Catalyst strengthens with two new dealmakers

A STRENGTHENING deals sector has prompted Catalyst Corporate Finance to reinforce its Birmingham team with two new appointments.

Robert Young has a degree in International Business with Spanish from Loughborough University. During his degree he spent a year working in Mexico City for a hedge fund and personal financial advisory company.

Post graduation he joined KPMG where he qualified as an ACA in 2012 following which he then moved into debt advisory.

Commenting on his move, Young said:”I wanted to move into an M&A role and gain greater client exposure. I am looking forward to working with a team which has a strong reputation for working on quality deals.”

Vernan Richards, a graduate from Manchester with a degree in Management Accounting and Finance, also qualified as an ACA in 2012. He trained at PwC in Birmingham before moving into transaction services in London, where he has spent the last 18 months.

“I was very keen to work in the mid-market advisory and the opportunity to do so, at a firm acknowledged to be best in class, was compelling”, he said.

Andy Currie, Managing Partner at Catalyst, said: “We continue to invest in our business recruiting across the board. Having already completed 10 deals in 2014, we are looking forward to a strong performance throughout 2014.”

Change at BHSF as senior broker retires

Roger Kemsley, senior broker manager at BHSF, the Birmingham-based employee benefits, healthcare insurance and HR services firm, is to retire.

Kemsley joined the firm 11 years ago from Forester Health, and previously enjoyed a very successful career in the PMI industry with AXA PPP.

He said: “Producing £30m plus of new business premium in a year back in my PPP days was certainly a highlight for me, but possibly more rewarding has been my part in constructing BHSF’s presence in the intermediary market.  

“Many intermediaries still do not fully understand what health cash plans can do for their clients. Nor do some of them understand the vast range of services available from not-for-profit provider BHSF. However, hopefully I have done my little bit to spread the word and to build awareness.”

Brian Hall, managing director of BHSF Services said: “Roger’s undoubted experience and the breadth of his connections in the industry have certainly served us well, and we would not be where we are today without him.”

His replacement as senior broker manager is Jonathan Byfield (pictured), who also has an AXA background.

Promotions at Crowe Clark Whitehill

AUDIT, tax and advisory firm Crowe Clark Whitehill has announced a series of promotions at its Black Country office.

Clare Russon, who became an assistant manager on January 1, has now taken a further step up to manager.

Other moves have seen Hayley Quinn, Jill Turner Smith, Mark Green and Kelvin Simmonds all become assistant managers.

Midlands managing partner Johnathan Dudley said the promotions rewarded hard-working and long-serving staff, some of whom had started as raw recruits.

“You can’t beat experience and this is what they give the firm and our clients. Their deep knowledge of the Black Country and what makes it tick is a big advantage in a highly competitive marketplace,” he said.