People: Yorkshire Building Society; RSM UK; Ware & Kay Solicitors; and more

Yorkshire Building Society has confirmed Janet Pope will join its Board as non-executive director on 29 October. 

With more than 30 years’ experience in financial services, Pope currently sits on the Board of the debt charity StepChange and is chair of the Charities Aid Foundation Bank. 

She recently retired from Lloyds Banking Group, where she was chief of staff and chief sustainability officer.

In that role she had a particular focus on sustainability, responsible business, inclusion and diversity. Prior roles at Lloyds include savings director and investment and protection director.

She has previously been CEO at Alliance Trust Savings, executive vice president, global strategy at Visa International and head of retail banking Africa at Standard Chartered.

Pope has also been a member of the Board at Alliance Trust and the Banking Standards Board. 

She said: “I’m looking forward to joining the Board at Yorkshire Building Society, an organisation which has a strong social purpose and is committed to delivering long-term value for its members and communities. 

“I intend to use my experience to support the Society as it grows and continues to help people find a place to call home and deliver value for savers.”

Annemarie Durbin, chair of Yorkshire Building Society, added: “Janet has considerable experience in financial services, both in executive and non-executive positions.

“She has held Board positions on a range of public, private and charity organisations and the Society and our members will benefit from the insight she brings.”

:::

Audit, tax and consulting firm, RSM UK, has made four new director promotions in Leeds and Hull.

In Leeds, Sarah Mallinson (audit), Beth Barker (corporate tax) and Zoe Morton (risk assurance director – financial services) have been promoted to strengthen their respective faculties.

Marc Cowell has also been promoted to audit director in the firm’s Hull office.

RSM’s newly appointed Yorkshire directors are among 24 promotions to director across the national firm, with many based outside London, including 10 across the north of England.

Mike Thornton, RSM UK’s regional managing partner in Yorkshire and the North East, said: “Our newest cohort of directors have worked incredibly hard to reach this stage in their careers and I’d like to congratulate all of them on their promotions.

“Our approach to nurturing talent is a long-term commitment and we are continuing to invest in and support our people as they develop.

“It is very fulfilling to be part of their career journeys as they grow in skill, experience and confidence, and I am very proud of our Yorkshire directors and their achievements, with their promotions a reflection of their hard work, dedication and talent.

“With nearly 50% of this year’s newly promoted directors based in the North of England, this further demonstrates our commitment to supporting local talent across our UK-wide network of offices, enabling us to deliver a premium and personalised service to local, regional, national and international clients in the middle market.”

Rob Donaldson, CEO, added: “We’re thrilled to announce a talented group of newly promoted directors from across the country as part of our ongoing drive to invest in our people.

“As the economy continues to improve, it’s our highly skilled teams that will drive growth, increase productivity and help RSM to become first choice advisers to middle market leaders.

“Each promotion is testimony to the hard work, dedication and commitment of each individual, and I’m particularly proud to see gender parity within our new cohort of directors.”

:::

From left, Johanne Spittle and Samantha Sinclair

Law firm Ware & Kay incorporating Pearsons & Ward Solicitors has appointed Samantha Sinclair as head of the family department.

She brings over 12 years of specialised experience in family law to the team.

Sinclair is an expert in all aspects of family law and relationship breakdowns, with a particular focus on complex cases involving children. 

In her new role, she will oversee a range of services, including divorce, separation, child arrangements, financial provision for children, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and cohabitation agreements.

Originally from York, she completed her legal education at Leeds Metropolitan University and The York College of Law, earning a Graduate Diploma in Law in 2008 and a Distinction in the Legal Practice Course in Commercial and Private Law in 2010.

After beginning her career at a firm in York, she gained extensive experience in family law and trained in Collaborative Law through Resolution, a professional body dedicated to resolving family disputes constructively.

Sinclair said: “I am looking forward to joining such a great firm that has established strong personal relationships with its clients through networking and delivering a high level of service. 

“Family matters are often complex, and I always aim to work with my clients to achieve the best outcomes during difficult times.

“My strength lies in helping clients navigate the challenges of relationship breakdowns with dignity and fairness.

“I have successfully represented a broad range of clients, including those with complex, high-value cases involving business assets.”

Johanne Spittle, director & head of litigation & dispute resolution, said: “Samantha’s appointment is a key part of building a strong family law team as we move into our next phase of growth. 

“Her professionalism, approachability, and commitment to outstanding client service align perfectly with our values.

“Samantha’s leadership will be instrumental as we continue to deliver high-quality legal services to both established and new clients.”

Sinclair will be based in the York office but will also see clients at the firm’s Wetherby and Malton offices.

:::

Leeds-based Monroe Lettings & Property Management has appointed Katie Radcliffe as its new branch manager, bringing 15 years of expertise in the property industry to the team.

She previously led a property management department for Linley & Simpson. She oversaw a team of 12 property managers across five branches, managing complaints, ensuring compliance, and maintaining high levels of service for landlords.

Most recently, she held a position in Learning & Development, training property professionals across the UK to enhance their skills in customer service and operational efficiency.

At Monroe, Radcliffe’s focus will be on streamlining processes, ensuring compliance, and expanding the property portfolio.

She said: “Monroe is an exciting and fast-growing brand, especially in North Leeds.

“I’m eager to be part of this dynamic team and contribute to the expansion, not just within the city centre but across the entire Leeds area.

“It’s a privilege to be part of a company that consistently delivers a prestige service to its clients.

“There’s significant investment in the city right now, and we’re well-positioned to ensure our clients get the best returns on their investments.”