People: Metronet (UK); Johns Service Group; Fletchers Solicitors & more

MANCHESTER-based internet service provider Metronet (UK) appointed Nicola Beamish as its finance director.

She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a qualified financial professional with a proven track record in senior financial positions for private equity backed and public businesses.

Beamish joins Metronet with more than two decades of experience; spanning all aspects of finance including private equity, profit & cashflow improvement, M&A activity, management culture development and employee engagement.

She said: “I am delighted be part of the Metronet (UK) team, especially at such an exciting time for the business.

“I have spent a significant part of my career working in successful, customer focussed businesses and I look forward to continuing that with Metronet (UK), providing advanced connectivity solutions to our current and future customers” said Nicola Beamish.

Metronet chief executive Elliott Mueller said: “We’re delighted Nicola has joined us at this time of rapid growth. Her wealth of experience and her strategic analytical skills will be instrumental in leading the company strategy into 2016 and beyond.”
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CHESHIRE-based Johnson Service Group has appointed Nick Gregg to its board as a non-executive director with effect from January 1.

Gregg, aged 52, is currently the managing director of the Local Government division of Ferrovial-owned public services business Amey. 

Having joined Amey in 2011, he is focused on delivering innovative and cost effective solutions for customers and the general public.

Gregg’s considerable experience in business to business service industries will be a great asset to the board, say Johnson, having previously been at Biffa Waste Services, where he was managing director of the Collections Division, and prior to that, managing director of ATS Euromaster (Michelin), one of the UK’s largest tyre service and distribution companies.

Meanwhile, Michael Del Mar has announced his intention to retire from his position as a non-executive director and chairman of the Remuneration Committee at the conclusion of the 2016 Annual General Meeting.

Del Mar, who is currently the senior independent non-executive director, joined the board in 2004. He will be replaced by Bill Shannon, but Gregg will take the role as chairman of the Remuneration Committee.

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MEDICAL negligence and serious injury law firm Fletchers Solicitors has grown its team to 300 members of staff in its quest to become a top 100 law firm by 2018.

The firm has tripled its headcount in the last three years, taking it from 112 staff in 2012 to 300 in December 2015.

The Southport firm hit the 300 milestone following the arrival of senior solicitor Fiona Swarbrick who was previously at Hughes Carlisle Law in Liverpool and Pauline Carlin who has come on board as a secretary.

To support the growing team, Nicola Winslett has also been promoted to assistant head of medical negligence after impressing management in her role as supervisor in the senior risk assessment team.

Earlier on in the year, the law firm invested in an office expansion, taking the space from 16,00sq ft  to more than 24,000 sq ft, to cater for the growing number of staff needed to support the additional work arising from its new marketing approach. 

Chief executive Ed Fletchersaid: “As a firm striving to achieve Top 100 law firm status by 2018, we are always on the look out for top talent to bring to the firm.”

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ST CATHERINE’S Hospice in Preston has appointed Mark Alexander to chair a working group to develop the St Catherine’s Association.

The Association provides advice and support to St Catherine’s Hospice including electing trustees to the board, who oversee the work of the renowned hospice in Central Lancashire.

Alexander, who is head of commercial law at Vincents Solicitors in Preston, will be involved with developing the Association to make it more representative of the communities the hospice serves. The work has begun in the hospice’s milestone 30th anniversary year in 2015.

Alexander said: “The Association has existed as long as the hospice but its membership has dwindled, so our aim is to reinvigorate it in order to make it better represent the communities, cultures and backgrounds the charity serves.”

Members provide a pool of talent from which Trustees and staff can draw help and advice on anything from legal and financial matters, to marketing, events, fundraising, and more.

“The 30th anniversary of St Catherine’s provides an excellent opportunity to kick-start the redevelopment of the Association and I am delighted to be involved as chairman of the working group.”