People: NG Bailey; Stewarts; DLA Piper; and more
Leeds-headquartered independent engineering and infrastructure services business, NG Bailey, has appointed Simon Ball to its Facilities Services team as its new work winning director.
He will play a pivotal role in driving innovation, customer experience and business growth across the company’s expanding Facilities Services portfolio.
Ball brings a wealth of experience in facilities management to his new role, having previously held senior positions at Equans, Mitie and Interserve, where he specialised in delivering strategic solutions for clients with critical assets, in the corporate, industrial, manufacturing, transport, utilities and government sectors.
He said: “It’s an exciting time to be joining NG Bailey’s Facilities Services team as it continues its mission to maintain exceptional and more sustainable spaces.
“NG Bailey has a strong reputation in the industry and I’m looking forward to contributing to its continued success and supporting the evolving needs of our clients.”
Sarah Hotchen, managing director Facilities Services, said: “Simon’s proven track record in driving strategic growth and building lasting client relationships makes him an exceptional asset to our business.
“As we continue with our long-term strategy and growth plans for our Built Environment Division, our work winning team will be essential to our goals and we are looking forward to having Simon’s experience in our team.”
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Law firm, Stewarts, has confirmed that five lawyers have been promoted to its partnership in 2025, including one in its Leeds office.
The new partners are: Anastasia Nourescu in Tax Litigation; Joe Mitchell and Ed Holmes in Commercial Litigation; Nadia Krueger-Young in Medical Negligence; and Andrew Benzeval in Personal Injury.
Managing partner, Stuart Dench, said: “We are pleased to appoint five brilliant partners and one brilliant legal director from 1 May 2025.
“This impressive group represents the next generation of partners who will drive the firm’s strategy in the future.
“We have also further strengthened our business services group through a number of key promotions this year.”
The new Leeds partner is Ed Holmes who specialises in commercial litigation, civil fraud, asset recovery and crypto disputes.
His clients include foreign states, pension and sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, corporates and high-net-worth individuals.
He is a member of the Crypto Fraud and Asset Recovery network. Holmes trained and qualified at a large US firm in London before working for several years at a top-ranked litigation firm. He relocated to Leeds in 2019.
In other promotions, Kimberley Owen in Stewarts’ Personal Injury team is promoted to legal director.
The firm has also made senior promotions across business services including two C-Suite executives, James Mead (chief information officer) and Clare McCabe (chief people office) and business services directors, Amber Allan (L&D director), Virginia Jones (knowledge director), Kate Davies (director of regulatory compliance & DPO) and Milda Viela (BD director).
This brings the number of partners at Stewarts to 96.
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From left, Richard McGlasham and Dean Peachey
Law firm DLA Piper has made 65 promotions to its partnership.
Globally, the Corporate practice group has the largest intake of new partners with 19 promotions; followed by 12 in Finance; 13 in Litigation; and six in Real Estate.
In Leeds, Dean Peachey (Real Estate Practice Group) and Richard McGlasham (Corporate Practice Group) have both been promoted.
Kirstie Allerton, Leeds office managing partner, said: “The promotion of Dean Peachey and Richard McGlasham to the global partnership is wonderful and a well-deserved recognition of their commitment and talent in their respective fields of Real Estate and Corporate.
“Alongside our investment in City Square House, this further demonstrates the important role the Leeds office plays in our global strategy.
“I look forward to welcoming them to the partnership and have no doubt they will continue to excel as dedicated business partners for our clients.”
Charles Severs, international managing partner and global co-CEO, said: “This year’s cohort joins our firm’s partnership during a time of significant change and opportunity in the global landscape.
“We are committed to helping our clients navigate these challenges and our 2025 cohort of new partners have been instrumental in delivering this support.
“We are very proud of them all for achieving this milestone moment in their careers.”
Frank Ryan, Americas chair and global co-CEO, added: “Our newly promoted partners are focused on helping their clients succeed in today’s rapidly evolving business environment.
“They collaborate with their colleagues and give back to their communities. We are proud to welcome them to the partnership and look forward to their contributions to the firm.”
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The Northern Housing Consortium (NHC), a membership organisation for housing associations, local authorities, combined authorities and ALMOs across the North, has boosted its management team with a series of appointments.
The new roles will be instrumental in the delivery of its corporate plan, which launched earlier this month.
The three-year plan sets out how the NHC will deliver its vision to support members to create better homes and places across the North.
James Ealey, who was previously executive director of NHC Procurement has been appointed deputy chief executive.
He will retain responsibility for the commercial aspects of the NHC but will also take a wider role in the delivery of the plan, making sure resources are prioritised where they will make the greatest impact.
Satty Rai, who has been with the NHC for 17 years, has been appointed head of housing partnerships and will lead the NHC’s work to support housing partnerships across the North.
This includes providing secretariat services and bringing Northern housing partnerships together to share learning and best practice.
Kay Wiseman has been promoted to head of HR & wellbeing and will develop the NHC’s employment offer, as well as overseeing the Unlocking Success Bursary, the NHC’s scheme to support people in social housing to access training or employment.
She started her career at the NHC 19 years ago as an administrative assistant before specialising in HR.
She Kay was instrumental in the NHC’s Gold Better Health at Work Award earlier this year, which recognised its commitment to colleague wellbeing.
Liam Gregson has become senior engagement manager (Devolution and Place Lead).
This reflects his recent work to support Mayoral Combined Authorities across the North, as well as his long-standing role as the NHC’s lead on rebalancing and Pride in Place.
He will lead work to further develop the NHC’s offer to local authorities, alongside management of key policy engagement projects.
Tom Kennedy has been promoted to senior policy and research manager (Net Zero Lead).
His work over the past year saw him shortlisted for the Thinkhouse early career researcher award and has enabled the NHC to deliver multiple research projects in-house including Brownfield First and Warm Homes, Green Jobs.
He will play a lead role in developing the NHC’s internal policy and research capacity, as well as leading the NHC’s Net Zero work.
Northern Housing Consortium chief executive, Tracy Harrison, said: “These new appointments build on the fantastic work colleagues have done over the past year to help members navigate a changing political landscape and engage with the new government.
“They will help us embed our new corporate plan priorities of moving the dial on Northern policy; delivering a tailored offer to our cross-sector member base; and providing the best possible services for members by recruiting, retaining and developing a talented, diverse and committed team of colleagues.
“All this will be underpinned by creating value for members through and with NHC Procurement.
“I’m confident we have a fantastic team in place to bring together housing in the North to develop insight, influence and solutions to create better homes and places.
“We want to make sure everyone in the North has access to a safe, warm home that’s affordable to them in a place they’re proud of.”
