People: Well Pharmacy; SPD; Harrison Drury

MANCESTER-based Well Pharmacy, the UK’s largest independent chain of pharmacies, has appointed Nick Hougham as its new head of acquisitions.

His role, which includes finding and acquiring new branches via existing businesses, will be integral to Well’s ambitious expansion plans. In particular, Hougham will focus on extending its network of pharmacies from 780 branches to 1,000 by 2018, with turnover reaching a £1bn target by 2019.

The company, which was The Co-Operative Pharmacy prior to a £620m buyout by Bestway in 2014, plans to deliver on these plans by investing £200m in the business’ growth over the next five years.  

Prior to working at Well, Hougham held directorships at EMS Consulting and Interim, as well as senior roles in Lloyd’s Pharmacy. His career began within Woolworths’ trainee management scheme and also includes senior positions at the Home Retail Group, primarily within Homebase.

Hougham said: “’I’m thrilled to join Well. The role offers me a fantastic opportunity to utilise my pharmacy and healthcare knowledge, along with my broader business development experience.”

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A CONFERENCE and training provider based in Salford has recruited seven staff as it ramps up its events programme in response to growing demand.

The new arrivals take employee numbers at Salford Professional Development to 34, up from 20 at the start of 2015, representing a 70 % increase in the size of its workforce.

Richard Fletcher, 32, has joined SPD as a conference programme manager while the firm’s sponsorship team has been bolstered by the arrival of Matthew Innes, 32, and Jonathan Palmer, 34, as account managers.

SPD has recruited Stuart Crossley, 30, as a credit control manager while David Daniel, 25, has joined as a business development executive.

The other new appointments are Sabrina Testoni, 30, and Seb Halstead, 23, who have joined SPD as a digital sales executive and digital marketing executive respectively.

Meanwhile, SPD has promoted Elka Lamb to head of marketing and communications.
 
She joined the company in August 2014 as a marketing executive, then became digital marketing manager and oversaw the revamp of SPD’s website earlier this year.
 
SPD was established in 2012 as a subsidiary of the University of Salford.

Based at Adelphi House at the university, it organises conferences and training courses across the UK and abroad for public, private and not-for-profit sector professionals on health and social care, media, business and law, the built environment, education and public services.

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NORTH West law firm Harrison Drury has bolstered its litigation offering with the appointment of experienced commercial litigation lawyer Helen Griffin.

Drury joins Harrison Drury, which has offices across Lancashire and Cumbria, as an assistant solicitor after three years at Hayes and Storr in East Anglia.
 
The 32-year-old has more than seven years’ experience in the profession.

Colin Fenny, director of dispute resolution at Harrison Drury, said: “We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of new instructions on commercial disputes over the last couple of years.
 
“Helen’s appointment brings the number in the team to nine and means we are well placed to meet this increasing demand from our clients. It demonstrates Harrison Drury’s ability to attract the best lawyers, both within and outside of the region.”