People: Bus operator appoints engineering director; City Region welcomes new chair; and more

Bus operator First South Yorkshire has bolstered its engineering team with the appointment of a new Engineering Director, Chris Gent.

gent has joined the business from outside the bus industry after working for a global parcel distribution company for over 15 years. He was responsible for over 4500 vehicles and ground support equipment in the UK, Ireland and Nordic countries.

The business has brought in a new Engineering Director to lead the team who maintain over 400 buses that travel around Sheffield, Doncaster and Rotherham every day.

Garry Birmingham, Managing Director of First South Yorkshire and former Engineering Director, said: “I’m delighted to have Chris join the team here in South Yorkshire. He brings with him a wealth of engineering experience and a proven track record of leading strong and successful teams which consistently deliver a fleet that is safe, good looking, reliable and cost effective.”

Chris Gent, Engineering Director at First South Yorkshire, added: “I’m really excited about joining First to embark on evolving the engineering talent and customer solution in South Yorkshire.

“I originally applied for a position as an apprentice with South Yorkshire Travel when I was 16 and have since had a successful career within the truck industry and so you could say I’ve come full-circle!

“I believe our mission must be driving change presently for now and the future, the key pieces being a reliable and sustainable local transport service. A legacy we all play a part in with the First Group.”

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A new Chair of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been announced.

The LEP Chair is responsible for representing private-sector businesses and setting the strategic direction for the economic growth of the Sheffield City Region.

James Muir, former Head of Group National Sales at Volkswagen, and Chair of Trustees at the Astrea Academy Trust, has been recruited to the position.

Muir graduated from Manchester University with a degree in German, followed by a postgraduate diploma in marketing and languages.

In 1983 he joined a manufacturer of tableware, spending his first year working full time in the factory, after which he was posted to set up the company’s sales and distribution subsidiary in the German market.

Three years later he joined Ford Motor Company and held various sales and marketing positions, including Sales Director of Ford Switzerland, and Regional Director for the North of England.

In 2001 he was appointed Managing Director responsible for establishing Mazda’s own company in the UK; in 2003 he was promoted to Mazda’s European headquarters near Cologne, first as Vice-President of Sales & Marketing and then as President and CEO of Mazda Europe where he led the Company’s turnaround from loss-maker to Mazda Corporation’s most profitable business unit in the world.

In 2009 James joined Volkswagen Group as President & CEO of SEAT based in Barcelona and tasked with revitalising its ailing brand. Over the following four years he led the complete restructuring of the company including the development of a new brand and product strategy.

Since mid-2013 James was based in Wolfsburg, Germany, responsible for running the VW Group’s owned national sales companies across more than 20 countries worldwide.

In December 2018 James retired from VW Group. He is the Chair of the Astrea Academy Trust Board, one of England’s largest multi academy trusts managing 28 primary and secondary schools located across South Yorkshire and North Cambridgeshire.

Muir is set to chair his first meeting of the LEP on Monday 14 January.

Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, said: “This role is a crucial one and in James we have an outstanding candidate for the job. I look forward to working closely with James and fellow LEP board members to drive economic growth, create new jobs and promote our region around the world.

“This is an exciting time for the Sheffield City Region, as we start to grow our Global Innovation Corridor, transform our transport network and attract new investment from companies worldwide.

“With James’s business expertise, passion for our region and his dedication to social mobility, I’m confident he will provide strong leadership to the LEP, be the voice of our businesses and represent the Sheffield City Region on a Northern, national and international level.”

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Law firm Schofield Sweeney has promoted three members of its team to Partner, Angela Cashin, David Cowgill and Karen Crutchley.

The firm now has 35 Partners across its three offices in Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield.

Karen Crutchley, Commercial Partner, is based in Leeds. Her expertise includes negotiating and advising on a range of commercial trading arrangements, including IT contracts for both providers of technology, and businesses purchasing IT systems and software.

Angela Cashin, Corporate Partner based in Huddersfield, advises on a wide range of company matters and transactions.

David Cowgill is a Partner in the Commercial Property team, and currently the President of the Leeds Law Society. He has experience in wide range of commercial property matters and regularly works with investors, commercial landlords and tenants and property developers, with a particular focus on those clients operating within the leisure and hospitality industry.

There were further promotions announced with Annie Gray (Employment), Annie Hui-Gillen (Litigation), Lucy Holroyd (Corporate), Nigel Brook (Litigation), Pardeep Khela (Commercial Property) all promoted to Associate.

Gemma Sherbourne (Employment), Rebecca Beaumont (Litigation) and Zoe Oates (Insolvency and Restructuring) all promoted to Legal Directors.

Martin Sweeney, Managing Partner, said: “2018 was another successful year for us, there has been a solid increase in both volume of instructions and turnover. Corporate deal completion valuation alone saw a 85% increase on the 2017 figures for the same period.

“These promotions were well deserved and all part of the culture of recognition we have within the firm, we continue to attract and retain leading lawyers.”

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PR agency, HR Media (HRM), has expanded following the recruitment of a graphic design specialist.

Sheffield-based HRM has recruited Simon Garlick, who joins from Alldread Burgess Advertising with more than 15 years’ experience in the industry.

The appointment of branding specialist Garlick sees HRM’s design and creative department grow following the initial recruitment of Simon Waller as account manager for video and creative two years ago.

Garlick said: “I’m excited to join HRM, this is a great opportunity for me to continue to enhance the company’s design and creative service.

“HR Media works with some fantastic business on a local, regional and national scale and I look forward to helping take the company forward.”

Martin Ross, managing director of HRM, added: “Simon joins us at an exciting time in our 21-year history following our recent move to new premises in the cultural industries quarter of Sheffield.

“Design is a rapidly-expanding part of our business and I look forward to Simon’s branding and digital skills helping broaden HRM’s offering for our clients.”