People: Avecto; Slater Heelis; Mills & Reeve & more
ENDPOINT security firm Avecto has appointed Simon Langton as vice president of Professional Services to head up its expanding customer delivery teams.
With Manchester-based Avecto continuing to invest in developing a major customer programme Langton will oversee the company’s professional services and customer teams ensuring that Avecto maintains is extremely high customer satisfaction levels.
He will be setting the strategy for the way Avecto helps its customers implement and maintain its unique Defendpoint security software.
Avecto says its customer service has helped it build and maintain an impressive portfolio of enterprise clients across the world, including seven of the world’s largest banks, 60 government agencies, three champion F1 teams, 40 educational institutions and many more.
Langton joins the techh firm from Haydock’s Intrinsic Technology, bringing with him more than 16 years of experience in the sector, working at the likes of Esoft Global and HP, where he first met Avecto’s co-founders Paul Kenyon and Mark Austin.
He said: “Avecto is a highly innovative organisation focused on solving customer security challenges and this was a big factor in my move.
“Its research and development team has a great understanding of enterprise environments and the threat landscape, resulting in the Defendpoint technology that is a genuine leader in the space.”
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MANCHESTER and Cheshire-based law firm Slater Heelis has strengthened its Commercial Property, Corporate and Family teams with the appointment of four industry specialists, while promotions see two existing members of staff offered training contracts.
Jay Lafinhan, 38, and Richard Bradbury, 26, bring a wealth of experience to their new roles in the Commercial Property department.
Lafinhan joins from Salehs LLP, having advised a variety of clients across all bodies within the property sector, including private property developers, with particular experience acting for lenders on short-term development loads.
In his new role, Bradbury will be dealing with landlord and tenant matters, as well as the acquisition and disposal of commercial properties. He joins from Horwich Farrelly Solicitors.
Janet Robinson, 38, joins the Corporate team from LHS Solicitors and has 12 years’ experience in corporate law. She will be advising on a broad range of matters, including acquisitions, disposals, private equity investments, reorganisations and joint ventures and shareholder agreements.
Joining the Family team as assistant solicitor is Abigail Lowther, 27, from Slater & Gordon.
In addition to the new recruits, two existing members of staff are progressing their careers with the offer of training contracts. James Kay, will begin his training contract in January, starting in the Commercial Property team, having gained 12 months’ experience as a paralegal. Meanwhile, Heena Kapadi, a paralegal in the Property department, will be starting her training contract in June 2016.
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THE Manchester office of Mills & Reeve has significantly boosted its commercial IP/IT team with three key appointments.
The team was launched in March and is headed by Paul Knight. Since then, growing demand from clients has led to a number of individuals being recruited as the Manchester office significantly expands its commercial offering.
Joining as associates are Hannah Shaw and Sarah Whyman. Shaw is arriving from Addleshaw Goddard, while Whyman is coming from DLA Piper.
Joanna Berry has also been installed as a consultant. She was previously a partner at Eversheds and worked in house in the media and healthcare sectors.
Niall Innes, head of the Manchester office, said: “We have stated our plans to significantly expand our commercial and corporate services in Manchester and these appointments reflect this strategy.”
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VICE chancellor and chief executive of Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) has been appointed chairman of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, following approval of the recommendation annual meeting.
Professor Weatherill takes the chair from Lorraine Rogers, director, Royal & Diplomatic Affairs for Jaguar Land Rover, who stepped down at the AGM after nine years’ service to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, from 2007 to 2015.
During Rogers’ nine-year chairmanship, Liverpool Philharmonic has enjoyed one of the most successful periods in its 175-year-old history.
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MANCHESTER cloud computing firm Outsourcery has appointed Emma de Sousa as managing director.
Da Sousa’s primary focus will be on driving Outsourcery’s sales and marketing activity.
She will be based at the AIM-listed company’s Manchester headquarters and joins from Insight, a technology provider of integrated solutions to business and government clients, which she was managing director.
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FOUNDER of her own games company while at the University of Derby, Caitlin Wilks has joined Virtalis’ software development team at its Trafford Park, Manchester base as a programmer/developer.
“Being from a gaming background, I am not au fait with Virtual Reality (VR) so I have just bought my own Oculus Rift and am enjoying learning more from the team here”, said Wilks. “I am being immersed in the development of GeoVisionary 3, which is out this Autumn. I have been working on a host of new features – a different one each week, which keeps it varied.”
Andrew Connell, technical director, said: “We confident that, with Caitlin’s excellent programming skills, she will be able to make a real contribution to our continuing software development.”
