People: New MD at drainage contractor; Appointment to board of insurance broker; and more

Leeds-based drainage contractor, Jet Aire Services, has appointed Darren Pavan as managing director to provide strategic leadership for its operations nationwide.

Pavan joined Jet Aire in 2015 as commercial manager heading the company’s key contracts in the utilities sector. He led operations at Jet Aire’s regional office in Middlesbrough and was promoted to the board of directors in 2016.

Prior to working at Jet Aire, he held a senior management position at highways contractor, Ringway. Jet Aire’s previous managing director, Charlie Kirk, is remaining with the company as chairman.

Kirk said: “This move is a natural progression for Darren as he has been at the heart of our success over the past five years and he has been instrumental in the exceptional growth of our business in the North East.

“He has the leadership qualities, industry expertise, understanding of our markets and strategic vision to drive our next phase of expansion.”

Jet Aire Services has been established for over 30 years. The company’s drainage maintenance services include high-pressure water jetting, drain and sewer cleansing, CCTV surveys, tankering and waste disposal.

It also provides drainage remediation services including patching, lining, infiltration sealing, robotic cutting, root cutting and epoxy spray coating.

Pavan said: “In recent years Jet Aire has achieved a major impact in a range of markets, including rail, chemical processing, construction, facilities management, highways, utilities and retail.

“There is enormous potential to build on this success and further develop our presence in these sectors, but we will also be targeting new markets which represent a major opportunity for growth. I’m looking forward to playing a part in meeting those objectives in the coming years.”

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Chartered broker IFM Insurance, based in Sheffield, has appointed Jamie Harvey to its board.

Harvey will continue to drive sales and will additionally take on new responsibilities managing the firm’s marketing strategies.

He joined IFM Insurance in 2011 when he became responsible for new business development. Since then the business has grown significantly in supporting the insurance needs of many firms across South Yorkshire.

Harvey said: “I’m delighted to be joining the IFM board as we look forward to the next stage of our development. We are a growing business, with a strong team of insurance professionals committed to supporting local firms by making sure they have the right protection in place.”

Mark Barlow, managing director of IFM Insurance Brokers, said: “Jamie is an outstanding person. His professional approach, and willingness to push for both clients and insurers alike mark him out for success, now and in the future.

“His promotion is well deserved and signals our intention to boost our growth plans over the coming years.”

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Global strategic resourcing consultancy Hortor, which has its UK headquarters in Yorkshire, is continuing to expand its workforce with the appointment of Jenny O’Donovan as assistant management accountant.

Based in the company’s Leeds office, O’Donovan will take responsibility for assisting with month-end reporting and processing invoices, whilst also continuing her training to become a fully qualified accountant.

Prior to joining Hortor, O’Donovan gained valuable experience working for WYG Group for two years as a project finance assistant. In addition to taking on her first role in the recruitment industry, she is also studying towards attaining an AAT qualification.

This latest appointment follows Hortor welcoming Mark Standen as the new associate director – Global Automation Practice, as part of its ambitious five-year plan to become a £100m turnover business.

With an aim of becoming a market leading recruiter in the digital, IT and tech sector, while also providing bespoke managed services to a global client base, Hortor completed an investment of more than £500,000 in the last 18-months and expects to appoint a further 20 recruits throughout 2020.

O’Donovan said: “I was initially attracted to the role because I knew Hortor was an organisation that invested time and training into its employees. There is such a positive company culture here and I knew I’d be fully supported as I continue studying to become a qualified accountant.

“Working for such a fast-growing company also allows me to quickly develop my skills, gain valuable work experience and put my training to the test. I am surrounded by supportive people who will help nurture my career and I am looking forward to making a positive impact on the business during 2020.”

Group finance director for Hortor, Kevin Bailey, said: “We are really pleased to welcome Jenny to the team. She has a great deal of experience and importantly, the right cultural fit for the business.

“We are fully supportive of Jenny’s decision to join our ranks whilst continuing her studies, and her hard work will not go under the radar. We are already looking forward to celebrating when she becomes a fully qualified accountant.”

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Stephanie Hall

Barristers set Kings Chambers has strengthened its team in Leeds with the arrival of  barristers Elliot Kay and Stephanie Hall.

Kay joins the Personal Injury Team at Kings from Zenith Chambers. He practices in all areas of personal injury litigation, acting for Claimants and Defendants.

Hall has been an associate tenant at Kings Chambers since 2017 and has joined the practice as a full member of the Planning, Environmental and Public Law Team in Leeds.

Head of Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury, Sarah Pritchard, QC said: “We are delighted to welcome Elliot as a member of our team. He is a real talent, and I have no doubt he will be very popular with clients.”

Hall is ranked as one of the top planning juniors under 35. Chambers and Partners describe her as “A rising star of the Planning Bar”.

Elliot Kay

Head of the Planning Group, Paul Tucker QC, said: “Stephanie is extremely talented, and I have no doubt will continue to build upon her evermore impressive client base.”

Kings Chambers operates out of three chambers in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham with the Leeds Chamber based in Park Square. The set boasts 120 barristers including 19 silks and is a Northern Powerhouse Partner.