People: Business advisory firm recruits HMRC veteran; Law firm welcomes new head of planning; and more

An international customs advisor has joined business advisory firm Baldwins to help British businesses prepare for trade in a post-Brexit world and offer bespoke customs and excise duty advice.

Lucy Sutcliffe has been appointed as director of national customs duty at Baldwins after working for HMRC for over 20 years, and has moved to prepare a Brexit checklist for importers and exporters to follow whilst the UK enters trade negotiations over the next 11 months.

She arrives at Baldwins having held a senior strategy and policy role at HMRC, having led its central team that considers submissions from businesses to move goods across borders using Customs Special Procedures.

Her new role will see her advising businesses, importers and exporters on how to drive logistical and financial efficiencies when moving goods to the EU and other global markets.

She said: “Companies might feel they can wait until they know what kind of trade deal we are going to strike with the EU before proactively planning for the future, but businesses should prepare certain areas of their business now to minimise future disruption.

“There will inevitably be fundamental changes to the way businesses trade with EU countries from January 2021 – such as the use of customs documentation – because we will be leaving the customs union; and this is why businesses need to familiarise themselves now with these requirements, whilst considering what else may be needed.

“Preparing a business for one of the biggest sovereign changes in our recent times is very complex, which is why I’d urge all business owners to seek sound professional advice at the earliest opportunity to consider the options available.”

Praveen Gupta, national head of tax at Baldwins, added: “Lucy brings a wealth of knowledge that is going to be crucial for the businesses we serve across the UK, and we are delighted to have her on board.

“While there is the transition period in place, we would urge businesses to start planning now if they have not already, and if they have, to consult an expert to check if there are any areas they have not considered.”
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Birmingham-based law firm The Wilkes Partnership has expanded its international reach by appointing Leenamari Aantaa-Collier as partner and head of planning.

Aantaa-Collier is a renowned specialist in public and private sector areas, including work for the NHS on issues arising from applications, obligations, appeals and plan making. Her expertise also spans to litigation, energy subsidy issues and advising the select committee in the House of Lords on the conflict between the planning and licensing regimes.

At The Wilkes Partnership she will use this experience to lead the planning team in navigating planning legislation for clients as well as working to grow the firm’s reputation in both the private and public sector.

She said: “I’ve joined Wilkes because I know that the legal talent here is very strong and the culture right for me. After being at Wilkes earlier in my career, I feel like I am coming home and I want to help continue the good work that has been done for clients already as well as help grow the firm.

“We have hit the ground running using our planning expertise to help clients diversify, use their land in innovative ways and adapt to become more sustainable businesses. Good planning law can unlock so much potential for both public and private sector businesses, and that is exactly what we aim to do for clients.”

Nigel Wood, senior partner at The Wilkes Partnership, says: “Leenamari’s appointment is a crucial step in our development. During decades of legal experience, she has developed an international reputation for great work in planning across both the public and private sector – this will be priceless to the development of our planning team. Her business knowledge and connections in Finland will also prove valuable as our firm has been growing into new jurisdictions in recent years. We’re very happy to welcome Leenamari to the team and I’m looking forward to working with her.”

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A marketing and communications specialist that has worked with some of the world’s biggest brands has joined M3 as part of the firm’s ambitious expansion plans.

The full-service Birmingham-based advertising agency has appointed Lennon Kelly as client services director and is looking to tap into his wealth of experience and brand knowledge with Coca-Cola, Unilever, Nokia, GSK and Emma Bridgewater to attract new clients as it targets £5m turnover for the year.

Turnover of £250,000 has already been secured from a series of new clients such as Polka Dot Travel, Comma Group and a new website build for an international Football Association.

Nick Lovett, managing director at M3, commented: “This is a fantastic appointment for our business and shows how far we’ve come in recent years to attract someone of the calibre of Lennon.

“His depth of knowledge covers global brands, digital design and build, FMCG/Retail, key account management and time spent in the sports and hospitality sector and we’re looking forward to seeing how he applies this experience to the exciting roster of clients we have across our business.”

Kelly, who has worked for a raft of UK agencies and with sporting institutions from Premier League football clubs to major golfing championships, said: “M3 had an excellent 2019 with turnover hitting a record £4m, but this is just the start.

“We’re proving that an agency, with its creative heart in the West Midlands, can attract and deliver global campaigns and my appointment reinforces our desire to accelerate the creation of a fully integrated Client Services Department.”