People: Schofield Sweeney; Redmayne Bentley; Eddisons; and more

Andy Gilchrist has been appointed as a partner in the employment team at Yorkshire-based law firm, Schofield Sweeney.

He is a multi-award winning employment lawyer and joins the firm from Lupton Fawcett, where he was head of employment.

Gilchrist has advised on significant employment law cases in the UK, and also businesses with operations overseas.

Last year he advised a US Fortune 500 company on the departure of a senior executive, a US company on the closure of its UK operation, and a number of household brands on the restructuring of their workforces.

He said: “I am pleased to join the employment team at Schofield Sweeney, as it is one of the strongest and best regarded in the region.”

With over 20 years’ experience, Gilchrist advises on the full range of employment and HR related matters, including dismissals, discrimination, redundancies/restructuring, whistleblowing, settlement agreements, and exit management.

He is known for his abilities as a litigator and negotiator, and for his strategic and commercial approach to problem solving. He acts for both employers and employees.

Simon Shepherd, partner, added: “Andy’s experience and excellent reputation enhances our already strong team, and shows our commitment to the growth plans we have for the employment team.

“I’m really pleased to welcome him, and to continue providing support to our existing and future clients.”

The employment team have also celebrated the promotion of Rajveer Basra from solicitor to associate this month.

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Nemone Wynn-Evans has joined Leeds-headquartered Redmayne Bentley’s Main Board as a non-executive director.

She has extensive Board experience gained in a number of financial services businesses, including at a boutique wealth manager and in other sectors such as energy. 

Prior to becoming a NED, she had a career in equity capital markets and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Securities & Investment. 

Her current roles include board chair at Hinckley & Rugby Building Society and she is a NED at both Good Energy plc, which is listed on AIM and the Income and Growth VCT plc, listed on the main market.

Previous experience includes the role of Midlands regional manager at the London Stock Exchange.

She said: “I wanted to join Redmayne Bentley because of its strong focus on putting clients at the centre of everything it does, underpinned by traditional personal service values.

“I’m really enjoying starting to meet my wonderful, dedicated colleagues and I look forward to contributing to the firm’s continued success. 

“With such a long history going back 150 years, it’s a great privilege to join the Main Board as we navigate the firm through its next chapter, offering an investment management and stockbroking service that’s as valued by our clients today as it was when we were first founded in 1875.”

She joined the firm as chair of the Risk Oversight Committee and the Remuneration, Nominations and Governance Committee and as a member of the firm’s Audit Committee.

David Loudon, chair of the Main Board, said: “Nemone has a depth of experience that will make her a strong addition to our Main Board and her insight and knowledge will help us to shape our future and growth plans.”

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Eddisons has expanded its plant and machinery division with the appointment of new director Antony Reed to the firm’s growing asset sales operation across the UK.

Reed joins Leeds-headquartered Eddisons from industrial auctions group Surplex, where he led its British outfit.

He also worked previously for industrial machinery specialist Apex Auctions as well as in industrial metalwork and engineering sales.

In his new role he joins Eddisons’ UK-wide plant, machinery and machine tools sales team.

Reed said: “Economic and environmental factors are fuelling the growth in demand right now to both buy and sell assets.

“High interest rates, energy costs and rising rents are spurring businesses to look to surplus equipment as a straightforward way to generate much-needed cash.

“Added to this, there is a shift away from products ending up in landfill or incinerators and causing environmental damage through toxic emission.

“Instead, a ‘make, use and recycle’ approach is seeing items maintained and reused over a much longer and more sustainable lifecycle, which could involve them changing hands several times.

“Eddisons has built up a strong reputation across the UK in asset sales, a market which is very much about trust and in-depth understanding of clients’ requirements, and I’m looking forward to bringing my extensive contacts and 20 years of experience to help drive further growth for the firm’s plant and machinery team.”

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James Kergon

Professional services firm, KPMG UK, has made three senior appointments within its Transaction Services team in the North of England.

Partners James Kergon and Nick Taylor will lead the firm’s North Transaction Services team and Jake Williams has been promoted to transaction services director.

The team will also be welcoming Siobhan Dunne back into her role as associate director following a period of maternity leave.

Kergon was previously the senior partner for KPMG in Scotland and led the firm’s Deal Advisory business there.

During his 24-year tenure at KPMG, he has advised on a wide variety of transactions for both UK-based and international corporates and private equity clients across a broad range of sectors.

Nick Taylor

In his new post, he has relocated to Leeds and will lead KPMG’s Transaction Services team in the Yorkshire and North East region.

Taylor’s appointment follows 17 years in KPMG’s Transaction Services team, supporting clients across various sectors on M&A transactions.

In his new role, he will relocate to Manchester from the Midlands, where he ran KPMG’s Transaction Services team for the last four years, and lead the team in the North West.

Leeds-based Williams has nearly a decade of experience working in KPMG’s Business Services Deals team.

In his role as transaction services director, he will continue to provide transactional support to clients across the North of England.

Jake Williams

Kergon said: “We ended 2024 with greater economic and political certainty, giving business leaders and investors across the North of England a more stable environment on which to achieve their growth objectives.

“I’m looking forward to working with Chris, Nick & Jake and the fantastic team we have here as we continue to build our on the ground presence and support for businesses looking to pursue M&A activity in the year ahead.”

Murden added: “Nick, James and Jake’s appointments come at an exciting time for KPMG’s transaction services team in the North of England.

“Their skills and experience will help us to meet the rising demand that we are seeing in the Deals market across Yorkshire and the North East.”