People: Fenchurch Law; Christeyns; Manningham Housing Association; and more
Fenchurch Law, a UK firm working exclusively for policyholders and brokers on insurance coverage disputes, has added to its Leeds-based team with the appointment of a new associate, Toby Nabarro.
He will work with business clients across all the firm’s practice areas including construction, financial and commercial, professional, property and product and environmental risks.
He joins Fenchurch Law from DLA Piper, where he was a trainee solicitor working on litigation and commercial dispute resolution.
Nabarro has a Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice course awarded by the University of Law, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics.
Fenchurch Law opened its Leeds office in September 2020, aiming to bring a level playing field and fairer outcomes for policyholders who have disputes and legal claims against their insurers.
Daniel Robin, senior associate solicitor with Fenchurch Law in Leeds, said: “At a time when Covid-19 has focused attention on the role and effectiveness of business interruption insurance cover, many firms in the region have had their pandemic-related claims turned down and many face uncertain futures.
“We are building a hub of insurance claims advisory and dispute services in Leeds to ensure policyholders and their insurance brokers have access to the high quality specialist advice and representation needed in the event of a claims dispute with their insurer.
“Toby’s appointment confirms our commitment to providing easy access to the right expert support.”
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Neil Jones
Bradford-based Christeyns UK managing director, Nick Garthwaite, is retiring from his role at the specialist hygiene chemical manufacturer after ten years at the helm.
The company says Neil Jones, currently managing director at Clover Chemicals and Christeyns Food Hygiene, both part of the Christeyns UK group, will be his successor.
Garthwaite, who joined the firm in August 2010 from Siemens, has been instrumental in the success and growth of the Christeyns UK group, heavily involved in acquisitions that have seen turnover grow from £21m in 2010 to over £60m in 2019.
“My time at Christeyns has been exceptional,” he said. “It is an amazing business and I have been fortunate to work with a talented and passionate group of people.
“Neil is the perfect candidate to take over, highly experienced in the manufacturing industry, knowing the business and our people well. I have no doubt that he will lead Christeyns onward to new heights.”
Garthwaite will continue as chair of North & West Yorkshire Chamber, on the Bradford & Airedale Manufacturing Alliance, as Trustee of Canterbury Imagine and as lead on Bradford Manufacturing Weeks amongst other activities.
He will also continue with Christeyns’ for a period of time as a non-executive director.
Jones joined Christeyns UK in December 2019, responsible for delivering strategy in a dual role across both the professional hygiene and food and beverage arms of the business.
With an extensive background in commercial management, he held leadership roles with national companies such as Unilever, Robert McBride and R&R prior to joining Christeyns.
Jones said: “Christeyns is a unique business with a reputation for excellence and a strong customer service ethos.
“I am delighted to take on the challenge of continuing the prosperity of the company and to lead the next chapter in its growth and development.”
He is carrying out a three-month hand over period and will officially take up his new role on 1 January 2021.
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Bradford-based Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has appointed Bernadette Ruan-Chung as head of finance.
Ruan-Chung, a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, has 23 years of post-qualification experience gained in high-level finance roles in the housing and charity sectors in London.
These include finance director at almshouse charity Pathways, director of finance and ICT at Housing for Women, head of business support at Genesis Housing Association and finance director and deputy chief executive at Westway Housing Association.
MHA recently secured a multi-million pounds financial package which will allow it to increase its housing stock in Bradford and Keighley by more than 100 properties over the next five years.
New corporate, financial, unit growth and community investment strategies have also been finalised which will enable MHA to further expand its extensive neighbourhood activities.
Ruan-Chung said: “I have spent most of my working life in London but qualified as an accountant in Yorkshire where I also began my career. It is wonderful to be returning.
“Manningham Housing Association punches above its weight, has an established reputation for delivery and a clear understanding of what it wants to achieve as an organisation.
“I look forward to playing my part in its continued success.”
Lee Bloomfield, MHA chief executive, said: “We are thrilled that Bernadette is joining us. She arrives with an impressive career history and a deep understanding of the housing association sector.
“I know she will form a formidable partnership with Shendi Keshet, our director of finance and resources, who joined us at the start of 2020.”
Keshet said: “Bernadette was the standout candidate throughout the selection process and will be a major asset on the finance team.
“MHA is embarking on three major IT transformation projects which will take us up several levels in terms of financial intelligence and organisational efficiency.
“Bernadette will be heavily involved in this pioneering work as we strive to be as innovative as modern technology allows.”
Barrington Billings, MHA chair, said: “I have great pleasure in welcoming Bernadette to Manningham Housing Association.
“We want the best to work for us so we can provide the communities we serve with high quality homes and other services such as helping people of all ages into training and employment.
“Bernadette shares our commitment to these objectives. It is excellent to have her onboard.”
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Karen Lewis
Leeds-based market research company, STRAT7 ResearchBods, has made several new appointments and will continue its recruitment drive to support growth plans for 2021.
Among the recent new hires is Karen Lewis, who joins from Crisp Thinking where she held the role of VP customer success, responsible for improving customer experience and maximising client retention rates.
Prior to this she was head of digital strategy at Intermarketing Agency.
Her new role as customer success lead at STRAT7 ResearchBods will involve driving consistency and increased customer satisfaction across the whole client base, as well as developing the framework to support contractual commitments to clients.
She will work with Emily McCarthy who was promoted last month to head of customer success.
Joining from LADbible is Gordon Sherratt, who has taken the role as head of IT. He is responsible for IT operations across STRAT7 ResearchBods and the wider STRAT7 group.
STRAT7 ResearchBods also has two new additions to the Project Management team with Kelsey Cathchpole joining as trainee project manager and Caitlin Fletcher as project support administrator.
Most recently, Paul Wilson joins as business development manager, having previously worked in a variety of SaaS and Market Intelligence sales roles, including Hitwise and ContentCal.
These appointments follow a steady period of growth for the company since September, with a record month of revenue in November 2020.
Jonathan Clough, managing director, said: “Our teams have worked incredibly hard to help navigate clients through this unprecedented time.
“As a business we feel extremely grateful to have ridden the storm and are delighted to welcome talented new people.
“We’ve secured multiple new clients over the last several months and are continuing to recruit across all areas of insight, data and development to help accelerate our ambitious growth plans for 2021.”
