People: Naismiths; Euroforge; RSM

Real estate consultancy Naismiths and construction consultancy Edmond Shipway have appointed Anthony Watson as group business development director.

Bringing more than 30 years of construction industry experience to the role, Watson has held senior positions across a range of organisations, including Blue Chip PLCs and SMEs.

He has joined the group in a national strategic role, and will primarily be based in the Birmingham office.

With relationship-building skills and a track record of driving growth and maintaining strong margins, his expertise will be important as the group continues to progress following a very strong first five months.

Watson said: “Naismiths and Edmond Shipway are poised for significant growth following the successful merger this year, and I’m excited to join the team and get stuck into business and relationship development. I’m already getting an understanding of the business’s strengths and the value we can bring to both new and existing clients, so I’m looking forward to helping to further establish the offerings of both businesses.

“The core values and the team’s appetite to succeed stood out to me and align with my own values of honesty and trustworthiness, and I’m sure I’m going to enjoy being part of this hardworking and ambitious group.”

Ben Harwood, group chief executive, said: “Anthony joining the team marks another exciting step forward for Naismiths and Edmond Shipway. He has a huge amount of experience that will be invaluable as we continue to grow and develop the group, and the results he has achieved in his previous roles speak for themselves.

“We’re looking forward to the new perspective and energy Anthony will bring to the team, and we know his ambition is going to be a huge asset.”

A West Midlands manufacturing figure has been appointed as the chair of the automotive group within Euroforge.

Steve Morley, the current president of the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM), will take up the role at the association’s high-profile Autumn Summit in Milan on October 21st.

He will be responsible for developing a strategy to tackle some of the major issues impacting European automotive forgers, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), fluctuating energy prices and the availability of material across the supply chain.

The experienced auto specialist has also put together an industry-packed speaking line-up for the event from across Europe, featuring Matt Pearson (partner at EY Pantheon), Philippa Oldham (stakeholder engagement director at the Advanced Propulsion Centre) and Euclides Coimbra (senior partner and managing director of the Kaizen Institute).

Together, the trio will give Euroforge members a clear insight into the current industry landscape, as well as explore access to funding for new technologies and how firms can maximise efficiencies through new process implementation.

Steve Morley

The Autumn Summit is an important precursor for conFAIR 2024 on the 22nd and 23rd of October, which has a full house of exhibitors for the only European event specifically designed for the forging industry.

Morley said: “I’m very honoured to have been appointed as the Chair of the Automotive Group, one of the most prestigious roles within an organisation that now represents more than 350 members
across Europe. We are at a very important time in the evolution of forging as an industry, especially when you consider the emergence of electric vehicles and the types of parts we can supply. One
of my roles will be to take all the intel we’re getting on the ground and funnel it into a
strategy that moves us forward as one collective.”

Morley has been President of the West Bromwich-based Confederation of British Metalforming since 2018, working with CEO Geraldine Bolton and its policy advisers to lobby the UK government on key factors affecting the sector.

Some achievements secured in the last six years have included increasing steel-safeguarded quotas domestically, lobbying on the escalation of rising energy costs and providing intelligence on CBAM to members ahead of its European introduction.

Geraldine Bolton, CEO of the Confederation of British Metalforming, said: “Steve has the experience, industry contacts and passion to make a really big difference as Chair of Euroforge’s Automotive Group.

“Importantly, he will be able to factor in some of the issues facing CBM members, ensuring they are represented alongside their European peers. He will also be in an ideal position to see new technologies developing at the earliest possible opportunity, intelligence that will help accelerate the growth of our domestic supply chain.”

Audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK has promoted Daniel Haden to audit director in its Birmingham office.

Haden joined the firm as senior manager in 2020, progressing to associate director in 2022 and now to audit director.

He has over 10 years of experience in delivering audits for a variety of organisations, including fast-growing entrepreneurial and private equity-backed businesses to larger, complex listed and international groups.

Daniel Haden

Haden is an expert in both International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (UK GAAP).

He has industry experience across many sectors, including retail and consumer goods, manufacturing, and engineering.

Haden, said: “I’m delighted to be promoted, my time at RSM has been extremely rewarding and enjoyable thanks to the people I get to work with and our diverse client base. I’m looking forward to building and strengthening relationships further, as well as growing our client offering. Within my new role, I hope to help develop talent in our teams so others can achieve their goals too.”

Helen Brocklebank, RSM UK’s regional managing partner in the Midlands, said: “I want to congratulate Daniel and a wider group of new directors on reaching this milestone in their careers. The promotions are a reflection of their talent, and consistent dedication and hard work. At RSM, we are committed to supporting and investing in our people, as they develop, and grow in skill and confidence. I’m looking forward to seeing them all flourish in their new roles.”