People: Sheffield Chamber of Commerce; Genuit; Morgan Sindall Construction; and more
Sheffield Chamber of Commerce has confirmed its new permanent chief executive is Louisa Harrison-Walker.
She has led the organisation in an interim capacity for the past 24 months with joint interim executive director Alexis Krachai, who returns to a non-executive director role.
They stepped into the role during the pandemic as part of a “turn around project” that has included restructuring the organisation, redesigning the financial management and re-imagining the core membership offer.
Harrison-Walker said: “As joint interim directors, our aim has been to create solid foundations on which to work collaboratively with our members, anchor institutions and stakeholders in the region.
“We know we are stronger when we come together. It is this spirit of collaboration and community that I’d like to foster further.
“Chamber colleagues, those on our council and our board, and the incredible members in our Chamber community deserve credit for playing their part in the Chamber network, convening, championing and supporting businesses and communities here in Sheffield.
“I’d like to put on record my thanks to my job share Alexis. With a significant business to run himself, we’ve been lucky to have him involved much longer than the original six months we both planned.”
Karen Mosley, Sheffield Chamber president, added: “Louisa brings over 20 years’ experience and knowledge of working with organisations across our city. She is a truly passionate advocate for Sheffield and an inspirational leader.”
James Needham, Sheffield Chamber’s Board chairman, said: “Over the last two years Louisa, together with Alexis Krachai, have worked hard to build a solid foundation from which the Chamber can continue to grow.
“They have attracted over £1m funding to support skills and employment across the region, improved the financial standing of the Chamber, represented the voice of Sheffield businesses locally, regionally and nationally, while building a strong internal team.
“The Board would like to thank Alexis for his hard work and commitment to help us reach our current position of stability and are looking forward to his continuing support as a member of the Board.”
Harrison-Walker serves as both a trustee and non-executive director at South Yorkshire Housing Association; St Luke’s Hospice; Higher Education Partnership (with Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield); Common Purpose UK; and Made in Sheffield.
She is also co-chair of business group Sheffield Business Together and has helped deliver several community initiatives such as the Go Green Fence, an anti-pollution green wall at a city primary school and food bank donations totalling £182,000 for 16 foodbanks in Sheffield.
She is the chair of The Sheffield City Growth Board, the private sector board working alongside Sheffield City Council to support and promote economic development in the city.
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Genuit Group, a Leeds-based provider of sustainable water and climate management solutions for the built environment, says Kevin Boyd will succeed Ron Marsh as the company’s chair with effect from 1 November 2022.
Boyd joined the Board in September 2020 and was previously the chief financial officer of global engineering group Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc and group finance director for Oxford Instruments plc.
He is also a non-executive director of Bodycote plc and Emis Group plc.
He will remain on the Board to assist with the handover of the chair and will stand down from the Board on 31 December 2022, having completed nearly nine years of service.
Boyd said: “I am pleased to have been appointed chair of Genuit and look forward to working with the Board and the senior management team as we embark on the next stage of the Group’s development.
“On behalf of the Board, we thank Ron for his hard work and valuable contribution to the Group, and wish him every success for the future.”
Marsh added: “I am very proud to have led the Genuit Board through a period of substantial growth and change over the last eight years. I wish everyone at Genuit every success for the future and I look forward to working with Kevin to ensure a smooth transition.”
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Morgan Sindall Construction has affirmed its commitment to the Yorkshire and North East regions with the appointment of two new regional directors.
Ben Hall is the new area director for Yorkshire, while Alex Isted assumes the same responsibility for the company’s new North East operation – which will also incorporates Cumbria – with a new office in the region set to be revealed.
Isted has been with Morgan Sindall Construction since 2009 and moves to his new position from his previous role of integrated strategic business director, where his responsibilities included overseeing activities related to investment, frameworks, digital construction and social value and environmental initiatives.
In his new position, he will ensure the company’s North East operation is able to replicate the Yorkshire team’s success in recent years of delivering landmark projects across the public and private sectors while simultaneously bringing economic and social boosts to the communities in which it works.
He said: “It is a privilege to head our new North East office. Our Yorkshire team has delivered some transformational projects in recent years, the success of which has enabled us to expand our operations.
“Our new office will open at what is set to be a very difficult time for the economy and through close collaboration with local authorities, framework partners, developers and other stakeholders we are determined that our work will help address the issues that matter to the areas throughout the North East in which we will operate.”
Hall joined Morgan Sindall Construction as a quantity surveyor after graduating from Nottingham Trent University in 2009, and has risen up the ranks to oversee operations across Yorkshire.
He takes up his new role having most recently been commercial director for the Yorkshire and North East region.
He said: “The past few years have been incredibly exciting for our Yorkshire team. Across sectors including later living, education, health and residential we’ve delivered projects that have added value for clients and superior experiences for end users.
“Looking ahead, we want to build upon what we’ve established, using our intelligent solutions approach to enrich communities across Yorkshire.
“Alex and I have over 20 years’ experience at the business between us, and our new roles reflect Morgan Sindall Construction’s commitment to nurturing talent.”
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The Crime Department at McCormicks Solicitors of Harrogate has grown its ability to help people interviewed under caution with the admittance of criminal law executive Kate Develly as an accredited police station representative.
Despite the name of the accreditation, this means she can assist not only those interviewed by the police but also by other bodies, such as the Department for Work and Pensions, HMRC or the Environment Agency.
The accreditation scheme covers publicly funded criminal defence work and accredited representatives are usually called to a police station to advise and assist people who would otherwise have no legal representation.
Head of the Crime Department, Peter Minnikin, said: “Kate’s accreditation brings the total number of the team who can act in legally-aided police station visits to seven and comes at a time when we have been exceptionally busy so is very welcome.”
Develly joined the Criminal team at McCormicks last year.
