People on the move: One; Cassidy + Ashton; Bruntwood; Swinton Insurance; PH Homes; BDB; Chorley Group

Sale, Greater Manchester-based integrated communications agency One has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Will English as client services director.

English joins the company from The Foundry, bringing with him 17 years’ experience across consumer and B2B channels, including financial services, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, leisure and sports marketing.

Beginning his career at The Marketing Store Worldwide, in Edinburgh, before joining Manchester-based Tequila, then BJL and LOVE Creative, English has represented brands including John West, Heineken and Manchester United during his career.

Working alongside managing director Wayne Silver, English will head up One’s client service team, offering key insight and strategy, while delivering results-driven campaigns for new and existing clients.

He will also play a pivotal role in the development of the agency as it prepares for another year of exponential growth.

English said: “One is a truly integrated agency with a fantastic pedigree, an impressive roster of household name clients, and ambitious plans for 2017.

“The agency places great emphasis on the professional development of every individual, which is invaluable when delivering successful campaigns to the very best service standards.

“With multiple new business wins, a growing and talented team, as well as huge plans for 2017, it’s a great time to be joining.”

Silver added: “Will’s passion, dedication and leadership skills make him a true talent in our industry.

“His experience at full service agencies makes him a great fit for us here at One, as we continue to focus on that all-important mix of traditional marketing disciplines and digital platforms that’s becoming the best practice for an increasing number of businesses.

“Will will play an instrumental role in realising our ongoing growth and targets as we look to 2017 and beyond. We’re thrilled to welcome him on board.”

One is an integrated agency offering advertising, design, digital, PR and social services to a range of B2B and B2C clients, including Euler Hermes, Hoover, Taylor Wimpey, United Utilities and York Racecourse.

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Architect practice Cassidy + Ashton has recruited two new architectural technologists, taking its Chester headcount to 14.
 
The move follows a number of big wins for the company’s architectural, building surveying and town planning divisions and the recent opening of a new office in Mold, North Wales, to service increasing demand from over the border – in particular, for publicly funded BIM Level 2 projects.  

Chris O’Hanlon joins Cassidy + Ashton with 19 years’ experience and has spent most of his career working in North Wales after completing a HNC in Construction at Yale College in Wrexham.

He has delivered new build and refurbishment schemes across various sectors with budgets ranging from £100,000 to £10m.

Dave Jones has also arrived and is training towards MCIAT status with the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, he also has a strong residential background delivering small extensions to multi-block housing schemes with major housing developers.

Cassidy + Ashton has offices in Chester, Mold and Preston and currently employs more than 50 staff.  

Dave Owen, director at Cassidy + Ashton, said: “Bringing in technical talent at this level is critical for the growth of the business and to build capacity. Both Chris and Dave have solid local knowledge and expertise in BIM and Revit, and join us an exciting time of expansion and high demand for our services nationwide.”

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Manchester-based commercial property company Bruntwood has announced the appointment of Phil Kemp as chief commercial officer to support the company’s ambitious growth plans.

Kemp will be responsible for further developing the customer proposition, marketing, sales and digital activity for the company.

Kemp was formerly with Regus as managing director, formats, and before that held a number of senior roles in the services, device and infrastructure divisions of Nokia including being VP of the services business in China from 2010 to 2012.

“This is a great time to join Bruntwood,” said Kemp. “The company is committed to more than £1bn of further property development, and is uniquely positioned to continue to differentiate from traditional property companies and be a disruptor in the market.

“I am looking forward to evolving the customer proposition in order to grow market share, particularly in the science and technology sectors across the Bruntwood group of companies including Manchester Science Partnerships.

“From the collaboration with Central Manchester Hospital Trust and Cisco, launching Manchester’s Tech Hub and the scale of the life science cluster at Alderley Park; the breadth and depth of what this business does is incredibly exciting and has such a positive impact on the city regions in which it operates.”

Bruntwood chief executive Chris Oglesby Bruntwood added: “We are delighted to welcome Phil to the team. The combination of innovating and launching new brands, products and services at Regus coupled with the international outlook and strong technology background with Nokia, is exactly the type of skillset we need to complement our senior team.”

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Swinton Insurance, which claims to be Britain’s largest high street insurance broker, has appointed Gill Galassi as its head of public relations.

The newly-created role is one of 16 new marketing and digital jobs in the broker’s expanding marketing team, based in Manchester city centre.
 
Galassi will report to marketing director Anne Kirk and be responsible for the continued development of Swinton’s brand awareness and corporate reputation.
 
She brings more than 15 years’ experience of delivering communications strategies within multi-channel organisations in the retail, insurance and telecoms sectors.  This includes 10 years at insurer RSA, Well Pharmacy and most recently PZ Cussons.
She holds a diploma in marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a degree in public relations.
 
Galassi said: “This is a really exciting time to be joining Swinton, as the business celebrates its 60th anniversary later this year and moves to its brand new head office at 101 Embankment in Manchester city centre.
 
“My focus will be to enhance and protect the brand across multiple channels, with an increased focus on local and digital platforms. I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”

Kirk added: “Gill brings a wealth of experience to this new role and gives us further focus and capability to deliver on our plans for future growth.”

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DAVE Matthews has joined luxury housebuilder PH Homes as marketing director as the company continues with its growth plans.
 
Matthews has worked in advertising and marketing for 30 years and joins the Cheadle, Greater Manchester-based company from Northstar. He spent three and a half years at the creative agency as an account director.
 
The appointment comes soon after PH Homes announced they are developing 74 family homes in the grounds of Alderley Park in Cheshire.

Matthews has a long association with PH Homes and has advised managing director Philip Hughes on marketing activity for around 20 years.

Having started his career as an art director and moving on to be creative director and director in agencies throughout the North West, including T3 and Life Creative, Matthews has specialised in marketing for the property sector in more recent years.

He said: “I have worked with the brand since its inception and, as a result, I have a real understanding of the brand values and the quality of the homes we develop.

“I have worked closely with Philip during this time. I will now bring my skills and expertise in-house and work with the team to further establish PH Homes as a developer who is creating the finest of homes in the most desirable of locations.”

PH Homes currently has vacancies in the technical and construction department.

Managing director Philip Hughes said: “I’m delighted to welcome Dave who will be leading on all of PH Homes’ marketing activities both traditional and digital.
 
“Due to our continued expansions we have a number of further vacancies and are looking for high quality, motivated people in all areas of the business. It is an exciting time for PH Homes as we continue with our growth strategy.
 
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BDB, the international B2B marketing communications specialists, has enhanced its 30-strong team of professionals with the addition of experienced senior account manager, Hannah Stirling.

The new appointment signals the start of another strong year for the Altrincham, Greater Manchester-based agency, following a number of new clients and three new hires.

She joins BDB from Manchester-based Tangerine where she was an integral member of the B2B team, managing construction and manufacturing accounts.

With more than five years of solid B2B experience, Stirling will be using her extensive knowledge in these sectors to lead global, integrated communications campaigns.
 
Focusing on the construction, manufacturing, engineering and food ingredients sectors at BDB, Stirling will be growing client accounts, in addition to working with the team on internal and crisis communications strategies.

As a former co-chair of PRCA NextGen North West – a group that offers advice and support to inspire the next generation of communications professionals – Stirling also brings a wealth of PR experience to the mix.
 
Matt Smith, managing director at BDB, said: “Hannah is another fantastic addition to our team at BDB. Her experience and technical B2B expertise make her a real star and she is already having a hugely positive impact on the clients she works with.

“I’m thrilled that as an agency we are continuing to both attract and retain the talent available in the increasingly competitive market place.”

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A Lancashire motor group has drawn up plans for further growth with the appointment of a group property manager.

Phil Lambert has been appointed group property manager at the rapidly-expanding Chorley Group.
 
The family-run business, which turned over £130m in the last financial year, employs 240 people across its eight dealerships in Burnley, Preston, Chorley, Wigan and Blackpool.
 
In his role Lambert will look at future opportunities for the business to expand its property portfolio and also project manage any alterations, maintenance or refurbishment works of the group’s existing building and property.
 
Lambert, who was previously associate director at architectural design firm Corstorphine and Wright, said: “I’ll be looking out for potential new opportunities and making sure we are able to react quickly and effectively when they arise.

“This is an industry that’s forever changing, and it is critical for us to have the ability to move and change with it.

“I’m delighted to be given this opportunity at one of the region’s most dynamic businesses. It’s a very exciting time to be joining them.”

Chorley Group sales director Adam Turner said: “We have plans in the pipeline to open dealerships in new territories in the region and having someone of Phil’s calibre as part of the team will help us enormously.
 
“This is a new role for the Chorley Group but having our in-house design and project management services now means we’re far less reliant on external skills and services and will be much more fleet of foot.”