People: Yorkshire Building Society; Expect Distribution; ABB and more

Yorkshire Building Society has appointed Simon Watson as chief commercial officer.

Simon is joining from NatWest Group where he is currently managing director of affluent banking & investing. He has previously held several leadership roles spanning personal and private banking, digital transformation, corporate affairs, brand and customer propositions.

Susan Allen, chief executive of Yorkshire Building Society, said: “Simon combines creative, commercial and strategic expertise with a strong focus on colleague and customer engagement.

“He understands and shares our vision for the Society, and I am confident he will help drive our success as we continue to grow and support more people to find a place to call home and build financial wellbeing.”

Simon said: “It’s clear to me that Yorkshire Building Society has a proud history, great customer engagement, and committed colleagues.

“It is a mutual with ambitious plans to grow and help more people, and I’m thrilled at the opportunity to be part of the team that shapes its next chapter.”

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From left, Jack Boldy and Dan Wignall

Bradford-based logistics service provider Expect Distribution has made two senior promotions.

Jack Boldy has been promoted to head of distribution and Dan Wignall is now head of contract logistics.

Jack was previously the organisation’s transport development manager, while Dan has stepped up from the role of contracts manager.

Andy Taylor, Expect Distribution operations director, said: “Our colleagues are key to us achieving our mission statement – we’re committed to being the best in our industry. We’re therefore passionate about investing in, and developing, our people and I’m delighted to recognise the performance and potential of Jack and Dan by promoting them to their new roles.

“They exemplify our values of hard work, dedication and a customer-centric approach that builds lasting business relationships. We’re confident their leadership will contribute significantly to our continued growth in the future.

“Life in our industry is fast-paced and never stands still, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact both will have for our customers, our colleagues and our business.”

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Professional services firm, AAB, has announced the appointment of Leeds-based Sarah Hex as business development partner.

Sarah brings more than 20 years of experience in professional, financial and investment services. An accomplished business development and client services leader, she will lead strategic business development for AAB across the North of England. An active member of the Leeds community, Sarah co-founded One for The City – an organisation which works to enhance community engagement.  She is also a director on the Leeds Digital Board.

James Hunt, head of Leeds at AAB, said: “Sarah’s appointment marks an exciting step forward for AAB as we continue to expand our presence and capabilities across the North of England. Sarah’s leadership in strategic business development will be instrumental in identifying and securing new opportunities, while remaining firmly focused on our clients’ needs.”

Sarah added: “I’m thrilled to join AAB during such an exciting period of growth, and to collaborate with the fantastic team here in Leeds, and across the wider business. At AAB, we deliver a truly unique blend of professional services, empowering businesses and individuals with tailored solutions to support them at every stage of their journey. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing our work drive client success, and I’m eager to help our teams expand further while continuing to support our clients in achieving their goals.”

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Jessica Gower has joined Ware & Kay as head of employment.

With more than two decades of expertise spanning both legal practice and academia, Jessica will lead the firm’s employment law department.

Jessica said: “It is exciting to join Ware & Kay. The firm has an established reputation for legal excellence and client-focused service which I am keen to develop further with new initiatives.

“I look forward to working closely with the team to continue to support and develop businesses and individuals across the region with all their present and future employment law needs.”

Johanne Spittle, director, head of litigation & dispute resolution at Ware & Kay said: “We are pleased to welcome Jessica to our team. Her deep understanding of employment law, combined with her strong leadership and commitment to client care, makes her a fantastic asset to the firm.”