Appointments: Grant Thornton, Lloyds Bank, Creative Marketing Services

Grant Thornton has appointed Vicky McLoughlin as head of assurance for Yorkshire, based in its Leeds office.

Ms McLoughlin joined the firm 12 years ago, working as a director in Yorkshire for the last two years having also held the positions of senior manager and audit manager.

In her new role, Ms McLoughlin will lead the near 100-strong Yorkshire assurance team which was recently further boosted with the appointments of Rizwan Khan and Jennifer Johnson in Leeds, both of whom joined as managers.

Andy Wood, practice leader for Grant Thornton in Leeds said: “Having moved to the role of practice leader, I felt it was time to bring some fresh insight and energy to the assurance team.

“Vicky has established a reputation as an expert in her field and this appointment is well-deserved recognition of her commitment and hard work.

“Our firm is becoming a beacon for talented people and for dynamic businesses and I am confident that Vicky will make a real difference.

“This is a very exciting time to be part of Grant Thornton locally, nationally and internationally.”

Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking has appointed Steve Harris as its new regional managing director of Mid Markets banking in the North of England, who will be based in Leeds.

Mr Harris assumes responsibility for an 80-strong strong team operating from commercial banking centres in Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield and Newcastle, that provide banking services, strategic advice, and funding solutions to businesses with a turnover of between £25m and £750m.

Lloyds Bank’s mid-market client base includes some of the North’s largest listed businesses such as Persimmon plc and Sage plc and also many family owned and private equity backed businesses which are fundamental to the economic success of the region.

Steve Harris, regional managing director, North, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Having worked with Mid Market businesses in the North for the majority of my career, I have seen at first hand the role they play in generating economic prosperity at both a local and national level. There remains latent potential in the North which as a collective we must strive to unlock at pace to increase our competitiveness and deliver growth, regionally, nationally and internationally.
“These businesses have been at the forefront of the economic recovery and as part of our commitment to help Britain prosper we want to help and support these businesses achieve their growth ambitions through the cycle. From providing access to finance to advising on risk and cash management strategies, we have the ambition, people and resources in place across the North to do just that.”

Leeds-based advertising group Creative Marketing Services, has appointed Jamie Popple as creative director and Rachel Diver as senior designer.

Prior to joining Creative Marketing Services, Rachel was studio manager with Your Local Link in York and Jamie was creative director at Ashgrove Marketing, the leading agency in the Isle of Man.

The latest in a series of recruitments made to support several recent account gains, they join three other designers and two copywriters in the Leeds studio based at Hollinthorpe Hall, close to Thorpe Park.

Mr Popple said: ‘I am delighted to join such a well-established and expanding group with an outstanding creative reputation.

“It is exciting to be part of a full-service agency as Rachel and I will have creative input across a comprehensive range of digital and traditional media and marketing techniques.

“A new website has just gone live and a number of very interesting new client appointments are likely to be announced soon.’