People: Switalskis; Deloitte; GOLD79; and more
Switalskis has promoted 21 people across 10 of its departments as part of its latest promotions round.
Recognising talent within the law firm, it has promoted seven people to senior associate and 14 to associate positions.
The promotions come on the heels of the successful integration of Switalskis’ acquired businesses, Pryers and Atherton Godfrey.
Switalskis’ clinical negligence department leads the way with the firm’s largest number of promotions.
The team’s senior associate promotions include Clare Gooch, Linda Smith and Sian Stevens. Burhan Akhtar, Claire Garrity, Hannah Cazaly, Helena Tindall, Jonathan Gray and Sadie Simpson have been promoted to associate within the team.
People in the firm’s child abuse compensation; child care; commercial property; costs; Court of Protection; IT; personal injury; risk and compliance; and special projects teams have also been recognised.
George Lockley, Katrina Elsey, Ryan Dhinsa and Sarah Wildey have been promoted to senior associate.
Danielle Smithurst, Emily Park, Kaz Skutenko Jones, Louise Haywood, Robyn Mayoh, Ros Raine, Samantha Follows and Samantha Kinder-Naylor have been promoted to associate.
Ruth Coneron, who is chair of the Career Development Programme, said: “We believe in going beyond the conventional to create an environment that is supportive, balanced and nurtures growth.
“Our Career Development Programme supports this and brings clarity, structure and transparency to the promotion process. We are proud to see these 21 brilliant people further advance in their careers.”
Managing director, John Durkan, added: “It’s fantastic to see so many of our people recognised for their talent.
“We set the bar high and these people demonstrate absolute dedication and play a significant role in our success.
“I’m excited to see their continued contributions further enhance our reputation and ability to best support clients when they need it most.”
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Deloitte has appointed Anil Gupta as practice senior partner for Yorkshire and the North East to lead a combined team of over 1,050 people.
He will take over the role from Stuart Cottee who has held the position of practice senior partner for the last five years.
After 30 years at Deloitte, Cottee will continue his work as partner at the firm, supporting current and prospective clients through complex M&A transactions, along with navigating broader market challenges.
He will also remain heavily involved in the development and progression of the firm’s most senior people and partners.
As the new practice senior partner, Gupta will be responsible for driving the growth of Deloitte across the region, both in terms of revenue and its people across its offices in Leeds and Newcastle.
He will focus on expanding the firm’s client roster in Yorkshire and the North East, strengthening service expertise, and leading on initiatives to further improve the diversity and sustainability of Deloitte’s regional practice.
After a 19-year career at Deloitte in Yorkshire since joining the firm as a graduate in 2005, Gupta takes on this new role in addition to the role of office senior partner in Leeds, where he already leads a team of over 700 across the firm’s audit, tax and legal, financial advisory, risk advisory and consulting businesses.
Gupta also leads Deloitte’s Performance Improvement business across the regional markets, which focuses on unlocking the financial and operational potential of clients’ businesses by optimising operations and improving profitability.
The new appointment follows a successful 2023 for the firm across the region, having made five partner and 13 director promotions in its Leeds office and strengthening its Newcastle team with seven new director promotions.
As practice senior partner, Gupta will also spearhead the continued development of new partner and director cohorts across the region.
He said: “Having started my career in this region, I’m passionate about the growth and success of the Yorkshire and North East practice.
“I’m looking forward to bringing our community of partners and people together to make further meaningful impact in the region.
“We have invested significantly in our capability across the practice and I’m keen to ensure we continue to invest in areas that align to our clients’ current and future needs.
“It’s an honour to step into the role of leading the Deloitte Yorkshire and North East practice.”
Cottee, added: “It has been a real privilege to have been responsible for leading the practice in Yorkshire and the North East over the last five years.
“Our client work, community initiatives and focus on challenges like levelling up and energy transition, have been instrumental to the growth and development of our regional practice.
“I’m proud to be handing over the position to Anil who has already played an instrumental role in Yorkshire.
“I have no doubt that his commitment to the growth of the firm and his passion for looking at ways we can improve will take the development of both our practice and people from strength to strength.”
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Leeds-based PR agency, GOLD79 has appointed Greg Felgate as chief commercial officer to lead the agency’s growth strategy in the next phase of its journey.
Felgate brings a wealth of experience, having served as the director of communications at full-service agency IMA-HOME, where he spearheaded New Business and was responsible for PR, Social, and Influencer clients.
Prior to joining IMA-HOME, he spent 13 years at PR Agency, Finn. He joined as the third member of staff and remained there until 2020, leading teams working on brands including Yorkshire Tea, Cadbury’s, Nandos and Quorn.
He said: “It’s hugely exciting time to be joining GOLD79. The agency is on a roll and has some incredibly exciting initiatives in the pipeline for 2024.
“I enjoyed my time at IMA-HOME and I learned a lot about the broader marketing mix, but I realised that I love the power of PR thinking and creating shareable content. GOLD79 excels in these fields.”
Rhona Templer, group MD, said: “We’re really looking forward to Greg joining. His track record is impressive and he’s going to be instrumental in driving forward our growth strategy.
“2024 will be an important year for us as we take our new initiatives to market and it will be great to have him as part of our talented senior team.”
Felgate also serves as a Board Trustee at Children’s Cancer Charity, Candlelighters.
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Dairy farmer Rachel Coates will make history as the first female to take over the role of show director of the Great Yorkshire Show. (GYS)
Coates, from Shipley, will take over from Charles Mills who has been show director since 2016.
The handover will take place immediately after this year’s Show from Tuesday July 9 to Friday July 12 – which will be the 165th Great Yorkshire Show.
Coates said: “I am honoured to be taking over the reins as show director from Charles who’s done an amazing job over the last eight years.
“I have been coming to the Show since I was 18 which is when I got the bug for it. My aim will be to promote the Show to the younger generations so that it continues to flourish and grow.”
Mills said: “I can’t think of a better candidate to hand over the reins to and I know Rachel will take the show from strength to strength.”
Rachel is a member of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society Council and farms a mixture of tenanted and owned land on the edge of Baildon Moor and the urban fringe.
She has been part of the GYS cattle committee for a number of years and her family have shown dairy cattle at The Great Yorkshire Show for around 15 years, winning Holstein Champion for two years running in 2023 and 2022.
Coates has worked in advertising, retail, education, and agriculture, and is currently a director of a Community Interest Company which runs her local farmer’s market.
Passionate about British food, she is also a member of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s Women In Farming Network and enjoys volunteering at the Society’s Countryside Days for schoolchildren at the Great Yorkshire Showground.
Allister Nixon, CEO of Yorkshire Agricultural Society, said: “I am pleased that following a rigorous interview and selection process Rachel has been appointed to the role of show director.
“We wish her every success with her role and look forward to working with her to deliver future Great Yorkshire Shows.”
