People on the move: Avecto; Civic Engineers; Furness Building Society; Bring Digital; Clarion Wealth Planning; Armstrong Craven

Global endpoint security software company Avecto, based at Trident Business Park, near Manchester Airport, has appointed industry veteran Marco Peretti to its senior management team as chief technical officer.

Peretti has a wealth of experience in the security industry having founded a number of companies including SecureWave, where he pioneered some of the first application and device control solutions.

He was also co-founder of software company BeyondTrust and the inventor of the first privilege management solution for Windows.  

Avecto’s security technology protects more than eight million endpoints across the globe, and its clients include 92 government agencies, seven of the world’s largest banks and more than 40 educational institutions.

After more than 15 years’ experience designing and bringing security solutions to market, Marco has been appointed to oversee and drive Avecto’s development teams in Manchester.

Working alongside Avecto’s co-founders, he will also play a key role in executing the company’s long-term vision to become the world’s leading endpoint security software firm.

Mark Austin co-founder and CEO at Avecto, said: “Marco is a pioneer when it comes to next-generation security technology. He is the full package – he has the technical skills to innovate, the ambition to succeed and the drive to make things happen.”

::

Fast-growing structural and civil engineering practice Civic Engineers has appointed Michael Small, 33, as senior engineer.

An expert in the practical and research side of engineering, landscape architecture and urban design, Small joins the practice from CIRIA (Construction Industry Research and Information Association) where he worked on the environment/urban design team.

He previously worked for WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff and Quinn Design Associates in Canada.
 
Small joins the 50-strong practice at a time of significant growth. With its main studio in Manchester and additional studios in London and Leeds, he will work on projects across the UK for clients including borough councils, developers and house builders.

Director Rob Westcott said: “We are delighted to welcome Michael to the practice. His skills and expertise fit perfectly with our ambitions and our passion for creating and delivering healthy cities through our design of buildings, structures and public spaces.

“Michael’s knowledge and application of biodiversity, green infrastructure and water sensitive urban design is crucial. He will play a key role within our team, working with clients to provide solutions that ensure our neighbourhoods and streets are healthy, resilient to climate change and ultimately make a positive contribution to the quality of a place and a real difference to the wellbeing of the people who live and work there.”

Small said: “It’s great to have joined Civic Engineers, particularly at a time when they have grown significantly and increased their regional and national presence. They have a fantastic reputation for delivering high quality placemaking projects that are attractive, functional and architecturally inspiring.”

::

Barrow-in-Furness-based Furness Building Society has announced the appointment of Matthew Dobson as finance director.

Dobson has more than 15 years’ banking experience having occupied senior roles across both treasury and finance at Barclays and more recently as head of debt capital at Williams & Glyn treasury.

The society’s chairman, Colin Millar said: “The board is delighted to welcome Matthew into the team, his proven ability to build, develop and lead teams across a broad range of areas and skills in Treasury and Financial management will be an asset to the Society and we all look forward to working with him to drive the Society forward.”

Dobson said: “I am looking forward to working for a strong, independent and regional building society which is committed to remaining as such.”

Dobson lives within the society’s heartland in Arnside, Cumbria and is a keen sportsman enjoying cycling and rugby. In his youth he played rugby for England Under 18s and also for his Cambridge University team.

::

Bolton-based digital marketing agency Bring Digital has recruited a new head of social.

Liam Foy joins Bring from myclever Agency after five years with the business.

Foy has experience delivering award-winning campaigns with national and international brands including Gumtree, Bench, Visit England and TransPennine Express.

“I’m really excited to be joining the Bring Digital team as they’re currently looking at developing their social offering and you can just feel the passion that everyone has within the business to help keep the agency moving forward,” he said.

The appointment comes after another strong year of growth for Bring Digital which saw a number of client wins including Ann Summers and Merlin Cycles.

Bring Digital currently provide social media services for a wide range of clients, including DW Sports, Hancocks Jewellers and The Vincent Group.

Bring Digital also saw a number of existing clients increase their paid social budgets during 2016, something which operations director Tom Rosillo expects to continue into the new year.

He said: “Our clients are really starting to see the benefits of investing in paid social advertising to deliver key messages to their target audiences.”

“We are confident Liam’s expertise delivering paid and organic social campaigns for a number of high profile brands will be a real asset to our business and we look forward to him taking our social offering to the next level,” added Tom.

::

Clarion Wealth Planning, based in Alderley Edge in Cheshire, has appointed Jonnie Whittle as a financial planner.
 
Before joining Clarion Whittle founded and managed Lasenby Knox, a wealth management and financial planning start-up. Prior to this he worked as a director at Cameron Chase.
 
Whittle will work to enhance Clarion’s profile among high net worth business owners across the north west, as well as to expand the firm’s network of professional connections.

Clarion managing director Ron Walker said: “Jonnie has established a significant profile in the north west professional services and business communities that will be an asset to Clarion as we embark on an ambitious growth drive.
 
“He is highly experienced in advising hard-working, entrepreneurial business owners how to achieve their desired lifestyle. His knowledge and expertise of investment and cashflow management for business owners will strengthen Clarion’s niche wealth planning services.”

Whittle said: “What attracted me the most to Clarion was how much emphasis the firm places on the interaction between its clients’ personal and business affairs. You have to understand both elements to advise business owners properly.

“I’m looking forward to working with clients to develop bespoke, long-term strategies that help them achieve exactly what they want from life.”

A former professional rugby player with a degree in physics from the University of Manchester, Whittle joins Clarion during its latest stage of expansion, which the company plans to continue throughout 2017. 

::

Global talent mapping and pipelining Armstrong Craven has made senior hires to spearhead two of its sector practices.

Adam Jackson has joined as practice director, financial services, while Nick Bunkum comes on board as practice director, consumer and industrial.

The recruitment drive comes at a time of global growth for Armstrong Craven, headquartered in Hale, Greater Manchester. The company has seen significant growth in both Asia Pacific and the United States during the past 12 months.

Jackson was previously managing director at the international recruitment firm Astbury Marsden, working closely with many blue chip clients.

Bunkum has worked across various sectors in senior recruitment roles within Europe and internationally for over 20 years. Most recently, he was a director with Connaught Search Solutions.

Matthew Mellor, CEO of Armstrong Craven, said: “These are two significant appointments for Armstrong Craven. Both Adam and Nick have vast experience working with clients on a global level and they will now be responsible for driving international growth in two of our key sectors – Financial Services and Consumer and Industrial.

“We have seen exceptional growth across the business in the past 12 months. Our Asia Pacific office has quadrupled revenues since 2014 and is now firmly established working with some of the biggest corporate names. In the United States, we have seen growth in excess of 100% since 2014.

“Clients are increasingly looking to take a more strategic approach to their talent attraction and retention.

“We are providing our clients with a mix of talent mapping, talent pipelining and talent insight services, either on a project or longer-term basis.”

Armstrong Craven’s other key sectors are Healthcare and Life Sciences, led by Practice Director Olivia Wynn, and Technology, which is overseen by Teresa Wykes.

In addition to the senior hires, Armstrong Craven has also recruited new people across project management, sales and business development and is continuing to look for further talent.