People: Connexus; Thursfields; Nicol & Co
Housing provider Connexus has welcomed Kate Smith as its new chief executive.
Smith joins the Shropshire and Herefordshire-based group from national housing and care provider Anchor, where she was group executive director of business services for five years.
She said: “I’m delighted to have joined Connexus at what is a very exciting time for the organisation. We continue to make good progress against our corporate plan, which aims to transform customer-facing services, invest in existing properties, and deliver around 200 much-needed affordable homes every year.
“I’m very much looking forward to meeting customers, colleagues, and key local partners to understand how we can work together to address the challenges facing our rural communities. These areas can often suffer from a lack of investment, especially when it comes to employment opportunities, funding, and infrastructure.”
Michele Ibbs, Connexus chair of the board, said: “Our long-term plan is for Connexus to be one of the leading rural housing providers in the country, and we’re delighted to have Kate on board to help us achieve this.
“Connexus has a stable platform on which to build following the strengthening of our governance arrangements over the past few years. Our next steps will see us develop and transform key services to better meet the needs of our local communities and become a truly customer-focused organisation.”
Thursfields has appointed Scott Vanes as the associate director overseeing their wealth preservation team at their Worcester office.
Vane’s expertise lies in wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and wealth preservation matters. Additionally, he is an associate member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.
Scott Vanes
Vanes said: “I am looking forward to connecting with clients and contacts and to providing them with specialist and bespoke advice and guidance in respect of their succession planning. Working alongside such dedicated professionals is truly exciting, and I am eager to contribute to the success of Thursfields.”
He has knowledge in the areas of inheritance tax and estate planning. He is adept at assisting individuals and families in dealing with private client matters such as domiciliary issues, corporate succession planning, lifetime trust creation, and administration.
Vanes expertise also extends to handling complex and delicate family structures and circumstances, which often call for a tactful, compassionate, and sensitive approach.
Terry Cooper, director and head of the private client department at Thursfields, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Scott Vanes to our team. His extensive knowledge and experience in inheritance tax and estate planning, particularly in assisting high net worth individuals with owner-managed businesses, make him a valuable asset for handling a variety of complex Private Client matters. Scott’s leadership in Worcester will undoubtedly enhance our Private Client department at Thursfields, and we are very excited to have him on board.”
Nicol & Co, an estate agency in Worcestershire, has appointed a marketing manager to support the company’s ongoing growth.
Hayley Knight, with over seven years of marketing experience, joins Nicol & Co from her previous role as the marketing and creative content manager at a technical consulting firm in the East Midlands. Mrs. Knight is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and holds a Level 6 CIM Diploma in Professional Marketing from Wolverhampton University.
Her previous roles include serving as a marketing manager at Owl Homes in Tamworth and as a marketing coordinator for Lioncourt Homes, a client of Nicol & Co.
Hayley Knight
Matt Nicol, managing director of Nicol & Co, said: “Knowing Hayley had all the skills we were looking for I am delighted to have been able to appoint her to this new role. Hayley brings a wealth of experience and sector knowledge to the team and her expertise will help us develop our marketing strategy as we continue our expansion in 2024.”
Knight said: “I’m thrilled to have been appointed as marketing manager at Nicol & Co and I am already enjoying working with the great people there to support the company’s future growth. I was fortunate to have worked with Matt and his team during my time at Lioncourt Homes, so I know only too well what a great and respected estate agency I have been fortunate to join.
“Nicol & Co have distinguished themselves as forward-thinking professionals in marketing, committed to delivering outstanding customer service, and actively engaged in supporting the local community. I am excited about contributing to the ongoing enhancement of their amazing reputation throughout Worcestershire.”
