People: Switalskis; Insurance Institute of Leeds; Kirk Newsholme Financial Planning; and more

The Switalskis group has appointed Tim Halstead to director and chair of the management board at the growing Yorkshire law firm.

He joined Switalskis as chief operating officer in September 2020 to work alongside managing director, John Durkan, across the group’s 12 offices and support the firm’s expansion plans.

In his role as chair, he will lead the seven-strong management board as it continues to pursue a strategy that has seen the group acquire medical negligence specialists Pryers Solicitors and Doncaster firm Atherton Godfrey in the last 12 months.

The firm also welcomed the former Keebles Sheffield family and child care law team in June and expects to make similar announcements in the year ahead.

Halstead spent 26 years as managing partner at Shulmans LLP, helping to grow the firm to an £18m turnover business, before moving to Switalskis.

He said: “It was the Switalskis culture and approach that attracted me to the firm, which puts people and clients ahead of everything else.

“It has given me a strong platform on which to build and help to put structures in place to accommodate the rapid growth we have seen over the last year.

“Looking ahead, my role will involve embedding the new firms and teams into the business, supporting those teams to do their jobs well, and leading the attraction of more talented individuals into the company.

“There are lawyers out there looking for law firms that take their work seriously and take the welfare of their people just as seriously.

“That’s what I’ve found to be the case at Switalskis, and that culture is helping us build a very strong team. We’ve got some great work, and we’re looking for more people to help us do it.”

Group managing director, John Durkan, added: “Tim has added immense value to the business over the last 12 months.

“His knowledge and industry experience will continue to support our strategic direction and help us capitalise on future opportunities as he takes on the role of director and chair of our management board, which I have no doubt will continue to thrive under his leadership.”

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Holly Copsey, broking manager at global professional services firm Aon plc, has been appointed president of the Insurance Institute of Leeds (IIL).

At 27 years old, she will be the youngest-ever president of IIL since it was founded in 1888 at the Queens Hotel in Leeds.

Affiliated with the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), IIL was established to champion education and professionalism in the industry and is one of the country’s oldest professional institutes.

Currently IIL’s deputy president, Copsey will take over from incumbent president Melanie Jordan in March 2022 and will ensure IIL continues to serve its 3,000 local members by providing continuous professional development, networking opportunities and social fundraising events.

Copsey said: “I’m honoured to have been elected as the next president of the Insurance Institute of Leeds.

“Due to the support provided by experienced colleagues and the training opportunities offered by my employers, most recently at Aon, I have had a rewarding and successful career.

“I’m passionate about supporting emerging professionals and ensuring, in my role as president, that they benefit from the wealth of experience across the Leeds market.

“Another key aspect of my role is fundraising, and I intend to use my position to make a difference to people and charities in Leeds.”

Copsey has seven years of industry experience and is chair of the Leeds Emerging Insurance Professionals, which is aimed at IIL members aged under 35 years and provides education, career development, tailored networking opportunities and social events.

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Leeds-based chartered IFA firm, Kirk Newsholme Financial Planning, has welcomed a new adviser to its team this month.

Guy Austin joins as a chartered financial planner after 11 years working as an IFA for a large independent firm.

He will work alongside the chartered accountancy side of the business Kirk Newsholme, both being based under one roof and enabling a joined-up approach when dealing with clients’ financial solutions.

Director Peter Blinkhorn said: “Guy’s experience of working alongside accountancy firms is a real advantage and he is keen to further develop this here with us.

“Our team offers a full range of advisory services to individuals and businesses and has grown rapidly over the last few years.

“We look forward to Guy bringing his expertise to our clients and growing the team further.”

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CPP Group, a Leeds-headquartered provider of personal protection and insurance products and services, says Oliver Laird, chief financial officer and Board member since 2017, has tendered his resignation to the Board to take up a new role.

The Board is considering its options and has begun the search for a replacement. An update will be issued in due course. Laird will continue in his role until 31 October 2021.  

Jason Walsh, Group chief executive officer, said: “I would like to thank Oliver for the time he has spent with the company and for being a real driving force for change and transformation during that time.

“He leaves CPP in a much healthier position with good prospects for further growth. I wish him well for his future endeavours.”