People: BECG Group; Claritas Tax; and more

A management buyout (MBO) of BECG Group, which includes BECG, Liberty1, Cavendish Advocacy and SoCrowd, has been completed and a new leadership team is in place.

The group is now led by CEO Carl Daruvalla, formerly the group CFO.

Daruvalla and the new leadership team – which includes Gareth Morgan, Samantha Clough, Max Camplin, Jamie Gordon and Steven Park – are all existing directors in the business.

Stephen Pomeroy and Andrew Howard have stepped down from their roles as CEO and managing director respectively but will both continue their involvement in the group.

Pomeroy as taken on a new role as a founder non-executive director and chair of the advisory board and Howard will continue to work with clients on a part-time basis, act as a senior strategic advisor and will also sit on the advisory board.

Pomeroy said: “I am delighted to hand the over the mantle to Carl and the new leadership team, a team who have all helped shape our success over the years. Carl has been an invaluable business partner over the last five years and his commercial and leadership skills, with his sector understanding will provide the Group with a new CEO to take the company on the next stages of its success.  I feel enormously proud of what the BECG family has built, together with our staff, clients, friends and supporters.  Over the years, our growth, industry leadership position and the countless awards that we have won show the real impact of our work.

“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to lead a team of such talented and inspirational people, and to work alongside so many clients that we can call friends, and those who have worked with us to shape some of the most important issues and debates of our generation.

“I have absolute faith that the next phase of our group’s journey will continue to be impactful in supporting our clients and developing great professionals.”

Daruvalla added: “Under Stephen’s leadership as CEO, BECG Group has evolved to become an award-winning full-service communications consultancy with over 150 staff across the UK.

“By investing in strategic acquisitions and new technologies, the Group has built strong foundations to continue our evolution into a consultancy that is ready to service clients in an increasingly global, social and hybrid world.

“With our new leadership team in place, we’re focused on accelerating our growth plans – by investing in strategic insight, technology and creativity – and raising our profile as a globally recognised communications leader.

“Throughout this next step in our growth journey, our focus will continue to be on providing exceptional services that set new standards for clients and the sector, and to help redefine strategic communications for a changing world.”

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Claritas Tax has announced the arrival of Katie Edwards, senior manager, to its team.

Edwards will bolster the expanding transaction tax and privately owned business tax service lines at Claritas. She has previously worked for Big Four and boutique tax advisory firms specialising in advising mid-market businesses, entrepreneurs and family offices on a range of tax issues throughout their business life cycle.

Edwards said: “I am thrilled to join Claritas and look forward to working with such a high-performing tax team. Their ambitions are strong, which matches the market demand, and with my broad-ranging experience I feel that I can support them further to enhance the services provided to clients to navigate tax challenges and achieve their commercial objectives.”

Iain Wright, Partner at Claritas, said: “Katie is a key hire for Claritas. Her arrival is a further boost to our market-leading tax advisory service. We are committed to building a best-in-class team that advises and supports our clients fully as they navigate the increasingly complex and ever-changing world of tax.”

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A Shropshire building contractors has made an appointment to its senior management board.

Charlotte Davies, the former finance manager at Pave Aways Building Contractors, has been promoted to the newly created role of finance director.

She will sit on the senior management board and work alongside managing director Steven Owen, commercial director Victoria Lawson and construction director Jamie Evans to play a pivotal role in steering the firm’s development plans.

Davies joined Pave Aways in 2016 and holds a CIMA diploma in management accounting. She is working towards becoming a chartered global management accountant.

Owen said: “This is a key move for Pave Aways and Charlie’s expertise will inform our short and long-term strategies for a sustainable future for the business. We have a healthy order book and our financial position is strong and this is an exciting new era for us. Charlie’s dedication to Pave Aways and our team is second to none and we’re delighted to welcome her to the senior management team.”