Appointments: MC2; Roger Hannah & Co; Close Brothers & more
STRATEGIC communications agency MC2 has strengthened its business advisory team with the appointment of senior account director John Sullivan.
Sullivan arrives following four years as a corporate PR consultant in Shanghai, where he worked with Oglivy Public Relations and emerging Chinese PR firm Blue Focus.
Specialising in crisis management and aiding international brands in the China market, his client experience includes Johnson and Johnson, Ferrari, Chanel and Jaguar Land Rover. Prior to this he worked as an account manager for UK consultancy Clareville Communications in London.
Manchester-based MC2’s business advisory team boasts top corporate clients such as BLM Law, Bright Futures Educational Trust and The Skills Company.
Sullivan is currently directing one of the largest integrated campaigns in the North West, See Things Differently, working with New Economy Greater Manchester Learning Provider Network, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Marketing Manchester.
See Things Differently promotes apprenticeship schemes in Manchester and encourages young people to explore the potential that apprenticeships offer.
MC2 managing director Claire Tennant said: “John’s international PR experience brings a new approach to the Business Advisory team, and he has already made a huge impact since joining the company in July. We are dedicated to finding the best staff and John’s history with big name clients has made him the perfect addition to our growing team.”
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MANCHESTER property services company Roger Hannah & co has promoted Stephen Lashmar from senior surveyor to associate director and Paul McGarrigle from surveyor to senior surveyor.
Lashmar has been with the company for 12 months and has made a marked impression in the valuation and compulsory purchase departments.
McGarrigle has has worked his way through from a graduate and has made a real impression on the landlord and tenant department and the rating department with an ability to complete transactions.
This is now being shown in the additional numbers of non-property management instructions obtained.
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CLOSE Brothers Motor Finance has continued to enhance its business offering with two new appointments in its sales team based at its Trafford Park, Manchester branch.
Vicky Hope has joined the Manchester team as an account manager after 19 years’ experience in the finance industry.
Lisa Cowley has also arrived as sales manager for the Manchester branch. She will oversee a team of account managers in the Greater Manchester area and help the team develop new business in the area. This move is in response to the ever growing demand for Close Brothers’ service in the Manchester.
The new appointments are part of nine new appointments in its Northern and Southern branches.
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RENOWNED restaurateur and proud Lancastrian Paul Heathcote is stepping down from his role after three years as chairman of Lancashire’s place marketing organisation, Marketing Lancashire.
Marketing Lancashire was created in 2012 with considerable investment from Lancashire County Council, replacing the former Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board and Heathcote was the company’s first chairman.
His initial task was to appoint a chief executive Ruth Connor was invited to join the fast-developing new company, charged with supporting the visitor economy and attracting investment into Lancashire.
Over the last three years visitor numbers to Lancashire have reached current levels of 63 million a year, an increase of 3 million visitors, and the visitor economy pump an additional quarter of a billion pounds into the Lancashire economy; with the sector now recognised by the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) as one of the county’s most significant areas of growth.
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SARAH Barratt has been appointed the chair of the new Liverpool Visitor Economy Network Board (LVENB), which has held its inaugural meeting at Liverpool Vision.
Barratt, who is director of marketing at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, will lead the board in conjunction with Marketing Liverpool.
It comprises a number of experienced figures from within the city who committed to representing the LVEN in its entirety with a clear focus on collaboration, customer centricity and cohesive market growth.
This new board, dedicated to continuing the growth of Liverpool’s visitor economy, has been established following the change in arrangements between the LEP and Marketing Liverpool, which came in force on the July 1.
Whilst the LVENB is in addition to those currently operating in Wirral and Southport, the focus is on streamlined activity to strengthen Liverpool as the attack brand. As chair, Sarah will represent Liverpool on the City Region Visitor Economy Board that is chaired by Sara Wilde McKeown.
Barrett said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity of working with so many dedicated professionals, all of whom have the one intent of seeing Liverpool’s Visitor Economy continue to grow and prosper.
“Since 2008, the visitor offer within the city has grown at an incredible pace, most recently highlighted by the opening of Exhibition Centre Liverpool.”
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THE leader of Trafford Council in Manchester is one of four new trustees of indoor activity centre and charity Challenge 4 Change.
Cllr Sean Anstee has joined the charity’s board alongside Greater Manchester Police chief inspector Shane O’Neill, Tony Powell, an executive director at social landlord New Charter Homes, based in Tameside, and Dave Newton, group finance director at The Manchester Growth Company, which works to drive the city’s economic development.
All four have long-standing connections to the Trafford Park-based organisation, as customers, friends and ambassadors.
Cllr Anstee is a member of The Manchester Growth Company and Trafford Housing Trust boards. He recently took part in activities at Challenge 4 Change with Trafford Housing Trust, which held a strategy day at the venue.
Chief Inspector O’Neill is in charge of uniform and crime training at GMP and is a director of the Raise the Youth Foundation charity, which helps young people to get jobs and improve their life skills.
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RITA Waters, chief executive of CH1ChesterBID, has been appointed as a UK ambassador for the high street regeneration company Revive and Thrive.
The voluntary role sees Waters become the group’s first UK Town and City Centre Ambassador, tasked with bringing other organisations involved in place management together and sharing the success of Chester’s Business improvement District.
“I’m incredibly proud and excited to take up this UK role with Revive and Thrive,” said Waters.
“We’ve had phenomenal success in Chester through the creation of a Business Improvement District (BID) and I hope to share my knowledge and experience with a range of other city and town representatives.”
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THE Atrium by BridgeStreet Global Hospitality in Manchester has welcomed new general manager Jayne Chapman.
Chapman joined brings with her a wealth of experience spanning nearly 30 years in the hospitality industry.
She has previously worked in a Best Western property, spent many years with Intercontinental Hotels Group and Forte Hotels Group and gained a number of accolades her career such as General Manager of the Year UK & Ireland for IHG and also shortlisted for Cheshire Business Woman of the Year.
She said: “I am delighted to be joining the Team at Atrium and becoming a Brand Ambassador for BridgeStreet Global Hospitality, which is one of the leading brands in the serviced apartments industry worldwide.”
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DR Byan Dobson has taken over as chairman of Cheshire-based domestic products company Revolymer following the retirement of Jack Keenan.
Dobson stepped up from his independent non executive director role he has held with the company since 2012 to assume the new role.
Keenan – who chaired the company when it floated on the AIM in July 2012 – will remain on the board as a non executive director to provide continuity until a replacement has been recruited.
Revolymer chief executive Kevin Matthews said: “We would like to thank Jack for his valuable advice and guidance to Revolymer over a number of years as chairman.
“Looking forward, we are delighted that Bryan has agreed to take up the role of Chairman given his strong track record in the specialty chemicals industry, and look forward to working with him to continue Revolymer’s commercial development.”
