People: Clarion; Blacks Solicitors; Huddersfield Town Foundation; and more

Law firm, Clarion, has promoted 12 team members across the business.

Stephanie Kaye has been promoted to partner in the Costs and Litigation Funding team.

Since joining Clarion as an associate in 2013, she has become a well-respected member of the firm, as well as nationally recognised as a ‘Leading Individual’ in Chambers and Partners 2022, and 2023.

Kaye has been instrumental in cultivating the culture at Clarion, mentoring, and managing junior talent through their apprenticeships and leading on diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Carly Brown and Simon Rhodes have both become legal directors, in Banking and Finance, and Real Estate respectively.

A specialist in high value and complex transactions, Brown’s entrepreneurial spirit has helped bring new clients to the firm who value her technical knowledge, while Rhodes’ understanding of clients and strong relationships, makes him one of the leading Real Estate lawyers in the Leeds market.

Santino Stifanelli and Caitlin Hare from the Corporate team, join Brindley Meredith and Christabel Clappison from Private Wealth, as well as Daniel Murray from Costs and Litigation Funding, Samantha Richardson from Contentious Private Client, and Sean Meehan from Real Estate to all move to senior associate positions.

Bethany Collings and Ellie Howard-Taylor have also been promoted to associates in the Costs and Litigation Funding team. They are both home-grown talents who joined the firm as paralegals.

Roger Hutton, joint managing partner, said: “From Partner promotions to Associates, I’m incredibly proud to have such a talented team of lawyers at every level at Clarion.

“Talent attracts talent. These individuals are not only helping us deliver our national growth strategy, but they will also be instrumental in attracting the best talent across the region.

“Their expertise is second to none and they’ve all applied it to make an impact, in every way, from growth, to client work and culture.

“These promotions are testament to that and I’m looking forward to seeing how they continue to take the firm from strength to strength and develop in their new roles.”

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Yorkshire law firms, Blacks Solicitors, has promoted Pete Konieczko-Hansom to legal director and head of the Commercial and Intellectual Property (IP) team.

In his new role, he will lead a team of legal professionals dedicated to delivering expert, highly valued commercial legal services.

Konieczko-Hansom began his career with Blacks Solicitors in 2016 when he joined as an assistant solicitor, before advancing to the position of associate solicitor in 2018.

After acquiring valuable experience working for various firms across West and East Yorkshire, as well as holding a significant role with the Government Legal Department in London, he returned to Blacks in 2022 as a senior associate solicitor.

He said: “I am honoured to step into this role and lead such a talented team. Blacks have always been a place where professional growth is encouraged and supported.

“I look forward to continuing to work with our clients, providing the high level of service they expect and deserve.”

Pete Bott, head of music law at Blacks, added: “I am pleased with the recognition being shown to Pete by his promotion.

“I have enjoyed working alongside him when he has supported the Music team by helping our clients, such as Bring Me The Horizon and Hybrid Minds, with trademark registrations and other IP support.”

Konieczko-Hansom qualified as a solicitor in 2008 after training at a large national firm in Hull.

Throughout his career, he has advised a variety of clients, from small start-ups to large international manufacturers.

His expertise spans a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, including share and sales purchases, management buyouts and supply and distribution agreements.

His passion for intellectual property law has seen him become a trusted adviser in this specialised area.

Chris Allen, managing partner, said: “This advancement is a testament to Pete’s unwavering commitment and expertise in commercial and IP law.

“We pride ourselves on nurturing and developing legal talent, and Pete’s growth reflects this dedication.

“His promotion underscores our commitment to supporting some of the best legal professionals in the UK and I am pleased to see Pete progress into this well deserved role.”

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Huddersfield Town Foundation (HTF) has appointed a Huddersfield business executive, Dr Delroy Beverley as its new chair of trustees.

He succeeds the previous chair, Aidan Grills.

Educated at both Oxford and Cambridge, Dr Beverley has more than 30 years of business and executive leadership across multiple sectors including social housing, health, local government, and non-executive boards.

He has held several high-profile non-executive board directorships that have included Ofqual and the British Library where he was also chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Prior to this, he served as deputy chairman of the Joseph Rowntree Trust Housing Board, part of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation which researches issues surrounding social disadvantages and deprivation within society.

He continues as regional chairman at the Institute of Directors for Yorkshire & Northeast, and board member at Roffey Park Institute which primes organisations to build business skills for individuals, teams, and organisations globally.

He also serves on the EDI External Advisory Group for Huddersfield Town FC.

In 2014, he was the first ever black chairman of a European business school at the University of Bradford, School of Management, and he was also the first person from within social housing to win a prestigious IoD Director of the Year award, taking home the CSR/not-for-profit award in 2015.

In 2016, the Chartered Management Institute awarded him the highest rank of Companionship status that recognises only the most exceptional accomplished business leaders.

Two years later in 2018, he was named by Inside Housing as one of the UK’s top 10 outstanding senior black professionals for business leadership achievements and commitment to inspiring the next generation.

In 2023, he was awarded the Doctor of Letters by University of Warwick in recognition of significant contributions to the intellectual, cultural, and economic life of communities and civil society.

As the foundation’s new chairman, his role will include advocacy and influencing on behalf of the organisation, while working closely with Huddersfield Town FC.

The foundation’s chief executive, Siobhan Atkinson, said: “Delroy has an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience in both business and crucially as a skilled chairman, which can only enhance our governance and operations.

“The Board and the staff team at the foundation share a combined passion to serve our local community in the best possible way and give everyone who we come into contact with the most promising opportunity to succeed and lead as healthy and fulfilling a life as possible.

“Sport and football really can change lives and with Delroy at the helm I’m more than confident that we will execute our ambitious plans for the future of the Foundation.”

Dr Beverley said: that his “It is a huge privilege and honour to be appointed as the new chairman of the foundation at such an important time.

“I know from experience that an effective chairman is a skill without parallel. Being able to influence through effective diplomacy is as important as knowing your way around the bottom line, whether it be KPIs or profit margins.

“I’ve learned that paying real attention matters most; knowing that change is often what’s happening at the margins, not around the boardroom table.

“In that regard, I will ensure we listen to what our partners, stakeholders and the community are telling us, and make sure this is reflected in our services.”

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Wakefield-headquartered greetings cards and gifts retailer, Card Factory, has appointed Pamela Powell (Pam) as senior non-executive director with effect from 21 June 2024. 

She will succeed Roger Whiteside who has advised the company that he intends to step down from the Board at the conclusion of its 2024 Annual General Meeting, scheduled to be held on 20 June 2024.

Powell will be appointed as a member of each of the companys Remuneration Committee, Audit & Risk Committee and Nomination Committee.

She is an internationally experienced blue chip consumer FMCG marketeer, including senior global positions at Unilever from 1989 to 2001, and SAB Miller, from 2002 to 2011 as group director, strategy and innovation.

Powell has subsequently developed a non-executive portfolio in industries spanning consumer brands, manufacturing, supply and distribution. 

She is currently non-executive director of Origin Enterprises plc, the international agronomy services group, where she is a member of the ESG committee.

She was previously non-executive director of Cranswick plc, a producer and supplier of premium pork and poultry products; Premier Foods plc and A G Barr plc.

Powell was a member of Audit, Remuneration and Nomination committees with each of these companies, chaired the Remuneration Committees of Cranswick plc and Premier Foods plc and was a member of the Cranswick plc ESG committee.

Paul Moody, Card Factory chairman, said: The Board would like to thank Roger for his significant contribution over the past six years in supporting Card Factory’s strategic evolution and commercial growth.

“Roger has consistently brought constructive challenge, fresh perspective and his significant retail and leadership experience to the Board.

“His valuable expertise and wise counsel around the board table will be missed.

“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Pam to the Board. She brings extensive non-executive and consumer facing executive experience, invaluably within vertically integrated businesses, both nationally and internationally.”

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