People: Switalskis; The Harris Partnership; Product Partnerships Ltd; and more
Law firm Switalskis is continuing the expansion of its residential conveyancing team with the arrival of three new team members.
Experienced conveyancer Sally Ann Masih brings more than 25 years’ experience in residential conveyancing, together with a broad understanding of the home-moving process gained from an earlier career in estate agency.
Based at Switalskis’ Huddersfield office, she will support and advise homebuyers and sellers on property transactions across England and Wales.
Having lived and worked in Huddersfield since 1993, Masih has developed extensive knowledge of Yorkshire’s diverse property market, from period homes and converted mill apartments to new-build developments and long leasehold properties.
She is joined at Switalskis’ Huddersfield office by conveyancing assistants Suzy Overton and Jane Beaumont.
Overton provides administrative assistance on various aspects of conveyancing, including freehold and leasehold sales and purchases, remortgages and transfers of equity.
Beaumont brings over 11 years’ experience in the conveyancing industry to the business, supporting the conveyancing team and working with clients to provide guidance and support throughout the house buying and selling process.
Masih said: “Moving home is a big milestone, so it’s important that clients feel informed and supported from start to finish. Everyone in our team understands the different pressures everyone involved is under, which helps us explain the process clearly, manage expectations and keep transactions moving.
“What I enjoy most is getting to know my clients. Every move is different, and I pride myself on being approachable, patient and building relationships that help people feel confident throughout the process.
“Switalskis shares that focus on personal service while giving me the opportunity to support even more people as part of a highly experienced national team.”
Sarah Cookson, joint head of residential conveyancing, added: “We’re happy to welcome Sally Ann, Suzy and Jane to the team. Sally Ann has built an excellent reputation throughout West Yorkshire and brings an exceptional breadth of experience, combining years in conveyancing with a strong background in estate agency.
“Suzy provides a friendly and supportive approach to every client, and Jane brings the same people-focussed approach to her work. Both guide clients through their buying and selling transactions with ease.
“These three new appointments will further strengthen our national conveyancing team, allowing us to continue delivering the personal service our clients value wherever they are based.”
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Multi-service architecture and design practice, The Harris Partnership, is celebrating continued growth with the appointment of three new directors, five promotions and two senior appointments.
Sarah Rhodes, Oliver Clark and Daniel Broadhead have been appointed directors, further strengthening the firm’s leadership team.
Rhodes, based in the firm’s Manchester office, joined the practice 19 years ago as an architectural assistant. Clark and Broadhead bring a combined 40 years’ experience, having both played key roles in delivering many landmark projects from the firm’s Wakefield headquarters.
Paul Stafford, Darren Wing and Jonathan Wrynne have also been promoted to design directors, while Ellen Jones and James Cockburn become associates.
The business has also welcomed Amanda Coates as HR manager and Katie Pannu as finance director. Pannu brings almost 20 years’ experience in senior financial roles and succeeds Andrew Hamer, who recently retired after 23 years of dedicated service with the practice.
James Richmond, joint managing group director, said: “These promotions are thoroughly deserved and recognise the significant contribution each individual has made to the practice.
“Sarah, Oliver, and Daniel have consistently demonstrated the dedication, leadership and commitment that reflect the values and ambition of The Harris Partnership.
“We are also pleased to welcome Katie and Amanda to the business. As we continue to grow, these appointments further strengthen our leadership team and position the business well for the next stage of The Harris Partnership’s journey.
“As we near 200 staff, these promotions demonstrate why this approach is critical to not only the success of our clients but also the future of our business, as it allows our people the ability to grow in a supportive environment, ensuring they have more than a job but a career with us.
“I look forward to working with them all as we move to the next phase of The Harris Partnership’s journey.”
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Leeds-based Product Partnerships Ltd (PPL) has appointed Ian Beardmore as chief operating officer.
The appointment comes amid growing demand from organisations operating in retail, motor, lending and consumer finance, with PPL supporting clients including Aston Martin, Bensons for Beds, Google and Scottish Power.
Beardmore is a well-known industry figure with significant leadership and FCA compliance experience.
He is COO of the Association of Professional Compliance Consultants (APCC) and also served as a non-executive director at Think Compliance, in which PPL acquired a majority stake last year.
PPL has also continued to invest in specialist expertise, appointing Gleb Butylov as senior credit risk and compliance officer.
Butylov brings experience across retail mortgage lending, credit risk and data analytics, having previously worked with Yorkshire Building Society, Together and Evolution Money.
Alongside this, PPL has entered a strategic partnership with The Data Protection People (DPP), giving clients access to expertise across data protection, privacy and governance.
In turn, PPL can support DPP clients where customer journeys involve FCA-regulated activity, consumer finance, credit, financial promotions or wider regulatory obligations.
PPL has continued to invest in the business since securing a £10m investment from Arete Capital Partners, TDC and Seneca Partners in 2025.
Since then, it has acquired a majority stake in Think Compliance and appointed former JD Sports boss Peter Cowgill as non-executive director and board adviser.
Phillip Garlick, CEO of PPL, said: “The way our clients operate is becoming more complex and the different areas of compliance they deal with increasingly overlap.
“As experts in retail finance solutions, our focus is on building the leadership, capabilities and partnerships that allow us to give clients practical, joined-up support.
“Ian brings significant experience and credibility to the leadership team, while Gleb adds further specialist depth in credit risk and lending.
“Our partnership with The Data Protection People broadens that proposition again and gives clients access to expertise across data protection, privacy and governance.”
Beardmore added: “PPL has built a strong reputation by combining technical expertise with a real understanding of how regulated businesses operate.
“There is already significant depth across the team and I’m looking forward to helping build on that as we continue to develop the business and support a growing number of clients.”
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Patrick Lange
Leeds-based arts organisation, Opera North, has made two key appointments.
Garry Walker will step down as music director at the end of his current term in August 2028 to be succeeded by Patrick Lange.
Having begun his opera conducting career in Zurich and Lucerne, Lange has subsequently become a regular guest conductor at opera houses worldwide, including the Vienna State Opera, the Bavarian State Opera in Munich and the Opéra National de Paris.
Lange made his debut with Opera North in 2025 conducting The Magic Flute to both critical and audience acclaim. He returns to the company this year for a revival of Femi Elufowoju jr’s Rigoletto.
As music director, he will conduct opera productions in Leeds and on tour, and symphonic concerts as part of the Kirklees Concert Season, as well as supporting the many other aspects of Opera North’s work, including its community and education initiatives.
He said: “It fills me with great joy and pride to have been appointed music director at Opera North. I am deeply moved by the extraordinary spirit that prevails in the company – a spirit that unites all the fantastic people within it in the pursuit of creating beautiful, delightful and memorable emotional experiences.
“Opera North are passionate about what they do; they truly love opera and their audience, and it is a privilege to be able to make my contribution to this.”
Walker said: “It’s been a real privilege to have led the company musically for nearly a decade. I know Opera North has a bright, stable and exciting future, and I look forward to pushing it to greater heights in my remaining two years; there are many exciting projects ahead.”
The Opera North Board of Trustees welcomes a new chair following Paul Lee’s decision to step down after 12 years in post.
Taking on the role will be Merran McRae. McRae has extensive experience in governance, strategic leadership and partnership across the public, charitable and cultural sectors.
Previously chief executive of Wakefield Council, she is now chair of Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and has held several non-executive roles in the cultural and charitable sectors, including currently as deputy chair at Yorkshire Sculpture Park and previously as trustee and chair of nominations at The Hepworth Wakefield.
A qualified executive coach supporting senior public sector leaders, she was appointed a deputy lieutenant in the West Yorkshire Lieutenancy in 2024.
She said: “I am passionate about the power of culture and creativity to enrich individual lives, strengthen communities and contribute to the identity and vitality of individual places, and Opera North embodies all this.
“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to lead the Board of an organisation with such a strong artistic reputation and with deep roots in the North combined with a wide reach across the UK and internationally.”
Laura Canning, general director, said: “It is wonderful to be able to share the news that Patrick Lange will be our new music director from summer 2028.
“The chorus and orchestra very much enjoyed working with him during The Magic Flute last year when it was clear that he shared our passion for musical and artistic excellence and our focus on creating amazing experiences for our audiences.
Merran McRae
“His humanity, passion for music and theatre, and knowledge of singers and the international opera scene shine through in his hunger to make vital work which speaks to its community.
“I am also thrilled to announce Merran’s appointment as chair. Her impressive experience across a range of sectors will be an undoubted asset to the Board and to the company as a whole.
“This is a challenging time for creative organisations, but one in which Opera North’s artistic ambition is second to none and in which we continue to innovate, produce exciting work and introduce thousands of people every year to the highest quality live opera, music and performance.
“I would like to thank both Garry and Paul for their unstinting dedication to Opera North during their time with us and wish them all the best in their future endeavours.”
