People: Venture Forge; Avison Young; Raworths Solicitors; and more

Halifax-based marketplace agency Venture Forge has welcomed a new senior Amazon account manager to its expanding team, following a year of record growth and repositioning, taking its total headcount to seven.

Imran Hoque will lead, manage, and implement Amazon strategies across Venture Forge’s client base.

He will help brands grow their profile and drive sales on the Amazon platform across a range of sales categories including fashion, pet supplies and cycling.

Hoque previously held a position at full-service digital marketing agency twentysix in his last role as an SEO Analyst.

Prior to this he created and sold private label brands via Amazon and has an academic background in Accounting & Finance as a graduate of Durham University.

Hoque has worked across a range of global brands such as Hitachi, GHD, NHS, City Electrical Factors, Virtual College and TPToys.

Adding him to the team rounds off a record year for the Venture Forge team, with 21 new clients added to the portfolio and existing clients reporting a 450% growth in revenue.

In December 2020, the agency became the first marketplace agency in the West Yorkshire region to join the prestigious Amazon Service Provider Network.

Andrew Banks

Venture Forge CEO, Andrew Banks, said: “We are delighted to welcome Imran on board.

“His appointment will make a significant impact on our clients and strengthen our position in the marketplace.

“Imran’s expertise will add real value across our client portfolio following a significant period of growth and repositioning for the agency.

“By growing our team, we can demonstrate to current and prospective clients that we are able to drive sales in the UK and globally for our existing and new clients and ensure they remain compliant on a complex and constantly changing platform.”

Hoque added: “I am excited to be starting my journey at a company like Venture Forge, who provide an excellent service and operate within a fast-growing and now much needed digital space – Amazon Marketplace.

“I look forward to helping brands and companies grow their Amazon sales, enhance their offering, improve their presence and ultimately drive profit within the world of Amazon.”

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Avison Young has promoted Will Frost and Rachael Foster in the firm’s Leeds office, with the two now taking on roles as an associate director and senior surveyor, respectively.

Frost originally joined the company 10 years ago as an administrator to the property management team.

He has since moved into service charge consultancy, where he has been working as a consultant and playing an integral role in growing this specialised area of the business.

Foster works in the land and development team, splitting her time across Avison Young’s Newcastle and Leeds offices, whilst also providing support to the Manchester office.

During 2020, she was seconded to the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF) for six months, working as an assistant investment manager within the property team.

There, she provided analysis on new investment opportunities and developer funding requests, in order to grow the fund’s property allocation.

Claire Paraskeva, regional managing director of Avison Young’s Leeds office, said: “In what was an unprecedented year, both Will and Rachael went above and beyond in their roles, ensuring our existing clients were supported, while also helping to grow the business.

“Their promotions are very well deserved and testament to the hard work and commitment they have demonstrated during the time they have been with us.

“I look forward to seeing Will and Rachael continue to go from strength to strength in the years ahead.”

Amongst others, Frost is now the lead account manager for one of Avison Young’s key UK clients, NHS Property Services.

While in addition to GMPF, Foster is very active in Yorkshire markets, providing invaluable support to clients such as Network Rail, Leeds and Wakefield Councils and West Yorkshire Police.

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Raworths Solicitors, in Harrogate, has added a new senior role to its Family unit as the team responds to increased demand for its services. 

Ellie Foster joins the law firm as legal director and her role will provide the Family unit, led by Carmelita Ardren, with an additional layer of senior support enabling the team to continue to build its client base.

Foster, who joins from Mills & Reeve in Leeds, has a record of handling complex financial family law matters, particularly financial arrangements on divorce and separation.

She is a qualified collaborative lawyer furthering the reputation of the Family unit as dispute resolution specialists.

She also advises on cohabitation issues and pre-marital and post-marital agreements.

Her new role will see her advise on high net worth cases, a key area of focus for the firm, in addition to assisting with marketing and business development.

Ardren, head of family said: “We have seen a significant growth in our high net worth client business.

“Ellie’s appointment will increase our capacity, enabling the team to grow to support the specialist area of work.

“She brings a depth of knowledge when handling complex financial affairs including pensions which will be of great benefit to our clients.”

Foster said: “I’m delighted to be joining Raworths, the firm has a strong reputation for its culture and approach to family law, which aligns with my own ethos and values.

“I’m looking forward to my new role, developing and growing the business with the team.”

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Leeds-based international products and services business, CPP Group, says Nick Cooper will be stepping down from its Board and his position as non-executive director with effect from 28 February 2021.

This is to focus on his executive role as general counsel & company secretary of Johnson Matthey Plc.

CPP chairman, David Morrison, said: “I would like to thank Nick for his substantial contribution to the company over the last few years in what has been a period of positive transformation for the business.

“He leaves with all our best wishes for the future.”