People: BK Plus; Paragon Bank; CIRO

BK Plus has announced the promotion of Amy Cotterill to Audit Partner at the Aldridge office, becoming the youngest partner in the firm’s history at 27.

From starting her career straight out of school to now leading BK Plus’s expanding Aldridge audit team, Amy’s dedication and expertise have been instrumental in shaping the firm’s success to date.

Amy’s promotion comes at a pivotal time as BK Plus’ audit portfolio continues to grow rapidly. Known for her exceptional client relationships and strong leadership skills, Amy has become a trusted leader within the Aldridge office and across the audit function.

Chris Hession, Head of Audit at BK Plus said: “Having worked with Amy previously, I’m delighted to see her become an Audit Partner at BK Plus. Her commitment to clients, her leadership within the team, and her depth of expertise have made her an invaluable member of our audit department. I am confident that her continued leadership will drive our success as we expand our services to meet client needs.”

Ed Hill, Managing Partner of BK Plus said: “Amy’s career journey is a fantastic example of our commitment to growing talent from within. She joined BK Plus as one of the first members of our audit team. Her promotion to Partner is well-deserved, and we are excited to see her continue to lead our team with the dedication and excellence she’s known for.”

David Wilson

Paragon Bank’s Motor Finance division has announced a new team structure, with five promotions to senior roles within the division.

Geoff Duncalf, who has worked at Paragon for over six years, has been promoted to Head of Sales, with external regional and key account managers now reporting to him. Geoff and his team will continue to work closely with introducers and dealers to facilitate motor finance solutions.

In addition, Steve Mullins, who has been with Paragon for 20 years, has been promoted to Senior Manager of Sales and Business Development and will be leading the internal sales and service functions.

From an operational perspective, David Brampton has been appointed to a newly-formed role as Senior Manager in Operations and Credit. David started his career in underwriting at Paragon, before moving on to Quality Monitoring and Risk more recently and will now be responsible for operational development.

Nigel Saunders who has had a career with Paragon spanning 37 years has also been promoted to Senior Manager and is responsible for ensuring the business keeps pace with the ever-changing regulatory landscape.

Finally, Eamonn Pearson joins the team as Senior Development Manager. Eamonn joins the team with a wealth of experience in motor and asset finance, holding positions at Close Brothers and Aldermore previously. Eamonn will work across both sales and operational functions and be responsible for developing Motor Finance’s longer-term proposition.

The changes to the team come as Paragon Motor Finance recently announced the promotion of David Wilson to Managing Director of the division after long-standing Managing Director Julian Rance announced his retirement in September.

David Wilson, Managing Director of Paragon Motor Finance, commented: “I’m delighted that we have been able to promote some of our team members to these new positions. It’s a testament to the culture at Paragon that we always strive to promote from within and reward our team for their hard work and dedication to the Motor Finance division.”

“In an ever-changing marketplace, this new team structure will help us to ensure we’re supporting our introducers and clients and offering the best service we can.”

Adam Fenton

The Chartered Institution of Railway Operators (CIRO) has announced Adam Fenton as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). The appointment follows an extensive recruitment process and marks an exciting chapter in CIRO’s leadership evolution under new CEO Phil Sherratt.

Adam has been an integral part of CIRO for over eight years, most recently serving as Learning and Development Manager. Under his leadership, CIRO’s academic programmes have grown to achieve a level of professionalism and seamless delivery that has earned glowing feedback from learners and employers alike.

He spearheaded the development of CIRO’s rail-centric senior leader MBA programme in collaboration with Keele University. Set to launch in February 2025, this flagship programme offers rail professionals an industry-specific Level 7 qualification, filling a critical gap in rail education by combining advanced leadership training with sector-focused expertise.

In his new role, Adam will oversee the strategic direction and operational improvement of some of CIRO’s most critical services including Learning and Development, Apprenticeships, the Awarding Organisation, and End-Point Assessment (EPA). He will be responsible for driving innovation across the organisation, streamlining operations, developing new partnerships and ensuring CIRO remains at the forefront of professional development in the rail industry. Working closely with CEO Phil Sherratt, Adam will play a pivotal role in delivering ambitious strategic initiatives that align with CIRO’s mission to advance the knowledge and skills of rail professionals.

Commenting on the appointment, CEO Phil Sherratt said: “During a rigorous recruitment process, Adam clearly articulated his vision for taking CIRO’s highly successful educational offering to the next level. In his eight years at CIRO, Adam has demonstrated his capability and expertise leading our academic programmes and short courses, forging strong partnerships, and ensuring successful delivery. I am looking forward to working with him as we lead CIRO into an exciting future.

“I would also like to thank Annette Shipley, both for her ongoing work leading our educational offering and supporting me as Deputy CEO, and for her hard work and invaluable support throughout this recruitment process.”

Adam Fenton added: “I am honoured to take on the role of Chief Operating Officer at CIRO during this exciting time. Having been part of CIRO’s evolution for more than eight years, I look forward to driving forward its mission to empower rail professionals through innovative and high-quality learning opportunities. Together, we will continue to strengthen CIRO’s standing as a leader in rail operations education.”