People: Five appointments at solicitors’ legal team; New non-exec at listed landscaping business; and more

Sheffield-based Wake Smith Solicitors has boosted its legal team and support operations with five appointments.

Solicitor Matthew Duffy joins the Commercial Property team from Wosskow Brown, where he completed his training contract earlier this year, having started his career as a Legal Assistant there within the Conveyancing team.

Paralegal Victoria Cook brings her experience of Wills and Probate to Wake Smith’s Private Client team having worked previously at Simpson, Sissons & Brooke Solicitors and Tierneys Solicitors. She completed a law degree at Sheffield Hallam University in 2016.

Wake Smith continues its apprenticeship programme with the appointment of Abigail Challoner to the Finance team. Challoner will study Business Administration [Level 3] at Sheffield College as she gains experience in the firm’s Finance department and within other support teams.

Experienced Legal Secretary Kirsty Rhodes joins the Commercial Property team from Parker Rhodes Hickmotts Solicitors, having worked within Commercial Property and Immigration departments. She also has extensive experience within client facing roles including as a Receptionist and Customer Service Advisor.

And Holly Abbott-Cragg starts her training contract in the Company Commercial team. She originally joined Wake Smith as a paralegal in September 2018 and has spent a year in the Private Client team. She will now spend two years working at Wake Smith gaining experience in different areas of the law on the path to qualifying as a solicitor.

Abbott-Cragg previously worked at Irwin Mitchell as a Paralegal from July 2017 and had also worked on a legal advice line having completed her Law Degree in 2016 and her LPC in 2018.

This year Wake Smith celebrates its 21st anniversary of holding the Investors in People (IIP) accreditation. The firm currently has 35 staff with more than 15 years’ service.

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Listed landscaping and construction supplier Marshalls has appointed Angela Bromfield to the Board as an additional Non-Executive Director.

 Vanda Murray, Chairman of the Board at the company, said: “The Board is delighted that Angela will be joining Marshalls as a Non-Executive Director.

“Given the planned retirement of Non-Executive Director Tim Pile in 2020, the timing of her appointment is designed to provide continuity and allow for knowledge transfer.

“Angela has an excellent track record of delivering growth, both in her executive and non-executive roles, as well as relevant sector experience and experience of strategy, marketing and e-commerce. She will be a valuable addition to the Board.”

Bromfield is an experienced business strategist with a broad-based career in manufacturing, distribution, construction and infrastructure.

She has held executive leadership positions with listed companies ICI, Premier Farnell and Anglo American, having been MD of Tarmac’s National Contracting business, as well as being responsible for their UK e-business strategy, following which she joined Morgan Sindall as Executive Director, Strategy, Marketing and Communications from 2008 to 2013.

She is also an experienced non-executive director. She currently serves on the Boards of Harworth Group (non-executive director and member of Audit and Remuneration Committees), Zotefoams (chair of the Remuneration Committee and member of Audit Committee), Churchill China (an AIM listed company, where she chairs the Remuneration Committee and is a member of the Audit Committee) and Newton Green Consulting.

Bromfield holds an MBA from Warwick University and a degree in Chemistry.

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Vine Hotels has announced a key appointment within its Group.

The business said that Dan Wilson, previously General Manager at Mercure Southampton Centre Dolphin Hotel, will now become Regional General Manager for both the Mercure Southampton Centre Dolphin Hotel and Sheffield’s Mercure Kenwood Hall Hotel & Spa.

Wilson, who will be based in Sheffield, has worked within the hospitality sector for over 10 years with previous roles at companies including Whitbread and Daniel Thwaites and he has spent the past 12 months with Vine Hotels.

Under his guidance the Mercure Dolphin has seen an increase of 7% on Guest Satisfaction year on year and his mission is to replicate this success at the Kenwood Hall Hotel & Spa, overseeing ongoing development at both properties.

He said: “I am passionate about working within this fast-moving sector and Vine Hotels is a brilliant company to work for, allowing me the opportunity to make an impact on all aspects of the business.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time at Mercure Southampton and look forward to working with the extended team at Mercure Kenwood.”

Garin Davies, CEO at Vine Hotels, added: “Dan came to us with an excellent reputation within the hospitality industry and he has quickly embedded himself into the Vine Hotels team helping to drive the business forward. Kenwood Hall Hotel & Spa is a unique property within our portfolio and a great base for Dan’s new role in the company.”

 

 

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