People: Reward Finance Group; Excello Law; Reeves Media

SME funding provider Reward Finance Group has restructured its client relationship operations across the Midlands by promoting Paula Jones to head it up.

With Reward providing tailored business finance loans and asset based solutions to SMEs across the UK, Jones will now lead the client relationship team in the Midlands and also have responsibility for the North West.

She has vast knowledge of the financial industry, spanning 20 years. She previously worked for RBS Corporate Banking and has been with Reward for over six years.

Reward is fast closing in on 500 clients, that number has almost doubled over the last three years with its newer offices in Birmingham, London and Scotland contributing significantly to that pace of growth. These changes embrace the shifting nature of the business and transition to a truly national lender.

Steph Brown, regional director for Reward in the Midlands, commented: “We’ve achieved outstanding growth across the Midlands, but needed to restructure and invest in Paula and our client relationship operations to keep pace. She’s well placed to drive this area of the business forward in the region, as she has a proven track record and a strong client-centric approach to providing commercial finance which meets SMEs’ business needs.”

Jones added: “I’m relishing the opportunity to work more closely with the regional teams across the business and in the Midlands to deliver that consistency of service that will help fuel our long-term expansion. We envisage making further hires in this space throughout the year ahead.”

:::

Sarah Beer, a specialist compulsory purchase and compensation lawyer based in Warwickshire, has joined national consultancy law firm Excello.

Qualifying in 2004, Sarah has a background in property litigation and advises land and property owners and occupiers on the legal and practical issues facing those in the path of infrastructure projects, particularly the HS2 rail project. She joins Excello from Wright Hassall where she spent six years in their agriculture & estates, and development & planning departments.

The majority of her clients to date have been claimants impacted by the three phases of HS2. Her family’s farming business in Warwickshire is severely impacted by phase 1 of the project and it was this that prompted the start of her work in this area of law in 2010. She also acts for claimants affected by other schemes across the country.

On joining Excello, she said: “Excello gave me an immediately recognisable feeling of having found the perfect fit. I felt comfortable that the firm would give me the autonomy and control over my work, and my work life, that I have been needing subconsciously for a while. I’m excited to get going.”

Joanne Losty, chief operating officer, added: “Sarah has a specialist focus and experience that complements and adds value to our national real estate and property litigation teams.  We are delighted to have her on board and believe this will be a very positive move in her career.

“We continue to expand across all major legal hubs including the opening of our Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham and Stoke-on-Trent offices in the last four years.  We are always pleased to hear from senior lawyers looking for a more fulfilling work environment and greater control and flexibility in their legal career.”

:::

A decade after originally joining PR agency Reeves Media as an account executive, Matt Walker has returned as managing director, taking over from founder Clive Reeves who moves across into a CEO role.

Walker has spent five years since leaving the agency working in senior communications roles in the built environment, most recently heading up internal and external communications for national property and construction consultancy Ridge and Partners. Prior to that, he led external communications for Midlands-based property developer St. Modwen, working across its logistics, regeneration and residential portfolio.

Reeves Media provides a full service PR, content and video offering to clients across the UK from its central Birmingham and Newcastle upon Tyne offices.

Walker said: “I’m excited to be back with the Reeves Media team and shaping the next phase of the business’ growth. We have fantastic clients across the region and are underpinned by a talented and creative team. Now, we are ready to make a splash in growth sectors including property, manufacturing and automotive.”

Reeves said: “This is the execution of succession planning with home grown talent, and I’m pleased that Matt recognises the potential our business has and the opportunities there are for the future.

“We’re in a good position to change leadership, with great clients and a good culture that’s been recognised with a national Workplace Champions award. I’m confident that Matt will be leading a very successful enterprise.”

Reeves Media has recently secured a string of client wins including the Colmore Food Festival, Ridge and Partners, and the West Midlands Lieutenancy to promote regional events around the coronation of King Charles III.