People: New commercial director at First West Yorkshire; Nine Yorkshire promotions at Carter Jonas; and more

Bus operator First West Yorkshire has appointed Martin Hirst as commercial director.

Hirst, who has over 20 years’ experience in the retail sector, has joined the firm to lead the commercial team. His new role will see him take on overall responsibility for the company’s proposition, network and performance.

He will also oversee fares and tickets, the local marketing strategy, stakeholder engagement and contract tendering.

Hirst recently worked for retailer Boots and its hearing care partner Sonova. He has held many roles within the business, having started as a store manager and working his way up to commercial director and more recently, national retail director.

Matthews, managing director of First West Yorkshire, said: “I’m proud to welcome Martin on board and I’m confident that he will be able to bring new ideas and a fresh way of thinking to help the business to continue to move forwards.”

Hirst, added: “I am delighted to be joining First Bus at such an exciting time, particularly in West Yorkshire and look forward to working with the team and local stakeholders to support the ambition of doubling passenger numbers in Leeds and delivering truly market leading services.”

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Chris Hartnell

Property consultancy firm Carter Jonas has made nine promotions within its Yorkshire network.

Chris Hartnell, based in the Leeds office, has been promoted to associate partner and will lead the firm’s commercial agency team in the north. Hartnell joined Carter Jonas in 2009 and advises landlords and tenants on leasehold and freehold opportunities and provides strategic advice to occupiers across the region.

In the planning and development team, based out of the firm’s Leeds and Harrogate offices, Daniel Sherwood has been promoted to associate partner and Kate Broadbank and Emma Winter to associates.

From the residential team, Anne Haggas and Amy Wall, based in the firm’s Harrogate office, have been promoted to associate partner and senior negotiator respectively. Haggas, head of new homes for the north, joined Carter Jonas in 2014, and is instructed on a number of flagship schemes across the region.

In the rural team, Lizzie Clarke and Neil Colver have been promoted to associate partners and Laura Graham promoted to associate.

Mark Granger, chief executive, Carter Jonas, said: “Over the past 12 months we have continued our expansion, growing existing teams, adding new business lines and extending our geographical reach across the country. Our revenue has increased by 58 per cent in four years and our ability to do this is dependent on the talent, knowledge and experience of all our people. I extend my thanks and congratulations to all of those who have been promoted. These latest promotions demonstrate that our business will remain strong and achieve its ambitions if we give our people the opportunity to develop their careers with us.”

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Den Jones has been appointed as Interim chief financial officer f the Drax Group from 1 November. 

Following the recent announcement that Will Gardiner will succeed Dorothy Thompson as chief executive of Drax Group from 1 January 2018, the Board is progressing a process to appoint a permanent chief financial officer. 

Jones was previously CFO of Johnson Matthey, a FTSE 100 specialty chemicals company and has held senior and executive positions, including Interim CFO, in BG Group, a major global energy company. He spent the early part of his career in banking and professional services with Citibank and PwC where he held a number of specialist financial management positions.