People: Liquidity Club adds to team with double hire; Director appointment for WM5G; and more

Liquidity Club, the financial intermediary established to help SMEs raise funding, has expanded its team in the Midlands and the North with two hires.

Joining as associate are Cameron Leitelmayer in the Birmingham office and Marcus Foster who will cover the northern region of England.

Leitelmayer will be working across the Midlands assisting Liquidity Club’s David Totney, Paul Varley and Will Mason to provide bespoke finance solutions for SMEs.

Leitelmayer is a part-qualified accountant having worked with The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley Police for three and a half years.

He said: “Joining Liquidity Club is a great new challenge for me. I’m pushing myself into the world of finance, with the knowledge that I have an experienced team around me.

“Using my background as an accountancy, I will be able to understand the financial position of a business, offering the best solution.

“I’m looking forward to meeting with businesses across the Midlands region.”

Meanwhile, Foster will be working with commercial director Adam Simpson in the north to support SME businesses in gaining access to cashflow solutions.

David Totney, managing director at Liquidity Club, said: “Bringing through new, young talent is always satisfying and with Cameron and Marcus I’m sure we have two professionals who will make an impact in their respective regions as we continue to help SMEs across the UK grow and succeed in their ambitions.”

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West Midlands 5G Limited (WM5G), an organisation set-up to deliver the UK’s first region-wide 5G testbed, has appointed Tracy Westall, a board level executive in the technology sector with more than 30 years’ experience, as one of its new non-executive directors.

The next generation of mobile technology recently arrived in the UK following the launch of 5G services from leading Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).

WM5G’s mission is to accelerate the deployment of these networks and to test, prove and scale new 5G services across the West Midlands. The company is part of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme.

Westall is currently a non-executive director for the Department for Transport – sitting on its Future of Mobility advisory board. She also advises Bruntwood SciTech – a joint venture to connect the UK’s most ambitious cities, regions and science and technology communities.

A governor of Birmingham City University – the venue for WM5G’s recent 5G demonstrations event – Westall also runs her own board advisory business Westmill Solutions.

She said: “I am eager to channel my enthusiasm for technology and innovation into new and exciting 5G services for WM5G. My experience in the sector will help us to drive forward the company’s plans and deliver the endless benefits that this technology can give to the people, businesses and entrepreneurs of the West Midlands.”

Igor Leprince, chair of the WM5G Board, added: “I’m delighted that Tracy is joining the WM5G Board. The West Midlands is the centre of transport innovation in the UK and Tracy’s expertise in technology and mobility will ensure that the West Midlands maximises the benefits from 5G in transforming the ways that people move around over the next decade.”

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Deborah Leary will become president of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) after her nomination as vice-president was approved at this year’s annual meeting.

The chief executive of Forensic Pathways becomes junior vice-president along with vice-president Steve Allen and president Saqib Bhatti.

Leary was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours  In 2008 in recognition of her commitment to entrepreneurship. She is the founder and chief executive of Forensic Pathways, a Snow Hill-based international  company developing innovative products, software, consultancy in the criminal business intelligence market.

Its consultancy division provides due diligence, cyber investigation, dark web monitoring and investigations and training, along with consultancy on the build of laboratories for law enforcement.

She said: “I’m thrilled to be chosen as a vice-president for the Chamber and greatly look forward to working with Saqib and Steve along with Paul Faulkner and his Chamber colleagues.”