People: IntelliAM AI; Hägen Wolf; Ware Kay; Firth & Co; and more

Tech entrepreneur Dave Richards is to step down as a chairman and director of IntelliAM AI, as part of a planned transition.
He will depart in July, fitting in with the company’s post-IPO succession plan, which envisaged his tenure as chairman lasting for 12 months after going public.
Richards said: “As co-founder of IntelliAM AI, I am immensely proud of what we have achieved since the company’s inception and during our journey to becoming a listed entity.
“The decision to step down as chairman has always been part of our strategic plan, enabling me to focus on my role as Managing Partner of Yorkshire AI Labs, which remains fully committed to supporting IntelliAM AI as a 20% shareholder.”
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Leeds-based boutique property litigation law firm, Hägen Wolf, has appointed a new legal director, Claire Moss.
She brings a breadth of property litigation expertise to the firm, with more than 18 years’ experience acting as a solicitor for commercial and residential landlords and tenants, individuals and property developers across a full range of property-related disputes.
Moss said: “I’m really excited to join Hägen Wolf and become part of its team of specialist property litigators.
“The firm has achieved well-deserved recognition in a very short space of time, and I’m looking forward to helping it continue to grow.”
Matt Pugh, managing partner and founder, said: “I am pleased that Claire has joined our specialist team. Her property litigation expertise will help guide the next stage of our firm’s development, as we seek to expand on the rapid growth of the past five years.
“Claire will play a vital role in developing our client base, as well as coaching and sharing her expertise with our existing team of lawyers.”
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Law firm Ware & Kay, incorporating Pearsons & Ward Solicitors, has appointed Sarah Parker as head of agriculture.
She is a specialist agricultural solicitor with a wealth of knowledge in this sector and will be acting for clients within the farming community.
Parker will be consolidating the firm’s work with farmers, landowners and the rural community and providing expert advice and guidance to clients on a variety of matters.
This includes assisting farmers, estate owners, and rural businesses with land purchases and sales, agricultural leases, and farm business tenancies.
She will also support clients with succession planning, partnership agreements, and first registrations of unregistered land, ensuring that clients’ interests are protected and that transactions run smoothly.
Parker brings over nine years of extensive experience in agricultural law, having handled a wide range of both advisory and transactional matters.
She graduated with an LLB (Hons) in Law with German Law and Language from the University of Hull in 2008. She completed her Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in York in 2009 with distinction and qualified as a solicitor in February 2015.
She said: “I look forward to building stronger relationships with farmers and landowners, furthering my understanding of the unique challenges facing the agricultural sector and providing tailored advice on key issues such as Biodiversity Net Gain Agreements, diversification, and land management.
“Supporting the agricultural community and contributing to its success is a privilege I am eager to embrace.”
Emma Elwess, director of Ware & Kay at the Malton Office, added: “We are very pleased to welcome Sarah to our Agricultural Property team.
“Her breadth of knowledge and hands-on experience will be an invaluable asset to our clients.
“With her strong background in agricultural law and understanding of the local farming community, Sarah will further enhance our offering, ensuring we continue to deliver the high level of service Ware & Kay is known for.
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Yorkshire wine merchant, Firth & Co, has appointed Richard Pickles as a senior sales representative.
He rejoins Andrew Firth, the founder and manager director of Firth & Co, for whom he worked when Andrew ran Thirsk-based wine merchant Playford Ros.
After Playford Ros, Pickles joined national wine suppliers Bibendum, becoming director of sales in The North and Scotland, before moving to another national wine merchant, Enotria & Coe, selling premium wine in the north and London restaurants.
He said: “This is a very exciting move for me and I am happy to be working with Andrew again, one of the most dedicated and knowledgeable wine merchants in the UK.
“His drive and passion have established Firth & Co’s reputation as a formidable player in the wine and spirits sector in the north – and beyond.
“After many years working for successful national wine companies across England and Scotland, it’s now the perfect time to return closer to my North Yorkshire home and to join up with some of the great names of the Yorkshire hospitality sector.
“I will be assisting Andrew, his deputy William Tilling and the fantastic Firth & Co team to introduce exciting independently sourced wines to the best restaurants and bars in the north.
“Firth & Co already supply some of the finest hospitality venues in the region and I look forward to adding to the illustrious list.”
Pickles begins his new role on Monday February 3.
Andrew Firth added: “This is a crucially important appointment for us as we continue to expand across the north of England.
“It’s 10 years now since we moved to our spacious premises at Ainderby Steeple, near Northallerton, and we have grown steadily year on year. Richard’s appointment will take us to the next level.”
Tilling added: “Richard’s experience and expertise, together with his enthusiasm, will make him a tremendous asset for us.
“We have established a strong reputation for being a niche supplier of excellent European wines at competitive prices.
“We pride ourselves on a swift and personal service and are proud of the fact that we supply some of the very best hotels and restaurants in Yorkshire and the North East.”
Pickles has lived in Boroughbridge for 30 years and ran the Grantham Arms in the town between 1994 until 2006, before selling it and joining Playford Ros. He is originally from Oxenhope, in West Yorkshire.
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Leeds-based Real World Group has appointed Mark Powell as head of consulting.
He has over 25 years of experience as a chartered occupational psychologist, HR professional, and executive coach.
His expertise has been honed at organisations such as SHL, UBS, Nationwide Building Society, the Cabinet Office, and most recently, as head of leadership and talent consulting at GatenbySanderson.
In his new role, he will play a pivotal part in designing interventions to support leader, team and organisational change underpinned by Real World Group’s evidence-based assessments for individuals, teams and whole organisations.
He is taking a strategic role in overseeing design and delivery of our bespoke consulting activities at a time of significant expansion in this area.
Juliette Alban-Metcalfe, CEO of Real World Group, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Mark Powell to our fantastic team.
“Mark’s values-driven approach, exceptional expertise as a leadership and talent practitioner, and chartered occupational psychologist, and his dedication to fostering evidence-based interventions perfectly align with our work.
“His proven track record in empowering leaders to build thriving, inclusive cultures will be instrumental as we continue to expand our impact both in the UK and globally.”
Powell added: “Joining Real World Group at this exciting stage of its journey is a tremendous honour.
“I am passionate about using evidence-based approaches to enable leaders to create positive, high-performing workplaces.
“I look forward to contributing to Real World Group’s innovative solutions and working alongside a talented team to deliver meaningful, lasting change for our clients.”