People: New CEO at wealth management firm; New family law team announced; and more

A Yorkshire-based wealth management firm has appointed a new chief executive officer and promoted a new member to its board of directors.

Leodis Wealth Asset Management is a 31-year old Leeds-based asset management firm based in Pavillion Business Park. With six years’ experience as director of the firm, Simon Cocking has been appointed to CEO.

Cocking is a financial services professional with over thirty years’ experience, specialising in investment management, retirement planning and estate planning. He started his career as a trainee at a large regional stockbroker in Newcastle before moving on to a more specialised discretionary management firm. In 1989 he made the switch to become an independent financial advisor.

He spent eight years with one of the north east’s largest independently-owned firms before a move into the advisory arm of an accountancy firm where he was later appointed a director. In a move to maintain the scope of the advice he could provide his clients, he decided to join and take an equity stake in Leodis Wealth.

Associate director Philip Organ joined the company’s senior management team in 2017 and has now been appointed to the board of directors to help Cocking drive the future of the firm.

With 35 years working in investment management, Philip brings extensive experience in private client management. He has a deep understanding of investment markets and has held a number of senior management positions in stockbroking and private banking.

Cocking said: “This is an exciting time for Leodis Wealth as we continue to grow and achieve great results for our clients. I’m delighted to be at the helm of driving further growth for the Leodis team and Philip’s addition to the board will help ensure client service remains paramount in all we do.”

Organ added: “I am confident that Leodis Wealth and our clients have a prosperous future and I’m excited for what the next few years will bring for both us and our clients.”

Specialising in portfolio management and financial planning for individuals, as well as their trusts and pension funds, the firm boasts more than 350 active clients. The company’s client base has continued to grow year-on-year since its incorporation as Leodis Wealth Limited in 2016.

Leodis Wealth looks to expand its team and portfolio of clients as the business continues its journey for growth.

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Former Zermansky Solicitors senior partners, Judith Glynn and Chris Preston, have joined Switalskis Solicitors to head its family department in Leeds.

Glynn and Preston both bring over 25 years’ experience of working in all aspects of family law to Switalskis’ Leeds team. They are highly experienced in matters relating to relationship breakdown including divorce, cohabiting couples and same sex relationships. This involves advising in all aspects of financial matters including high net worth or dealing with debt issues.

Glynn started her career with Zermansky Solicitors in 1981 as a trainee solicitor and became the company’s first female partner, at the age of 27. She subsequently progressed to senior partner and solicitor and head of family and wills and probate.

She advises on private client matters including financial disputes and divorce, which has included highly specialised areas such as international law surrounding child abduction, both out of and into the country. She is an expert in the procedures and protocols that are available to resolve these issues.

Preston specialises in high value financial and ancillary relief cases and brings over 25 years of experience in dealing with all aspects of family law to the role. Chris has a no-nonsense and empathetic approach, priding himself on providing expert legal advice in a relatable manner.

Preston said: “I was attracted to the role at Switalskis as I’d already crossed professional paths with a number of solicitors here and knew them to have a strong reputation in the industry. Both Judith and I will be working on our existing cases and will enjoy the opportunity to expand further into the Leeds market as we firmly establish ourselves at Switalskis.”

John Durkan, Managing Director at Switalskis Solicitors added:  “Judith and Chris are valued appointments and their approaches are an excellent fit with our focus on first-class client care. The Leeds family law market demands a high calibre of recruit, which is exactly what we have got in Judith and Chris. These appointments further strengthen our family law offering in the region, adding to our team of 17 family lawyers across Yorkshire.”

Both are Resolution members and Glynn is also an adviser on the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit panel.

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Stephen Wright, managing director of Bradford-based Thorite, has been elected to the board of the British Compressed Air Society.

Thorite supplies air compressors, air tools, pneumatics and fluid handling products, employing over one hundred and twenty staff at its head office and eleven Sales & Service Centres

The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS), which was founded in 1930, provides its members with unbiased advice on legislation, technical standards, education, compliance, safety and environmental matters relating to the use of compressed air and vacuum systems.

In addition, BCAS plays a major role in upholding standards and advising its members about changing legislation and standards to ensure compliance and safety within the industry.

Directors on the board serve a two-year term before either standing for re-election or standing down.

On his election, Wright said: “I have been involved with BCAS for many years and have been actively involved with the distributor committee since I became Thorite’s managing director in 2000.

“The amendment to the Articles of Association which allow distributors to sit on the BCAS board will provide greater balance and I firmly believe that I will be able to provide that all important distributor perspective.

“I also believe that with my background in the industry together with the skills and knowledge that I have been able to acquire in non-executive and voluntary roles beyond my involvement with Thorite, that I will be able to provide an alternative view of the industry and I am looking forward to getting started.”