People: Down at the Social; Bilfinger GVA; Intilery & more
MANCHESTER-based PR agency Down at the Social, has appointed ex-MC2 account director Claire Robinson to join its eight-strong agency.
Based at MediaCityUK, the agency specialises in PR, marketing, social media and events, and works across a number of sectors including leisure, retail, and food and drink. Current clients include Vapiano, Don Giovanni, The Pen and Pencil, Freeport Fleetwood, The Liars Group and The Black Dog Ballroom Group.
Having worked on a number of high profile consumer and trade accounts including Mondelēz International, Krispy Kreme UK and Merlin Entertainments, Robinson’s key roles will include team development and training plus growth of the consultancy’s destination and food and drink divisions.
She will also work with managing director and owner Daisy Whitehouse to achieve its ambitious growth plans for the year and gain new business.
Robinson said: “Down at the Social has such an exciting portfolio of clients already, so I’m excited to be getting involved with them as well as building relationships and great successes with the new clients that we plan to get on board. Both the work ethic and personality of Down at the Social match mine exactly, so I know it’ll be a great match.”
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BILFINGER GVA’s Manchester Business Consultancy team has been strengthened with three new appointments, following a period of growth.
Building surveyor John Lee, chartered building surveyor Ian Quinn and national technical manager Elaine Glasgow have all joined the company.
Lee has had seven years’ experience as a surveyor to date. In that time he has delivered high profile projects at Chester Cathedral, Lancaster University and for Manchester City Council.
Quinn has experience in providing advice to clients from large multi-nationals to smaller developments, and has moved to Bilfinger from Trident Building Consultancy.
Glasgow has returned to the industry after spending 14 years as a stay-at-home mum.
Layne Mercer, senior director at Bilfinger, said: “These three boast an impressive portfolio of experience and we look forward to seeing what they bring to the team.”
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INTILERY has appointed Helen Jones as head of accounts as the Chester company continues to expand.
The next generation customer engagement technology specialist has been growing its team as more high profile businesses sign up for its omni-channel marketing platform.
For Jones, who brings eight years of accountancy experience from firms including Quality Hydraulic Power (QHP) and North Wales Ceramic Fibres, joining thea fast-growing business was a real draw.
“I wanted to work at Intilery for the challenge,” she said. “I was instantly attracted to the opportunity to work here as it’s at such an exciting stage of growth and I’m looking forward to being a part of the journey.”
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LAW firm, berg, has appointed real estate specialist, Ruth McCarthy, as partner, real estate and property finance.
McCarthy, who has 15 years’ experience in property law, has also been a partner at Slater Heelis and Linder Myers, before joining Gunnercooke more than two years ago.
Her specialty lies in in managing complex transactions in the fields of investment, development and property finance.
McCarthy has been involved in the acquisition and development of major land holdings throughout the UK and is also reputable for her work on bespoke and volume lending transactions for major UK banks, short-term funders and peer to peer (P2P) (or ‘crowd’) lenders.
She said: “I have always admired the independent berg culture along with the energy, enthusiasm and ambition of the firm, so when the opportunity arose I had no hesitation to take it.
“There are lots of opportunities to develop the real estate offering at berg, as a result of the excellent litigation practice, and I look forward to working with the team and build on this platform.”
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THE UK’s largest swimming lesson franchise business, Swimtime, has expanded its team with the appointment of Heather Horrocks as swimming technical manager.
Horrocks, who is a Swimming Teachers Association (STA)-qualified swimming tutor, will oversee compliance within the business from the North West-based headquarters near Manchester Airport.
She will ensure that individual franchisees are working to the business format franchise model by following industry regulations.
Horrocks said: “Managing compliance is particularly important for franchise businesses to ensure a streamlined operation across the board.
“After working as a swimming tutor for many years, I’m delighted to take my career to the next level with Swimtime and help boost the current support team and its core values.”
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MANCHESTER-based independent agency BJL is strengthening its core creative and strategic representation with the appointment of three new board members.
Richard Pearson, Karl Stones and Julie Chadwick, will work together to help capitalise on new business opportunities and drive further agency growth in 2016.
Pearson, who started his career at BJL in 1999 before leaving for a spell in London, rejoined the agency in 2013.
Stones, who has more than two decades’ experience in the industry, also joined BJL in 2013 and they have enjoyed a strong working partnership ever since.
Chadwick brings a wealth of client-side and agency experience to BJL. A former global marketing and communications director at Manchester Business School, she has also held senior corporate communications roles at both The Co-operative Bank and Tesco.
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DIRECTORS Online Network, based in Manchester’s Spinningfields district has appointed David Wheatcroft, 48, as sales director.
David brings more than 30 years’ sales and management experience to his new role at the company reated to bring together various groups of the world’s most powerful CEOs, CFOs and non-executive directors in a series of online business communities.
He will be responsible for recruiting and managing the membership sales team, as well as ensuring Directors Online Network grows and develops while maintaining high service levels.
Wheatccroft said: “It’s fantastic to be joining a company that is already going places, and also has such ambitious future growth plans.
“The concept of bringing high level professionals together in an online network, providing thousands of employment and networking opportunities, is an innovative and unique one that is proving hugely beneficial to members and employers alike.”
Directors Online Network is set to reach its 2016 turnover target of £6m with turnover last year at £1.2m.
