People: Hargreaves to drive forward property division with senior hire; Corporate lawyer joins challenger law firm; and more

Hargreaves Services has announced the appointment of David Anderson as group property director to drive forward the development of its property business, Hargreaves Land.

The senior appointment forms a strategic part of Hargreaves’ repositioning strategy to diversify away from coal and heavy industry into new sectors which provide better long-term prospects
Anderson will lead Hargreaves Land in bringing forward developments and unlocking value from the group’s 17,500-acre land bank, which is valued in excess of £50m.

Hargreaves Services, which has an office in Barnsley, delivers key projects and services in the infrastructure, energy and property sectors. The company’s UK-wide land portfolio includes over 50 sites ranging from former coal mines undergoing remediation, through to prime consented sites ready for development.

Anderson has served as a director of Henry Boot Developments, the principal property development subsidiary of Henry Boot, since 1996 and as managing director since 2005. He has led the growth in revenue of that business from less than £10m in 2005 to over £220m in 2017.

He said: “I am very pleased to be joining Hargreaves at such an exciting time for the group’s future as the board looks to develop and grow its property business. I look forward to leading the Hargreaves Land team to create a substantial business within the group.”

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Challenger law firm gunnercooke has recruited well-known corporate lawyer Asad Ali from Blacks Solicitors.

Ali has expertise in dealing with a wide range of company, corporate and commercial matters, acting particularly for owner-managed and digital businesses. Whilst at Blacks he took a leading role in business development for the firm and he now has ambitious plans to raise gunnercooke’s profile across Yorkshire.

gunnercooke moved into Leeds with the opening of a hub 12 months ago, and is gradually increasing lawyer numbers, with 35 senior lawyers now advising a host of clients across Yorkshire.

Ali said: “It is rare to find a law firm that offers a truly unique and dynamic approach to delivering legal services. I was instantly attracted to the culture and values of gunnercooke, with its clear emphasis on putting the client’s needs first.  I am convinced that breadth of experience across the firm, combined with their national presence will mean I can offer added value to my clients based in Yorkshire and further afield.”

gunnercooke founder Darryl Cooke said: “We are delighted that Asad has joined our Yorkshire team, at a really key time for the firm. Over the past 12 months we’ve built a team which comprises some of the strongest advisors in the region, with a truly impressive depth of expertise. We are very much looking forward to increasing our brand presence in Leeds and Asad’s passion for business development will be a vital asset for us in this strategy.”

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Audit, tax and consulting firm RSM has appointed Mike McDonald as an associate director in Leeds to strengthen its regional and national Technology & Management Consulting (TMC) service line.

McDonald  is a leading programme manager with over 18 years project and operational experience helping businesses to implement complex IT projects to support commercial aims. His experience combines technical software development expertise with project management, change management, data migration and ERP experience, latterly with Microsoft technologies particularly Dynamics AX.

He has worked with a number of large brands including AMEC, Hewden Stuart, BPP, Hunter Boots, Charles Tyrwhitt and Fenwick Department stores; and brings a range of retail, professional services, transport, construction and education sector expertise.

In his new role, he will work closely with partner Roger Lovis who has overall responsibility for RSM’s ERP services, to deliver major progammes across both Microsoft and NetSuite technologies with a growing portfolio of clients.

Roger Lovis, technology and management consulting partner at RSM, said: “Mike’s appointment is another key milestone for our national capability as we continue to invest in our market proposition. He brings a range of IT-driven change experience and is well-placed to help businesses in Yorkshire and the North East to apply digital technology to support growth.

“It’s great to have him on board. He will further supplement our expanding team, but more importantly add further weight to our presence in the North to allow us to pursue our longer-term growth strategy.”