People: Together; Wolfstar; Big Red Industries Group; and more

Specialist lender Together is focusing on growth in the corporate lending market by appointing an experienced finance expert as its new relationship director in the Yorkshire region.

Michael Devanny, of Ilkley, started his new role as corporate relationship director at the specialist lender – which has a loan book of more than £4.8bn – earlier this month.

In his new role, he will be focusing on growth in the corporate lending market in Yorkshire, helping clients such as large businesses, individual investors, property developers and SMEs seeking flexible finance, typically of £1m or more.

Devanny said: “The opportunity to work for one of the UK’s leading specialist real estate lenders and support the thriving property market across Yorkshire attracted me to join.

“I’ve been seriously impressed by the direction of travel of the business, its strong culture and relationship-driven approach and I look forward to supporting our clients to help them achieve their property ambitions.”

He joins from Bank of China, where he managed a portfolio of corporate clients and led the bank’s middle market corporate business development and strategy.

Previously, he spent more than four years at UK Export Finance, a Government department working alongside the Department for International Trade. He supported the financing of a US$ 200m defence transaction in Indonesia and joined trade missions to Hong Kong, Egypt and Zambia.

Devanny has been hired alongside additional corporate relationship directors in London, the Midlands and Scotland, who have been employed in response to growing demand for Together’s lending products. He reports to corporate managing director Chris Baguley.

Baguley said: “Michael brings with him exceptional experience, knowledge, ambition and drive to help us deliver our aspirations to be the number one choice for corporate finance in this market.

“Our loan book across the group now stands at more than £4.8bn and we are determined to grow this even more in the near future.

“Michael will play his part in this exciting journey by supporting businesses and their advisers across Yorkshire with lending solutions tailored to their needs and delivered efficiently to help them meet their own ambitions.”

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Carolyn Nicoll, former head of communications at Welcome to Yorkshire, has joined the team at Wolfstar as communications director.

The Leeds-based agency’s chairman, Tim Sinclair, said Nicoll would add an exciting dimension to the Wolfstar offering.

He added: “Her experience in PR, media, comms, tourism, and TV production is remarkable.

“As the head of communications at Welcome to Yorkshire, the host/producer of the Talkshire podcast and the editor of This Is Y magazine, she perfectly encapsulates Wolfstar’s creative content communication approach.

“Companies are seeking more inventiveness and dynamism from their communications agency and we’re ready for that challenge.”

Nicoll said: “I’m really looking forward to working with the wonderful Wolfstar team, promoting brilliant businesses.

“It’s been a tricky couple of years for many organisations and now is an ideal time to be creating exciting PR, communications and media opportunities to maximise brand awareness on a regional, national and international stage.”

Sinclair, who set up Wolfstar in 2007, added: “We have a vibrant, talented team at Wolfstar and now Carolyn Nicoll has joined us, we can harness her experience and talent to help guide us to an exciting place.”

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Due to growth and expansion, Huddersfield-based Big Red Industries Group says it has decided to appoint a board of directors.

The new members of the board will be confirmed over the coming weeks.

Mike Lomas, founder and group managing director, will now assume the position of chief executive officer and chairman of the Board for the group.

Working with the group directors and the new members of the board, he will lead the strategic direction for the group and continue to maintain sustainable growth across the Big Red Industries companies.

Lomas has built a name for himself within the construction arena leading a variety of major projects across the UK and creating a nationwide construction firm with a £20m order book.

He said: “Over the last five years the Big Red Industries Group has experienced substantial growth. To facilitate this continued growth, we have always looked to adapt the structure of the company.

“The latest iteration in welcoming a board of directors is an exciting move for the company. It allows for sustainable rapid expansion of the group, with the input of some of the best business minds supporting the team.

“I am incredibly excited to be announcing the board over the next few weeks.”

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Doncaster Culture & Leisure Trust (DCLT) will further develop its leisure, culture and events offering across venues after appointing a key team member.

Cathy Hinde joins DCLT as marketing and business development manager.

She will work as part of the leadership team to enhance the trading, leisure, culture, and events offering, which includes the DCLT managed local leisure centres, swimming pools and outdoor centres.

She joins from Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and High Peak Borough Council, where she was responsible for managing the leisure operating contract with seven leisure facilities and developing an Active Communities plan.

Hinde previously worked as business development officer at Liberty Leisure Ltd, which delivers leisure and cultural services for Broxtowe Borough Council.

She said: “This role feels like a fantastic opportunity to be involved with such a diverse leisure organisation.

“I can be part of a team helping to further develop the leisure offer to the people of Doncaster whilst helping to bring a greater long-term financial security to the trust.

“Leisure operators were hit hard by the pandemic and my initial focuses will be on the recovery and building back of the membership base, to one even stronger than before.”

Michael Hart, chief executive of DCLT, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Cathy to the team and know she will do a great job overseeing our marketing and business development operations.

“The trust has some big plans ahead and, as the community rebounds from the pandemic, the future looks bright for DCLT and everyone who enjoys our fantastic facilities.”

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