairman of Nichols said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome John to the Board and look forward to the benefit of the extensive financial and corporate knowledge he has gained from over 17 years of experience as a group finance director in public markets.”
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GORDON Forster has been appointed as regional head of the trade and working capital team at Lloyds Bank’s global transaction banking arm.
Forster, who previously led the commercial finance team supporting businesses with a turnover from £25m to £750m in the North and Scotland, will be responsible for delivering a range of working capital solutions designed to help mid-sized businesses to grow both domestically and internationally.
The move is part of Lloyds’ strategy to continue growing its global transaction banking business, which provides payments, liquidity management, working capital and short-term financing to business clients.
Forster said: “This is all about ensuring we are putting our customers here in the North West first in everything we do. Customers want to know that the people they are dealing with are local product specialists, but they also need to know that the solution being delivered is the best possible combination of those products for the unique challenges they face.”
