People: AAB; Time Finance; and more

AAB, a professional services firm across the UK and Ireland, is expanding its corporate finance offering across the North of England with the appointment of two new key team members based in Leeds.

Patrick Lynch joins as corporate finance partner, alongside Harris Jones as corporate finance manager. Both will be based in the Sagars office on St Paul’s Street. Leeds-based accountancy firm Sagars merged with AAB in 2021.

Lynch, who brings more than 14 years’ experience in professional services, spent almost a decade at an independent corporate finance firm based in Yorkshire.

His experience encompasses both buying and selling roles on transactions, on behalf of SMEs and private equity firms based throughout the UK.

He joins six other partners and directors in AAB’s corporate finance leadership team across the UK and Ireland.

Throughout the past seven years as a corporate finance advisor, Jones has amassed significant experience in advising shareholders, management teams, and institutional investors within the mid-market, most recently in the M&A team of a global environmental consultancy group.

He combines this role with being a lecturer of finance within the Accounting and Finance subject group at Leeds Business School.

Head of corporate finance, Gordon Steele, said: “Welcoming both Patrick and Harris to the team is another key milestone for us.

“The AAB corporate finance team is well-established in Scotland, and across the Island of Ireland, and we’re pleased to offer these enhanced services to the North of England.

“The experience and expertise of both Patrick and Harris will add significant value to our already market leading team.”

James Hunt, head of Leeds, added: “Since Sagars joined the AAB Group we have introduced an enhanced range of services to support our clients across the North of England.

“With both Patrick and Harris joining our team here in Leeds we are excited about the addition of end-to-end corporate finance services to the expanding offering we deliver locally, to benefit our clients both now and in the future.”

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Time Finance has welcomed Jamie Robinson as an area sales manager in Yorkshire, in its Vendor Finance team.

He joins the alternative finance provider with over 10 years of experience in the financial services industry and his specialism lies in hard assets.

His previous roles include relationship manager at Lombard Asset Finance and business development manager at White Oak.

In his latest role, he will be responsible for managing and expanding the customer base across Yorkshire and writing up new business, helping to supply tailored leasing solutions to equip SMEs with the essential pieces of equipment they need.

He said: “I am thrilled to be joining Time Finance as they begin the new financial year on such a high.

“I was drawn to their ambitious, industry-leading approach to lending and look forward to contributing to the final year of their four-year growth plan, as well as developing and expanding their hard asset offering.”

His recruitment is the latest in a string of appointments at Time Finance in recent months.

The business recently welcomed Rowan Dearden as regional sales manager and Fozia Riaz as head of business improvement to further invest in its Invoice and Asset Finance offering, people and customer service.

Matt Graham, head of vendor sales, said: “We are excited to welcome Jamie to the Vendor Finance team here.

“Bringing over 10 years of experience from a variety of different roles gives him the well-rounded knowledge we value, and we look forward to seeing Jamie implement this and build our presence across the Yorkshire region.”

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York-headquartered Gear4music, an online retailer of musical instruments and music equipment, has confirmed the appointments of Neil Catto as senior independent director and Sharon Daly as non-executive director.

In addition, Ken Ford (non-executive chair) and Dean Murray (non-executive director) have stepped down from the Board after reaching the end of their nine-year tenure.

Catto is chief financial officer of Revolution Beauty Group and former chief financial officer of BooHoo Group. Daly is a non-executive director of Warpaint London and Brickability Group.

Catto said: “I am thrilled to be joining Gear4music at this exciting time in the company’s journey.

“Gear4Music has the enviable position of being the UK’s premier retailer of musical instruments and equipment and this is a fantastic platform to build from.

“I look forward to working alongside Andrew and the rest of the Board to drive further profitable growth in the business.

“Together, I am confident we will continue to drive Gear4music forward while staying true to the principles that have made it a leader in its field.”