People: Senior appointment at hygiene specialist; Finance and resources director taken on at housing association; and more

Neil Jones joins Bradford-headquartered hygiene specialist Christeyns UK in a dual role as managing director of High Peak cleaning chemicals manufacturer Clover Chemicals and Christeyns Food Hygiene, based in Warrington.

He will be responsible for delivering the business strategy for Clover Chemicals and Christeyns Food Hygiene.

With an extensive background in commercial management, Jones has held leadership roles with national companies such as Unilever, Robert McBride and R&R and been responsible for both private label and branded portfolio strategies in the UK and Europe.

He said: “Clover Chemicals is a unique business with a strong customer service ethos that has gained credibility and respect over the 20 years it has been in operation. I am delighted to take on the challenge of continuing the prosperity of this very interesting business and to lead the next chapter in its growth and development.”

Jones also takes on the role of managing director for Christeyns Food Hygiene, which specialises in providing chemicals and cleaning solutions for the food, dairy and beverage industry. His time will be split between the two companies and he will sit on the main board of Christeyns UK.

Nick Garthwaite, managing director at Christeyns UK, said: “We are delighted to have Neil join our team at Christeyns. Neil has a vast amount of experience in many areas of the manufacturing industry and is highly experienced in process management and team building, core values of our business.

“I have full confidence that under his guidance both Clover and CFH will develop to their full potential.”

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Bradford-based Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has appointed Shendi Keshet as director of finance and resources.

Keshet is the third senior appointment made by the housing association since the autumn, following Nas Hussain as community partnerships and investment manager, and Matthew Hayes as IT manager.

Originally from Canada, Keshet joins MHA on a permanent basis after choosing to undertake interim roles in recent years.

These include head of financial planning at Beyond Housing, which manages 15,000 homes across Redcar and Cleveland, and North Yorkshire.

She has also held the dual London-based roles of director of financial transformation at the Industrial Dwellings Society, and deputy director of finance at Soho Housing.

She said: “I know West Yorkshire well, having lived in Halifax for many years, and followed MHA’s journey closely. There has never been a better time to join its leadership team which is held in the highest regard in Bradford, Keighley and far beyond.”

Lee Bloomfield, who will enter his third year as MHA chief executive in 2020, said: “It was a rigorous recruitment process and Shendi’s qualities shone through.

“A year on from having our financial viability grading increased to the highest level by the Regulator of Social Housing, we are in a great place with ambitious plans.

“The director of finance and resources post is newly-configured as we seek to turn both our Growth Strategy and Corporate Strategy into realities. Shendi ticks every box and is a first-class hire for MHA.”

Barrington Billings, MHA chair, said: “We want nothing but the best at Manningham Housing Association and Shendi is certainly that.

“Her life and workplace experiences really add to the diverse blend of talent in our staff, which has already earned us two prestigious accreditations for our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and outstanding excellence in customer service.”

MHA manages more than 1,400 homes for over 6,000 residents in Bradford and Keighley.

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iSource Group, an IT, digital and change management recruitment specialist based in Yorkshire, has welcomed Andrew Haldenby as managing director to support the company’s growth plans.

He will work from the organisation’s head offices in Leeds city centre to develop the strategic proposition of the business and build relationships that deliver greater brand equity.

With a three-year plan and targets to increase the workforce by 30% in the first year, he will be looking at how the business can attract more specialist consultants to the team and penetrate new markets.

Haldenby said: “Throughout my career I have taken several businesses through structural, brand and product change which has led to significant growth. The iSource business has significant scope to develop and to use the experience of the senior team it has in place to support its ambitions.

“The onset of technology driving innovation – not only across product and service – but strategically at boardroom level, makes it an exciting time to be influencing thinking, shaping decisions and advising leadership. We have the opportunity to really make that happen.”

Founding director of iSource Group, the Yorkshire Mafia and THINK Summits, Geoff Shepherd, said: “Andrew is already a welcome addition to our team, bringing with him relevant experience and a culture fit that makes him a really important asset to our Group.

“We work hard to deliver the best in IT recruitment, a terrific events programme and to facilitate connections that deliver results.

“Building on this further will have real impact on our business. We have some exciting plans for 2020 and look forward to seeing how these can be shaped as we make more of the platforms that we have created, nurtured and extended.”

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Calderdale law firm Wilkinson Woodward has announced the latest additions to its expanding legal practice.

Conveyancing specialist Deborah Billingsley has joined the firm’s office in Halifax while trainee solicitor Dan Cawthorn joins its Brighouse office.

A licensed conveyancer since 2011, Billingsley has over two decades’ experience of helping people to buy and sell property, including freehold and leasehold, sales, purchases, re-mortgages and transfers of equity. Born and bred in Halifax, she has a detailed understanding of the local property market.

Cawthorn graduated from the University of Newcastle with a degree in History before a law conversion course in 2018 and a Legal Practice Course in 2019.

Over the next two years he will gain experience in a range of legal subjects and is due to qualify as a solicitor in December 2021. He lives in the Savile Park area of Halifax and is based in the firm’s offices in King Street, Brighouse.

Managing director Maureen Cawthorn said: “We’re delighted to welcome Deborah and Dan to our established team of legal professionals.  Their appointments reflect our ongoing plans to expand in Calderdale.”