People: Prime Accountants Group; Paragon Bank; Nicol & Co

Award-winning West Midlands accountancy practice Prime Accountants Group has announced Morgan Davies as its new managing director, succeeding the long-serving Kevin Johns.

Morgan formally takes over the role on September 1 as part of the firm’s advanced succession planning, which has been taking place behind the scenes for some time.

Kevin has worked for Prime, which has offices in Solihull, Birmingham and Coventry, for 31 years and has been its managing director since 2015.

As well as holding the positions of Solihull BID chairman and vice-president of the Solihull Chamber of Commerce, Kevin has spearheaded Prime’s fundraising efforts, which have seen the business raise tens of thousands of pounds for charities such as Solihull Life Opportunities (SoLO) and Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Morgan is one of the four original founding partners of Prime from 2007 and steps up from his role as director overseeing the firm’s audit and accounts department.

While Kevin is stepping down as managing director, he will continue to work with his portfolio of clients and remains on the senior leadership team.

To facilitate Morgan taking on his new role, fellow directors Jeremy Kitson and Paul Guise will take over his responsibility for audit and accounts.

Kevin, who was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year’s Honours list in 2019 for services to Solihull, said: “I’ve planned to gradually retire over the next few years, so handing over to
Morgan now means we will have a far more controlled and better transition.

“I’ll still be part of the leadership team, I’m still looking after my clients but I just won’t be leading on the day-to-day anymore.

“I said when we marked my 30th anniversary with Prime that I’ve been leaving for a long time! This is long-term succession planning and a natural progression in any business. I’m passing the baton to someone in Morgan who is exceptionally capable and well-positioned to keep the firm on exactly the right path.”

The promotion comes in a milestone year for Morgan, who has worked for the firm for 20 years and has been in practice for 30 years.

He said: “This is part of a succession plan we have worked hard on. I’ve been audit and accounts lead ever since I’ve been here at Prime, which is effectively half the firm, as well as being part of the senior leadership team.

“The experience that gives you is seeing every element of the business up close. It’s a natural fit, we
work closely together and I have supported Kev for years.

“The culture of this company is to develop people and empower them to succeed and grow, and this demonstrates that with aplomb. As I move up to managing director, two very capable directors in Paul and Jeremy move up to audit and accounts – it’s good for everyone within the pyramid at Prime.”

Dave Wilson

Paragon Bank has today announced the appointment of Dave Wilson as Managing Director of its Motor Finance division, replacing Julian Rance who is retiring after 28 years with the company.

To help ensure a smooth transition, Julian will remain with Paragon in an advisory role for a 12-month period.

Dave joined Paragon’s Motor Finance division in 2017 and was most recently Head of Business Development. He has a 25-year career in financial services, the majority of which spent in motor finance with brands including Close Brothers, Bank of Scotland and MotoNovo Finance.

Julian Rance joined Paragon in 1997 as Managing Director of the Consumer Finance division, incorporating motor finance. After a short spell working in the Mortgages division, he spearheaded Paragon’s growth in the motor finance market when the bank launched its specialist proposition in 2013.

Under Julian’s stewardship, the motor finance division has built a loan book of over £300 million. He has also overseen its diversification into the electric vehicle and leisure vehicle market, including motorhomes, static caravans and campervans.

Dave Wilson said: “I’m looking forward to building on the excellent foundations that Julian has developed, helping to drive the motor finance division forward. We have a brilliant team and excellent relationships with our brokers, dealers and customers, so are in a great position to achieve further growth.”

Julian Rance added: “After more than 30 years in financial services, most of which have been spent in motor finance, I feel the time is now right to step away to spend more time with my family and friends and focus on other personal interests. I’m leaving Paragon with a brilliant successor in Dave and a great team to support him in his new role. I will also be on hand to support the transition over the next 12 months.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my career and have made some great friends for life, both in Paragon and the broader industry.”

Nigel Terrington, Paragon Banking Group CEO, said: “Julian leaves with our utmost thanks for nearly three decades of excellent service to Paragon. He has built a fantastic business and great foundations for Dave to take forward. We wish him well in his retirement.

“Dave has been with Paragon for seven years and during that time we have been impressed with his drive and passion for his work. We are confident he will be a great success.”

A leading Worcestershire estate agency has made two senior staff promotions as a result of its continued strong performance in the recovering property market.

Dan Westwood, the sales manager at Nicol & Co’s office in Worcester, has been promoted to sales director covering all three of the firm’s branches, which also include Droitwich and Malvern.

Meanwhile, Molly Maguire has been promoted from assistant manager in Worcester to the position of sales and valuation manager for the same office.

Matt Nicol, founder and managing director of Nicol & Co, said: “I’m really pleased to be announcing these senior staff promotions which will help the company to continue its strong performance in the recovering property market.

“Dan has been impressive since joining the company five years ago, quickly climbing up the management ladder by delivering top results.

“I am confident that he will now make the new position of sales director his own and I’m looking forward to having him work closely with the sales and valuation managers across the company.

“Molly is another experienced agent who has progressed into sales since joining Nicol & Co nearly five years ago.

“It’s now the right time for her to steer the ship in Worcester and start contributing to our senior leadership team meetings.

“We are currently experiencing a new surge in demand as a result of mortgage rates starting to fall, and these promotions will ensure we are ready to provide all our customers with the best possible service as the economy continues to recover.”

Dan Westwood first joined Nicol & Co as a sales specialist in 2019, and was soon promoted to senior sales consultant, then assistant sales manager before becoming sales manager in Worcester in 2022.

Commenting on his new position as sales director, he said: “I’m thrilled at the way my career has developed with Nicol & Co and feel I am ready to make a real difference in my new role.”

Molly Maguire began as a team leader in the Client Relationship Centre at Nicol & Co at the start of 2020, soon moving into sales as a valuation consultant before becoming assistant manager in Worcester in November 2023.

She said: “I’ve loved my job so much since starting at Nicol & Co and feel this is a place where hard work and initiative are rewarded. I’m now relishing the opportunity to lead the team in Worcester.”