People: Freeths; Victoria PLC
Birmingham-based law firm Freeths has strengthened its intellectual property team with the appointment of director of patents, Richard Ellis.
Ellis brings with him a focus on protecting inventions and advising on patent strategy, joining from Murgitroyd.
With over 16 years of experience as a patent attorney, Ellis covers a wide range of fields including consumer goods, construction, medical devices, energy, automotive, aerospace and telecommunications covering all types of mechanical, electrical, electronic and software patents.
He has worked with various high-profile, multinational clients including Nokia, Rolls-Royce, Arm, and Jaguar Land Rover.
Ellis will work alongside the National Head of intellectual property Simon Barker to build a patent practice within Freeths, making the team a full-service provider of intellectual property services.
Barker said: “Richard’s arrival is instrumental in our growth strategy and in strengthening our services to clients, making us a leading full-service IP practice. It comes at an exciting time of growth for the firm and Richard’s wealth of experience will further complement that growth and our national capabilities.”
Managing partner of Freeths Birmingham Richard Beverley said: “Our Midlands offering has been bolstered tremendously over the last few months with Richard being the latest in a long line of recruits including the recent appointment of tax partner Stephen Jones in Birmingham. In our quest to continue attracting the best regional talent, I’m confident Richard will be an excellent addition to the team.”
Victoria, the international designer, manufacturer and distributor of flooring, announces the appointment of Roberto Moreno as the group chief strategy officer, and PDMR in the company.
Moreno brings 16 years of experience in banking, investing, mergers and acquisitions and corporate value creation across a wide range of industries in the United States and Europe.
Over the past three years, Moreno has led Victoria’s acquisition-based growth in North America.
Before joining Victoria, Moreno was a managing director at Sandton Capital Partners, a global private equity firm focused on special situations across the UK, Europe and North America.
At Sandton, he spearheaded the establishment and management of the firm’s operations in Spain, overseeing numerous investments and delivering exceptional returns for investors. He also served as Executive Chairman at Neoelectra, a leading power producer in Spain, where he oversaw significant profit growth, quadrupling the company’s value through strategic expansion efforts across Europe and Latin America.
Following this, Monero held the position of chief investment officer at E.L. Rothschild, a family investment firm with diverse holdings spanning media, wealth management, infrastructure, real estate, agriculture, and consumer goods.
He began his career as an investment banker at Deutsche Bank in New York. Roberto holds a degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Geoff Wilding, chairman of Victoria, said: “Roberto’s extensive experience and proven track record in driving strategic growth and delivering results make him an invaluable addition to Victoria’s senior management team. His leadership and expertise will play a crucial role in advancing our strategic initiatives and operational excellence projects – further solidifying our position as a leader in the global flooring industry. We are excited to welcome Roberto to his new role and look forward to the impactful contributions he will undoubtedly make.”
