People: Law firm ends year with new appointments; Bank recruits CIO to drive digital growth

Midlands law firm Higgs & Sons has further strengthened its team with the appointment of a partner and a new associate.

Craig Ridge joins the business as a partner in the dispute resolution team, bringing with him more than 20 years’ litigation experience with specialisms in contentious wills, trusts and probate, while Michelle Weaver joins as an associate in the private client team.

Ridge began his training contract at FBC Solicitors in 2000, qualifying in 2002 before being made partner in 2008.

He said: “I am extremely pleased to join Higgs & Sons, a firm renowned throughout the Midlands for its ambition and vision. I am very much looking forward to adding value to our existing client base as well as looking to the acquisition of new clients.”

Head of dispute resolution, Julia Lowe, said: “We are delighted to welcome Craig who will play a crucial role leading the team dealing with high value and complex disputes surrounding wills, estates and trusts.

“At Higgs we take pride in continually adding strength to our departments, and Craig’s appointment reinforces our strategy to enhance the service we offer to clients. He will be a great addition to the team.”

Weaver started her legal career with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) in the family section at Wolverhampton Combined Courts before joining the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) in 2011 where she advanced to the position of senior lawyer. In 2018 Michelle obtained her higher rights for criminal and civil proceedings.

She is joining from OPG – a government body in England and Wales that, within the framework of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, protects and helps people stay in control of decisions about their health and financial affairs.

She said: “I am really keen to help continue to grow the Court of Protection team, using my expertise and knowledge in this area to provide advice tailored to the needs of individuals who may be going through a difficult time.”

Lucy Obrey, head of private client, said: “We continue to see a strong demand for advice around all aspects of capacity including lasting powers of attorney which are essential in planning for the future and ensuring your wishes and best interests are protected.

“Michelle’s strong academic credentials and extensive knowledge of civil law and court processes will be a real asset to Higgs, our clients and their families as we advise them in these key areas. We are delighted to have her on board.”
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Unity Trust Bank has appointed a new chief information officer, Ian Alderton, to drive forward its continued digital transformation and growth.

He joins Unity Trust Bank, headquartered in Brindley Place, Birmingham, with more than 25 years’ senior level digital, mobile and cloud technology experience across the banking and insurance sectors.

Most recently, Alderton was an associate partner, CIO Practice at EY. His previous roles include deputy general manager at the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, where he led the company’s digital organisational change, and chief information officer, Corporate Banking at RBS.

He will lead the technology strategy to develop new digital channels and capabilities, integrating digital with the bank’s personal service to deliver a truly omni-channel experience to customers.

He said: “I’m incredibly excited to join Unity Trust Bank and work with an organisation that not only enables businesses to grow, but makes such a positive impact. We all know that digital technology is having a transformational effect on businesses and society, but what really excites me is having the opportunity to design and shape that change.

“Unity is known for its personal service, with our UK-based service centre and network of relationship managers. One of our biggest opportunities is how we use technology to deliver a value-added proposition.

“The culture here at Unity, supported by a breadth of experience across the team, enables us to be both nimble and knowledgeable in our approach. We are looking to accelerate the pace of change, defining and marketing new products and services that will enable both Unity and our customers to become more resilient, to scale, and to take advantage of the transformational impact of technology.”