People on the move: Whitham Mills; Aincough Crane Hire; Exchange Chambers; Black Cat Building Consultancy

WASTE management machinery designer and manufacturer Whitham Mills at Todmorden on the Lancashire-Yorkshire border has appointed Noel Patterson as sales director.

The appointment is part of a strategic focus on growing the company’s presence in key European and Middle Eastern Markets.

Patterson brings with him more than two decades of experience developing businesses in international markets such as Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Europe.

Working for both multi-national organisations and SMEs, he has a track record of both turn around and sales growth in sectors such as the cable industry, chemicals and automotive.

He said: “Whitham Mills is already a remarkable business in the sector and is deeply embedded within the UK’s waste management, retail and warehousing sectors. There remain very good opportunities here but overseas markets are crying out for the expertise, ingenuity and service levels our customers are receiving.”

Managing director at Whitham Mills, Ben Smart added: “Noel has an excellent track record and a clear strategic focus on how he wants to develop the export side of the business.

“We have a strong business with customer service at its centre and it is that service, coupled with our engineering knowhow, which sets us apart from others and enables us to deliver for our customers.”

In recent years, Whitham Mills has secured export sales to Norway, France, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

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WIGAN-based Ainscough Crane Hire has appointed Janet Entwistle as chief executive following the decision of Robin Richardson to step down.

Entwistle comes with a wealth of experience.  She has a track record of growing and developing businesses, most recently as chief executive of property services group Knight Square Holdings and prior to that as managing director of BT Fleet, a specialist fleet management business.

She said: “In my first few weeks I will be meeting employees, customers and key partners to understand how the business works and what we can do to make Ainscough even better.”

Richardson will support Entwistle and the board over the next few months to ensure a smooth transition.

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BARRISTERS’ company Exchange Chambers has further strengthened its criminal department in Manchester with the arrival of Daniel Prowse as a new member.
 
Called to the Bar in 2004, Prowse joins Exchange Chambers from Forbes Solicitors where he has been in-house counsel since 2008, having initially practised from Chambers in Nottingham.

His practice covers all aspects of serious crime with particular experience and expertise in multi-handed, document heavy cases such as large-scale drug supply, conspiracy to commit violence and other offences (often involving firearms) and all types of fraud.  

Prowse also has particular expertise in cases involving vulnerable defendants, such as youths or those with mental health problems.
 
Prowse said: “I’m very excited to return to the independent Bar and relish the opportunity to expand my practice at Exchange Chambers, a leading set in heavyweight crime in the North West and beyond.”
 
Tom Handley, director of Chambers at Exchange Chambers said: “Daniel has been briefed in some of the most serious and complex cases in the North West and we are delighted to welcome him to Chambers.  With over seventy members, our criminal department is one of the largest and most successful teams in the country.”
 
Exchange Chambers now has over 160 members and is continuing to expand across all practice areas and locations.

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BLACK Cat Building Consultancy has made another very senior signing as the firm moves into its second year with the addition of Eric Roberts, formerly of Cushman and Wakefield. 

Roberts, was head of Building and Project Consultancy at DTZ and formerly Bernard Thorpe in Manchester for more than 36 years prior to the acquisition of Cushman and Wakefield in 2015.  Roberts joins the business as a director in the firm’s Manchester office.
 
Roberts said: “I am very excited at the prospect of working with the Black Cat team, a group of very talented individuals.  The freedom and opportunity to do things differently than the norm for their growing list of clients are the key reasons for my choosing to join the business.”

Stephen Barnes, director at Black Cat,said “We are delighted that Eric has chosen to join Black Cat over other firms that had approached him.

“He is one of the most experienced and respected building surveyors in the market and his skill set is ideally suited to the needs of our clients. 

“Eric joins us at an opportune time when there are a number of exciting projects Black Cat are delivering throughout the UK.”