People: Itecho Health; Switalskis; Wilkin Chapman; and more

Itecho Health, a Leeds-based medtech company developing digital health applications to support treatment and management of long-term health conditions, has appointed Sir David Haslam as chair of the Board.

Sir David is a past chair of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), former president and past chairman of the Council for the Royal College of General Practitioners, past president of the British Medical Association and a former vice-chairman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.

He is the current chair of the Trustee Board for Young Lives vs Cancer. In addition, he is a Fellow of the Royal College of GPs, the Academy of Medical Educators, the Royal Society of Medicine and the Royal College of Physicians.

He has written 14 books on health topics, delivered keynote speeches in conferences in 33 countries and in 2014 was named by the Sunday Times as one of the 500 most influential and inspirational people in the UK.

He was awarded CBE in 2004 for services to Medicine and Healthcare, knighted in 2018 for services to NHS Leadership, and has been awarded Honorary Doctorates by the University of Birmingham and the University of East Anglia.

Dr Adrian Brown, founder and CEO of Itecho Health, said: “We are happy Sir David has chosen to join us on our mission.

“His leadership, vision and healthcare expertise both here and globally will be of huge benefit to us as we continue to drive the health innovation agenda forward – an area which is much talked about but still needs to be truly delivered.

“Itecho Health’s Ascelus platform supports both the prevention and treatment of long-term conditions.

“It has been developed with both patients and clinicians, and Sir David’s guidance and his personal advocacy for services to be patient-centric will help us build on the foundations that we’ve built here and overseas and truly unlock the power of digitisation in healthcare.”

Sir David added: “I’m really honoured to be joining Adrian and the team. This is an exciting time for the company and there has never been a more important time to support brilliant innovative companies to change the way healthcare is delivered.

“When I wrote my book Side Effects in 2022, I set down how I believed that our healthcare system had lost its way and how I believed that we can fix it. It’s time for companies such as Itecho to be supported as part of that solution and I can’t wait to get started.”

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Switalskis Solicitors has enhanced its leadership team with the appointment of experienced finance professional Alex Moore as chief financial officer.

A chartered accountant and ICAEW member, she was previously CFO at precision engineering business, Cutwel, where she played a key role in strengthening financial structures.

She brings extensive experience in financial strategy and management in senior roles at large corporates which will be key in supporting Switalskis’ next phase of development.

In her new role, she will provide focused management information to support business decision-making.

Her priorities will also include enhancing the budgeting process, reporting on returns, managing external finance relationships, ensuring effective cash and capital management and managing external advisers as the business grows. 

Moore said: “Switalskis is a forward-thinking firm with a strong culture and talented team.

“In my previous roles I have seen the reporting, financial discipline and structures needed to be successful and I know this experience will help drive the success of this business even further.

“My focus will be on building on Switalskis’ financial controls, management reporting, and advise on operational efficiencies to support its growth ambitions.

“This will provide a solid foundation that will allow our leadership team to focus on the vital areas needed for strategic growth and continuing exceptional client service.”

John Durkan, managing director, added: “Alex’s appointment and the introduction of our first CFO position is an exciting development for Switalskis.

“As a chartered accountant myself, I understand the vital role that strong financial leadership plays in sustaining growth and success.

“Up until now, I’ve been wearing both the MD and FD hats. Bringing Alex on board means I can focus on my MD role and drive the business further forward, strengthen our client offering and ensure we continue to provide exceptional legal services.

“Alex’s collaborative approach, enthusiasm, experience and expertise will be a huge asset to Switalskis.”

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Jane Eatock, employment law partner and assistant coroner, has left East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire law firm Wilkin Chapman after 35 years in the legal profession.

She has worked in employment law since 1991 supporting a wide range of public and private sector employers both regionally and nationally.

She joined Grimsby practice Grange Wintringham in 2001, which merged with Wilkin Chapman in 2010 and has in recent years led the firm’s Grimsby office.

Eatock said: “It’s been a true privilege to work with a wide range of businesses and organisations across our region, supporting them with the complexities of employment law and contributing to their growth and success.

“Leading the fantastic team of lawyers and support staff at our Grimsby office has been a particularly satisfying time in my career, and I’m very proud of the opportunities we offer to young people across the town to build exciting careers with us.

Grimsby has been an inspiring place to work, and the indomitable spirit of its people creates a vibrant community in which Wilkin Chapman is proud to pay a part.”

She will hand over her role as head of the Grimsby office to new joint heads, partner and head of education sector, Katie Davies and corporate & commercial partner, Adam Ottley.

Davies and Ottley have worked within the Grimsby area throughout their respective careers. Between them, they have over 30 years of working at Wilkin Chapman.

Davies said: “I’ve worked with Jane in the employment team for over 20 years and while I’m sad to see her leave the firm I can’t think of anyone more deserving of a restful and relaxing retirement.

“I know I won’t be alone when I say that she will be dearly missed by colleagues and clients alike.

“Adam and I will seek to honour Jane’s legacy of levelling up our local communities through dedicated outreach and giving back to the region in tangible ways that make a real difference.

“Both geographically and in terms of expertise, I really do think Wilkin Chapman is uniquely placed to serve Grimsby and our surrounding communities.”

Ottley added said: “As someone who has built their career in and has strong family ties to Grimsby and the locality, I’m very proud to be jointly taking on the mantle of head of Wilkin Chapman’s, Grimsby office from Jane with my colleague Katie.

“Jane has done a fantastic job leading the office and we hope to build on that in the future.

“We are taking on this role at an exciting time for the area, with the continued development of the renewable energy sector, investment in exciting projects such as the £13m Horizon Youth Zone, redevelopment of the town centre and many more plans underway to continue to drive improvements.

“We as a firm want to be at the heart of that by both supporting businesses and sectors such as the education, renewables and food sectors from a legal point of view but also doing what we can in a wider sense to drive economic growth for Grimsby through initiatives such as our Greater Grimsby Series.”

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Huddersfield-based marketing agency, Smith, has bolstered its team with two new hires this month.

Amy Colwell has been appointed as head of marketing & PR lead and Nathan Beguin as brand & digital designer.

Colwell will lead on marketing campaigns for both Smith and its growing roster of clients.

She will also play a role in the expansion of the agency’s services with the introduction of its specialist public relations offer.

Meanwhile, Beguin has been appointed to grow the agency’s creative expertise. With five years’ experience of working in the design sector, he will be working on brand identity, logos, website development and graphics.

Oli Smith, creative director, said: “We’re happy to welcome Amy and Nathan to the team. Their skills and enthusiasm align well with our mission to transform every business we work with.

“As we continue to grow, these new hires will be instrumental in supporting us to achieve our ambitious goals for the upcoming year.”