People: Thrive Law; ResQ; Devonshires; and more

Crystal Boyde has joined Leeds-based legal practice, Thrive Law as an associate solicitor.

Before joining Thrive, she specialised in Employment Law for seven years and provides advice on all aspects of employment and HR law.

She has a particular interest in complex discrimination claims, especially sex, disability, maternity and family friendly rights.

Jodie Hill, founder and managing partner at Thrive Law, said: “I am really excited to welcome to Crystal to the team, she is passionate about diversity and inclusion and is really aligned with our values, this is so important for anyone joining Thrive.

“Her experience only strengthens our senior team and I have no doubt she will fit perfectly and be a huge asset as we continue to grow.”

Thrive recently appointed partner Tom Evans Stenner as a part of its strategic growth plans, with the subsequent appointment of Boyde meaning the firm has made a strong start to 2021.

Boyde said: “I am really excited to be joining Thrive, having known Jodie for years, I have followed her career and genuinely admire her drive to highlight the importance of mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.  I am looking forward to becoming part of her team, especially knowing that the Firm’s values so closely match my own.”

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Hull-based outsourced contact centre specialist, ResQ, has appointed James Waite to the position of chief marketing officer (CMO).

He joins the company to develop and oversee an ambitious marketing strategy, focused on building a world class approach to customer interactions and increasing ResQ’s market share.

CEO Nic Marshall said: “We’re absolutely delighted and privileged to have James join us as CMO. We recognised that we needed someone with deep marketing expertise in the customer experience (CX) sector and we found this in James.

“We’re excited for him to be part of our journey, helping us reinforce our mission – that is to delight customers and help our clients grow.”

Waite is a seasoned B2B marketing leader with more than 13 years’ experience in the customer experience industry.

He joins ResQ from HGS Digital where he was global marketing director leading on the company’s brand awareness strategy and helping accelerate HGS’ growth in market share.

Waite said: “I was inspired by ResQ’s approach to running contact centres, which focuses on every employee, setting them up for successful careers.

“This approach, combined with industry leading technology, has led to ResQ becoming the best performing partner for its clients, resulting in phenomenal business growth.

“I am very excited to be joining ResQ to strengthen the brand and help deliver on its customer promise.”

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The Leeds office of national law firm Devonshires is expanding following the relocation of real estate partner, Elad Yasdi, from its London office.

Yasdi is the fifth partner to move to the firm’s growing Leeds base and is currently recruiting for solicitors to join his team.

He brings vast experience in leading complex development and regeneration projects as well as large scale property stock transfers.

A number of his recent projects have been valued in excess of £100m, making them some of the largest of its kind in the social housing sector.

His clients include registered providers, charities, local authorities and commercial businesses.

Yasdi said: “Despite the current challenges being faced by businesses everywhere, there is a real buzz about the Leeds office because of its significant growth prospects as evidenced by our recent panel appointments and our large northern client base.

“As such, we are looking to expand the Real Estate team further and hope to be able to announce new arrivals shortly to further bolster our offer to clients.”

The Leeds office moved into new premises at No 1 Whitehall Riverside last February. It is part of the firm’s strategic commitment to better serve its northern client base, and is led by partners Chris Drabble and Gary Grigor, who joined from Addleshaw Goddard in 2017.

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Planning and development consultancy, Lichfields, has promoted Leeds-based Anna Turton to the position of planning director.

Turton has extensive experience leading multi-disciplinary teams to deliver on a variety of complex planning projects. She specialises in the preparation and co-ordination of major planning applications.

She joins Gordon Thompson, from Lichfields’ Edinburgh office and Helen Ashby-Ridgway from Cardiff to have been promoted to planning director.

Chief executive James Fennell praised the three for their contributions to the business over a challenging 12 months.

He said: “All of our promoted staff have done an excellent job for our clients and played a big part in our excellent performance during a difficult trading period with the pandemic.

“Their reward is a much deserved promotion, which will provide a new platform for them to progress further at Lichfields.”

Elsewhere across its nine UK offices Lichfields has made a further 13 promotions. James Harris, Sophie Jefferson, both from the London office, Chris Smith, Newcastle, Jade Scott-Meikle, Edinburgh and Melissa Wilson from Manchester, have all been made associate directors.

New senior planners at Lichfields include; Will Christiansen, and Katherine Simpson from the Newcastle office, and the following four all from the London office: Nancy Stuart, Tom Davies, Maddie Lane and Nuala Wheatley.

Also in London, Daniel Orford has been appointed digital marketing manager and in Newcastle, Mark Kilgallon has been promoted to senior digital designer.