People on the move: Lyceum Capital; The Delivery Group; High Sheriff of Merseyside; TfGM; Exchange Chambers

 People on the move is sponsored by family law firm Hall Brown

Lyceum Capital, the investor in B2B services and technology companies, has unveiled Anthony Greensmith has joined the Firm to support its deal activity in the North.  

Greensmith joins Lyceum following a 14-year career at Montagu Private Equity where he was a board member and responsible for its northern operations, based in Manchester.

A chartered accountant, he spent six years in corporate finance at Ernst & Young (now EY) before joining Montagu.

In his new role, Anthony will be responsible for strengthening Lyceum’s relationships in the region and increasing the firm’s investment footprint.  

Jeremy Hand, managing partner at Lyceum Capital, said: “We are delighted to welcome Anthony to the team, as we expand our on-the-ground presence across the UK. As a seasoned dealmaker with more than two decades’ experience, his extensive local network will enable Lyceum to build deeper relationships with more businesses in the North.”

Greensmith said: “I have been a long-time admirer of the deals the team’s done and the value they have created alongside management teams.

“There are some great businesses in the region led by hungry teams wanting to unlock the potential in the businesses they run. Whether organically or through M&A, Lyceum is committed to creating market leaders and investing for growth. I’m sure that will resonate with CEOs and business owners alike.”

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Warrington-based The Delivery Group, which claims to be the UK’s fastest growing e-commerce and specialist mail delivery specialist, has appointed James Wilkins as its group operations and IT director, as it looks to build on exceptional growth after joining forces with P2P Mailing in October 2016.
 
Wilkins will develop and drive the Sunday Times Top Track 250 group’s operational strategy, having previously overseen significant investment in innovation at Secured Mail, one of the group’s founding member businesses.  

Paul Carvell, The Delivery Group chairman, said: “Our-commerce and specialist mail delivery grouphas grown by over 60 per cent in 2016 after joining forces with P2P,thanks in no small part to our continued investment in innovation.

“To achieve our ambitious growth forecasts for 2017 and beyond we have accelerated our already significant investment in disruptive technology and IT, which will generate a step change in the way we do business. James has demonstrated the qualities we need Group-wide through his work at Secured Mail and I have no doubt his expertise will be invaluable as we continually develop our services for our clients.”
 
As a director, Wilkins will support more than 500 staff across the three companies in the group and the five UK hubs from which they deliver, to an increasingly international audience.

Wilkins added: “I share in the board’s ambition to create an unrivalled domestic and international e-commerce and specialist mail distribution operation – expanding our revenue streams through increased integration solutions that will be key to that journey.”

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Brabners chairman and Wirral resident Stephen Burrows has been appointed as the next High Sheriff of Merseyside by the Queen.

Burrows, who has been one of the county’s Deputy Lieutenants since 2014, said “it is a great privilege” to take up the role.

The appointment of High Sheriff of Merseyside is made by the Queen in an ancient ceremony which dates back to the 16th century.

The custom began in the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1 (1558-1603) and is the method in which the High Sheriffs of the county palatine of Lancaster – Merseyside, Lancashire and Greater Manchester – are appointed.

Burrows will officially begin the role at his installation on Thursday, 20 April 2017 and the appointment will last for a period of 12 months.

Although a Scot by birth – he hails from the city of Glasgow – Burrows is no stranger to Merseyside having lived there for the past 25 years.

A banker by profession and now chairman of commercial law firm Brabners, he has been involved in many charities and organisations in the county over the years.

He said: “It is a huge honour and I am grateful for this incredible opportunity to serve the Merseyside region which has been my home for 25 years. I intend to make a meaningful contribution by supporting many causes, including the voluntary and educational sectors across Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral.

“It is an important role and I have every intention of doing all I can to ensure I do justice for the people of this great county.”

The office of High Sheriff has existed for more than a thousand years and is a voluntary and non-political role.

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The man who has overseen the completion of Metrolink’s expansion into the largest light rail network in the country has welcomed his successor into the driving seat.

Peter Cushing has formally handed over the leadership and day to day management of the network to Danny Vaughan, who has been his deputy since joining Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) from Luas, Dublin’s light rail network, in 2013.
 
Cushing replaced then-Metrolink director Philip Purdy in January 2013, having previously been involved with overseeing day-to-day operations on an interim basis.

He will continue in a part-time capacity to oversee the change in operator from RATP Dev UK Ltd to KeolisAmey.

Vaughan has taken up a new role as head of Metrolink.

Cllr Andrew Fender, chair of the TfGM committee, said: “Peter has been outstanding. He has played a vital role in successfully delivering one of the country’s largest transport projects in the Metrolink expansion.

“During his tenure – which, with the short-term impacts of the expansion felt most keenly, has been one of the most challenging periods in the network’s history – we have seen record-breaking patronage and year-on-year increases in passenger satisfaction.

“That is, quite simply, remarkable and the greatest tribute to his first-class stewardship.

“He can be incredibly proud of everything he has achieved and I wish him the very best for the future.
While I am sad to lose someone of his standing and calibre, I know the network is in incredibly good hands with Danny.”

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Exchange Chambers has welcomed one of the UK’s top independent mediators as a new member in Manchester.
 
Paul Johnson, who joins from Kings Chambers, has mediated in excess of 700 disputes with a success rate of around 90%.
 
His work as an independent mediator has been variously described by Chambers & Partners, The Legal 500 and parties as: “brilliant”; “magic”; “excellent”; “professional”; “calm”; “realistic”; “no-nonsense”; “imaginative”; “measured”; having “a steely determination and intelligence”; one who “inspires trust and confidence”; being the “top choice for many with technically challenging disputes”; with “an ability to both engage and find commercial solutions for parties.”
 
Johnson said: “I am delighted to join Exchange Chambers – a Northern powerhouse with strength in depth across the board.
 
“I find the challenge of helping parties resolve disputes hugely satisfying.  The desire to help was part of me when I first became a lawyer and remains at the core of my work as an independent mediator. I am looking forward to further developing my practice at Exchange Chambers.”
 
Tom Handley, Director of Chambers at Exchange Chambers said:

“Paul is widely recognised as one of the country’s leading mediators.  He has an outstanding reputation and we are thrilled to welcome him to Chambers.”