People: Promotions at law firm; CYBG hires leading business banker as SME expansion continues; and more

Specialist construction and engineering solicitors Hawkswell Kilvington have announced a number of promotions.

Rachel Heald has been promoted to legal director while Matthew Leonard and Jonathan Robson have been promoted to associate solicitors at the Wakefield-based firm.

Daniel Silberstein, partner at Hawkswell Kilvington, said: “The firm’s continued and future success depends on our ability to attract, retain and develop high quality solicitors. We are therefore delighted to be announcing these well-deserved promotions, which recognise the positive contributions that these individuals have made, and reflect our continuing commitment to investing in our solicitors and their specialist expertise.

“As legal director Rachel will ensure that the non-contentious team continues to go from strength to strength, and we have every confidence that Matthew and Jonathan will continue to thrive in their new roles as associates.”

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CYBG – owner of Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank, B and Virgin Money – has announced a key appointment to strengthen its business banking leadership team.

Sue Douthwaite, a leading business banker in the UK, will join the bank in September as its small and medium business director.

She will be responsible for the development, implementation, communication and promotion of business banking products, proposition and partnerships, together with the management of the small and medium business portfolio.

Douthwaite has spent the last eight years at Santander and has been managing director for Santander Business Bank, responsible for the formation of the SME banking division, since 2016. Prior to this, she worked at RBS for 20 years, holding various roles.

She said: “CYBG is an exciting bank with people and business at the heart of everything it does. I am delighted to be joining a team who share my passion for SME banking and am very much looking forward to supporting the development of the proposition. CYBG has the opportunity as a real challenger to shake up the market for business banking in the UK and it is great to be joining the team at this pivotal time.”

Sue will be based in Leeds, but with the business banking teams spread across the network, she will be travelling around the UK in her new role.

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Sheffield-based property management specialist Omnia Property Group is continuing its programme of expansion with nine appointments.

The majority of the new posts are based at the Sheffield headquarters of the company that works across all areas of the property market including block and commercial property management, offices, student accommodation, residential lettings and facilities management.

In the new lineup are Lettings Administrator Henry Coley, Property Assistants Michael Massarella and Josh Chittenden, Property Manager Stacey Crump, Property and Inspection Assistant Mitch French, Property Management Assistant Lucy Broughton and Block Management Accountant Janice Grady.

Joining the company’s Birmingham division are Electrician and Building Maintenance Engineer Michael Coyne and Lettings Administrator Claire Chemin.

“We are delighted to be able to say that we are building a stronger team as we prepare for further growth in an extremely competitive market,” said Omnia managing director Joanne Race.

Omnia Property Group, based at Omnia One in Sheffield’s Queen Street, has been established in Sheffield in 2004.

Mitch French, Josh Chittenden, Michael Massarella, Stacey Crump, Henry Coley, Janice Grady, Lucy Broughton