People on the move: MSIF; Sir Henry Royce Institute; Horwich Farrelly; Sanford DeLand Asset Management; Your Legal Friend; RMS PR; Wates Construction
MERSEYSDIE-based MSIF has expanded its investment team with the appointment of Jim Moore from NatWest in Liverpool.
As investment manager he will work with MSIF (Merseyside Special Investment Fund) investment director Paul Humphray on larger loans and mezzanine investments.
Moore worked in banking for 33 years having joined Williams & Glyn in 1983 which became RBS in 1985.
He then joined the Nat West Commercial Banking team in 2008 where he worked with a mixed portfolio of general trading businesses in the £2m – £25m turnover bracket.
He said: “MSIF is a highly regarded and well known investor in the North West so I was delighted at the opportunity to join them. MSIF is extremely active in the deals market with a string of funds under its management and a very successful investment track record.
“The team here are strong and ambitious and I am really looking forward to this new challenge in my career.”
MSIF chief operating officer Lisa Greenhalgh said: “There has been a marked increase in the number of enquiries for investment at the larger end of the deal spectrum and we needed to strengthen the team to reflect this.
“We’re currently looking at opportunities to manage additional funds which will increase the amount of potential deals we can look at so lateral hires like this are part of our business plan going forward.
“Jim is very experienced and is a fantastic addition to the team. I’m delighted to welcome him on board.”
The organisation was set up in 1994 to initially manage funds from the European Regional Development Fund. Its successful investment track record and repayment of these funds enabled MSIF to create its own legacy evergreen fund – where returns from investments are continually recycled – which is currently valued at around £30m.
MSIF offers investment up to around £2m through loans and equity investments.
In addition to its legacy fund, MSIF also manages additional funds on behalf of third party organisations including the government’s Start Up Loan Fund, the Regional Growth Fund and the High Growth Business Investment Programme.
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THE Sir Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials has appointed a leading materials scientist and engineer as chief executive.
Andrew Hosty joins the institute having previously worked for Morgan Advanced Materials, where he was chief operating officer.
A Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Hosty has more than 25 years’ experience of the commercial sector with main board experience of FTSE 250, SmallCap and private businesses and has worked at all stages of business growth and economic cycles.
He was one of the key architects of the technology-led commercial strategy for Morgan Advanced Materials, and will be tasked with ensuring the Royce Institute becomes a world leading centre for advanced materials research and commercialisation.
The Institute will have its hub at The University of Manchester and spokes at the founding partners, comprising the universities of Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, Cambridge, Oxford and Imperial College London, as well as the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE) and the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL).
It will allow the UK to grow its world-leading research and innovation base in advanced materials, science and technology that underpins all industrial sectors.
Hosty’s broad expertise in advanced materials spans strategy, research and operations for ceramic, alloy and composites businesses across aerospace, medical, electronic and petrochemical sectors.
He has been responsible for manufacturing facilities and successful high value contract negotiations in Europe, China, India and Latin America and has led a number of acquisitions and divestments.
Hosty said: “The Institute will be a world-leading centre for advanced materials, not simply research into how materials can tackle some of greatest challenges facing the planet, but also how we work with industry to commercialise them.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to bring together the UK’s leading researchers in advanced materials, and could present a significant boost for economy of the North of England.”
Baroness Brown of Cambridge, the chair of the Institute, added: “Andrew brings a wealth of experience in both materials science and commercialisation.
“His record of delivering outstanding results while in the commercial sector, combined with his infectious enthusiasm for this important and exciting project will be key to the success of the Institute.”
Hosty currently serves as a non-executive director at Consort Medical and at CEME SPa (an Investcorp business).
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CHARTERED accountancy firm Cassons – which has offices in Rossendale and Manchester – has appointed Helen Cowley as partner.
Cowley, who joined the firm in 2012, has a wealth of technical tax expertise. In addition, she is key member of the Cassons’ team responsible for business development.
She also takes a lead within the firm on international tax matters and is a very active member of the BKR International EMEA tax committee.
Managing partner Les Nutter said: “Helen is a highly experienced, versatile and expert tax consultant and her appointment as partner is fully deserved.
Since joining the firm Helen has also demonstrated significant international tax skills and knowledge, and has become a key member of the business.
“Her appointment reinforces our ambition to grow the firm, as well as our absolute commitment to provide outstanding development opportunities for our people.”
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SPECIALIST insurance industry law firm Horwich Farrelly is investing in the next generation of legal professionals as it offers 13 trainee solicitors full-time contracts following their successful qualification.
The new roles will be based at the firm’s Manchester head office across the counter fraud, defendant services, costs and credit hire teams.
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ASSET manager Sanford DeLand Asset Management has unveiled Rosemary Banyard as investment director to work alongside the company founder Keith Ashworth-Lord, who manages the highly successful CFP SDL UK Buffettology Fund.
As co-head of Schroders pan-European mid and small cap team and manager of various UK small cap, UK mid cap and unconstrained UK all cap mandates, Banyard was responsible for AUM of circa £1bn.
Widely recognised as one of the UK’s top fund managers with an award-winning track record, Banyard, who is married with two daughters, is a highly experienced investment manager.
While at Schroders, she built up an extensive knowledge bank of small to mid-cap sized companies across all UK sectors developing a very successful and sustainable set of open-ended, closed-ended and segregated pension scheme portfolios over her 18-year career.
She said: “I am delighted that after a short break from the City I have chosen to work with the SDL team.
“They are very professional in both approach and ethics. Keith and I also have very similar principles when it comes to investment. Both of us have had the privilege to build very successful investment portfolios.”
Ian Page, chairman of SDL said: “This is very exciting for us to attract such a high calibre, well-respected fund manager to the team is compelling. She is a fantastic addition and I believe that the combined skill sets of Keith and Rosemary will open up further opportunities for us to enhance the business that we have built over the last five years.”
Ashworth-Lord added: “Rosemary and I both discovered that we shared a passion for fundamental business analysis, long-term thinking and Business Perspective Investing. I believe that as likeminded individuals we can add new business and new products that will be able to attract further asset management opportunities and drive stakeholder returns over the medium to long-term.”
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MERSEYSIDE-based Your Legal Friend has further strengthened its senior team with the appointment of a new Head of Marketing.
John King joins the growing litigation firm to enhance its digital presence and develop integrated profile-raising campaigns for its specialist departments.
With more than five years’ experience in legal services marketing, King has a track record in driving cost efficiencies, increasing online visibility and lead generation whilst developing consumer brands.
He leads a team of six who are supporting the organisation’s growth in medical negligence, industrial disease, professional negligence and personal injury.
King will also deliver marketing activity around a number of key cases, such as the pursuit of a group litigation order against Watchstone Group (formerly known as Quindell), as well as further developing the Birkenhead firm’s CSR programme.
Colin Gibson, chief operating officer at Your Legal Friend, said: “We operate in a highly competitive market which requires a detailed understanding of how to use digital channels to create efficient and effective campaigns.
“John’s extensive knowledge and expertise will ensure we continue to communicate our services to potential clients in a highly targeted and measurable way.”
John King added: “Your Legal Friend exhibits a great appetite for digital innovation and has a strong team with a highly professional, client-centric approach.”
King’s appointment follows a number of senior hires by Your Legal Friend. Dominic Timmons joined as head of compliance earlier this year, whilst Claire Critchley was recently appointed as head of department for financial, property and professional claims.
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INTEGRATED marketing agency RMS PR has expanded its digital marketing and web development teams to cope with increased demand and position it for further growth.
Dave Bryan has left Media City to join the Altrincham, GreaterManchester-based agency as a digital marketing executive. He will support a range of professional services, business and consumer clients, including Slater Heelis, Character World and Garratt Solicitors.
Evans joins as a senior web developer after working in-house at a large construction company.
Agency managing director Ruth Shearn said: “Demand for our web development and digital marketing services has increased significantly. I’m thrilled to have recruited yet more talented people to our growing team.
“Dave has a really impressive track record for delivering highly effective digital marketing campaigns that deliver tangible results for clients, while Scott brings additional skills to our web team that mean we’ll be able to develop even more complex websites and bespoke applications.
“As well as having fantastic technical skills, Dave and Scott are a great fit for us. They’ve slotted in perfectly and have a can-do attitude that’s synonymous with our culture.
“They’re already looking at a complete revamp of our own website.”
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FOUR young people are reaping the benefits of Stockport Council’s £45m Redrock development having been chosen to join the Wates Construction team as the first apprentices on the project.
The appointments form part of Wates’ pledge to ensure that training and employment opportunities are created for Stockport’s community, providing local people with an opportunity to gain a wide range of construction skills and experience.
The apprentices joining the project team include Shauna Ball, 19, from Brinnington, who will be studying towards a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 in business administration, and Mike Reape, 17, who will work towards a Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) Level 4 in commercial management.
In addition, Daniel Burns, 30, will be working on-site alongside studying towards a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in construction management and Kameron Bryson, 21, from Edgeley is studying towards an NVQ Level 3 in groundwork.
Appointed to facilitate the delivery of the development, the apprentices are the first in a line of candidates to join the contractor as building work advances on site.
