Rating revaluations prompt new move for Deloitte

DELOITTE Real Estate has appointed James Thompson director to its Midlands practice.

Thompson has worked in Deloitte’s Business Rates Team since 1991 and is the current lead for the national team.

It said his move to the Midlands was a strategic decision by Deloitte to build a wider Business Rates Advisory Team in the region. With the 2017 Rating Revaluation coming into force in two and a half years, it expects many businesses will soon be looking to ensure they are well prepared for the changes and that their Business Rates bills are minimised.

Thompson has considerable experience in the rating field, both in the private and public sector. In addition to his work at Deloitte, he has been a past Chairman of the RICS Rating Diploma Holders Section and is a member of the NHS working group dealing with Hospitals and Health Centres. He is also an assessor and tutor for the RICS Rating Diploma Study Course.

Edwin Bray, head of Deloitte Real Estate in the Midlands, said: “James’s move to the Midlands reinforces our commitment to the region and strengthens our real estate offer to both corporate and public sector occupiers. Our business rates team has built an outstanding reputation for dealing with large and complex cases and the synergy with our wider consultancy sets us apart from the competition.”

BHSF issues hardy welcome to new NED

BIRMINGHAM-based health insurance and employee benefits provider, BHSF Group, has appointed John Hardy as a new non-executive director.

A native of Yorkshire, Hardy obtained his B.Com in Management Econometrics at Birmingham University and in 1971 joined the head office of Britannic Assurance. He qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries in 1982.  

He held a number of senior positions at Britannic including Senior Underwriter, Product and Business Development Manager and Business Architect. The continuous thread in his work has been to initiate and implement change.

Since retiring from Britannic, he has undertaken consultancy work and obtained further qualifications through Birmingham University and Worcester College.
BHSF Chief Executive Peter Maskell said: “Insurers are preparing for the introduction of a new and highly-technical solvency regime and are spending much more time analysing and managing risk.  

“We welcome John to the board and look forward to him bringing his broad business and actuarial experience to bear on our increasingly complex decision-making.”

Partner promotion for Grant Thornton’s manufacturing specialist

GRANT Thornton in Birmingham has announced the promotion of manufacturing specialist Neil Barrell to partner after just three years with the firm.

Before joining GT, Barrell, left, held a number of senior positions in manufacturing businesses including eight years as managing director of a Tier 1 supplier.

Experienced in both strategic and operational management, he has also led a number of business turnarounds, acquisitions and relocations and successfully completed an intensive programme of part time study into high performance management at Cranfield School of Management and Cardiff Metropolitan University.

In the last three years Barrell has advised a number of global OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. His first year with the firm was spent on various operational optimisation projects in Europe and Asia, culminating in taking a lead advisory role to Chinese car maker Geely Automotive Holdings on its acquisition of Coventry-based Manganese Bronze’s London Taxi International.

At the end of 2013, Barrell advised Arlington Industries Group on its acquisition of Remploy Automotive, which has bases in Birmingham, Coventry and Derby, while in the last 18 months he has successfully diversified into other sectors, recently advising international packaging business RPC Group on its acquisition of Chinese injection moulding specialist ACE Corporation and spending time in China analysing its five manufacturing facilities.

In addition to his promotion to partner, Barrell has been made Grant Thornton’s national head of Operations Consulting.
 
Barrell said: “This new enhanced role will allow Grant Thornton to share the concepts and best practices that we’ve developed over the last three years into other vital manufacturing sectors. Our team has specialist knowledge of automotive, aerospace, packaging, oil and gas, food and drink and pharmaceuticals – all sectors containing ambitious medium and large businesses hungry for growth, both domestically and globally.”

Birmingham-based Dave Munton, regional managing partner, said: “Neil joining Grant Thornton three years ago illustrates perfectly the firm’s approach to making innovative appointments of talented people with in-depth industry expertise and understanding.

“His rise from associate director to partner in just three years is evidence not just of Neil’s skills and capabilities but also his ability to assist our clients achieve their business objectives. I foresee Neil’s international expertise being particularly sought after in the years ahead as more businesses across the Midlands look across borders to fulfil their ambitions for growth.”