People: Fulcrum; World of James Herriot; TL Dallas; and more
Sheffield-based utility infrastructure and services provider, Fulcrum, has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of new Group business development director, Andy Hirst.
With extensive experience in the construction and civil engineering supplies industry, he joins Fulcrum from Wolseley where he was trading director for Burdens & MPS, Wolseley’s Civils Division.
He will support Fulcrum’s growing presence across the UK’s multi-utility markets, developing new and existing relationships as the business pursues its strategy to be the infrastructure partner of choice for the domestic and Industrial & Commercial sectors.
Hirst began his career in the builders’ merchant sector having also signed a professional rugby league contract. He progressed both careers concurrently, playing for Huddersfield Giants for the two years.
After a period as area sales manager for regional heating equipment supplier Vokera, he returned to the merchanting sector with Plumbase as a branch manager.
During his ten-year career with Plumbase, he advanced into roles including regional sales manager and regional director before becoming sales development director, responsible for the North of England, since 2015.
Hirst said: “I was aware of Fulcrum from my time in civil engineering supplies and have always been impressed with its achievements, but also its culture and customer-centric approach.
“I had worked previously with Fulcrum’s chief operating officer, Terry Dugdale, and he was very positive about how the business is progressing, which encouraged me further to test myself in a new sector with the company.
“It is a business built on strong values with a very agile and dedicated team, which I am pleased to be part of.”
Terry Dugdale, group chief operating officer, said: “We have a very talented and dynamic senior management team at Fulcrum and Andy is a welcome addition.
“The expertise gained in a complementary sector will be of huge value to the business and our customers.
“We place our customers at the heart of our operations and demonstrate it every day through close collaborations and strong relationships, which will be enhanced by someone of Andy’s experience.”
The board of directors of Thirsk-based attraction, World of James Herriot, have appointed Kathryn Pawlett onto their main board.Managing director Ian Ashton said: “Kathryn has been an employee of the World of James Herriot since 2000 when it was operated by Hambleton District Council.
“For the past eight years Kathryn has been the centre manager for the newly formed private limited company operating the World of James Herriot Ltd since 2012.
“We are delighted to have Kathryn join us as a reward for her hard work, loyalty, and extensive knowledge, and we welcome her to the Board.”
Since 2012 World of James Herriot has been run by a team of Herriot enthusiasts with a vision to continually develop it to attract more visitors.
Pawlett’s appointment is part of the strategic succession planning for the business. The Board includes the vet and author’s son and daughter and a small number of local businessmen and women.
Pawlett said: “Every day I meet many interesting people from all over the world who all enjoy so much the interpretation and information about Alf Wight and his former home and surgery.
“It gives me a real buzz to be involved in running the centre and I am delighted to be joining the board to help to steer its future strategy, especially with the new ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ due on our TV screens on Channel 5 from this autumn.”
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TL Dallas, the Bradford-headquartered independent insurance broking and risk management company, has bolstered its trade credit team as it gears up for further growth.
David Wilson has joined as head of trade credit and surety across the company’s operations in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
He has significant experience across a number of business relationship manager roles, particularly in the banking sector. He joins TL Dallas from AON where he was a business development director in trade credit.
Wilson’s role will see him take management responsibility for the company’s seven-strong trade credit team across its Falkirk and Glasgow offices.
Jennifer McGuffie has also joined the trade credit team, taking on an account executive role and has extensive experience dealing with key decision makers and senior leaders across a wide range of industries, following several previous senior roles in the invoice discounting sector.
TL Dallas employs 16 people in total across its trade credit division office network, including staff in Bradford and Scotland.
Jonathan Smith, strategic director, trade credit and surety at TL Dallas, said: “We are thrilled to welcome both David and Jennifer into the TL Dallas family, extending our capabilities as one of the largest and most experienced independent trade credit teams operating in the UK.
“Their appointments follow the recruitment last year of Louise Greaves and Caroline Bennett, both of whom have more than 30 years’ trade credit industry experience, as well as Jamie Coskry who is another valuable addition to the team with a broad skillset honed from his time working in the legal sector.
“Like any successful business, we need to plan for the future, invest in the right people, exploit growth opportunities and continue to offer best in class service to our clients and other partner brokers. The appointments of David and Jennifer are key to achieving these goals and they are both significant hires.”
Wilson added: “TL Dallas has always been a company that I’ve admired, and its trade credit offer is market leading.
“We have exciting plans to further grow both the team and our services and I’m looking forward to helping to achieve these goals and being part of the next exciting chapter for the business.”
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An industry expert from Leeds has joined EnjoyTravel.com as chief executive officer as expansion plans are underway that will see the company grow into international markets following a re-brand from Enjoy Car Hire to EnjoyTravel.com.
Martin Mansell has officially taken up the role at the business.
He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from his time as managing director of online distribution at the UK’s largest airport group MAG – a position he took after his Leeds-based online airport parking price comparison business, Looking4.com, was acquired by the group.
Mansell said: “I’m thrilled to be joining EnjoyTravel.com at such a pivotal time for the business, and look forward to building on its impressive 10-year history in the sector as it pushes ahead with expansion plans.
“EnjoyTravel.com is well-respected within the sector and by travellers, boasting some of the best Trustpilot reviews in the industry.
“I’m keen to maintain this fantastic reputation as we increase our offering and branch out to provide even more top quality travel options for customers.”
Managing director, Steve Dennis, said: “We’re incredibly excited for the future of EnjoyTravel.com, and we’re delighted to welcome Martin, whose extensive experience in the travel comparison sector will prove invaluable.
“Martin is the perfect fit for Enjoy Travel as we expand our offering with the additional travel extras customers have been asking for, and as we branch out into the Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, French and Brazilian markets.
“Despite the challenges many businesses are currently facing, we’re already recovering nicely and have created a solid structure so we will continue to grow as domestic and international travel is back on people’s agendas.”
