Appointments: Grant Thornton; Lupton Fawcett Denison Till; Doncaster Racecourse

GRANT THORNTON has boosted its Yorkshire audit team with the appointment of Mark Overfield as partner, based at the firm’s Leeds office.

Mr Overfield joined Grant Thornton as director in February 2014 after 18 years with Deloitte in Yorkshire and the North East.

With a particular focus on the manufacturing, consumer business and waste sectors, his wider experience includes reporting accountant and diligence roles as well as the provision of accounting and other technical advice to both UK and overseas businesses.

“This is great news both for the Yorkshire assurance team and for our clients,” said Andy Wood, practice leader for Grant Thornton in Leeds. “We were excited when Mark joined us 15 months ago and since then he has done a terrific job, using his expertise to build relationships with dynamic businesses in the region and further developing our team here.

“This is a richly deserved promotion and another example of our commitment to bringing the brightest talent into the firm and enabling our people to grow with us.”

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LAW firm Lupton Fawcett Denison Till has added to its private client team with the recruitment of Amanda Simmonds from Chadwick Lawrence.

Ms Simmonds, who has previously worked at Addleshaw Goddard and as private client director at DWF, has 27 years’ experience within the private client arena and specialises in all aspects of wills, trusts, probates, lasting powers of attorney and court of protection matters.  Her particular expertise lies in tax planning, succession planning for business families and international matters.

Managing director Richard Marshall said: “Amanda brings invaluable experience and knowledge to our firm and her appointment marks an exciting development for further growing our firm in the private client sector.”

Ms Simmonds added: “There are incredible plans ahead for growing the private client team in all our offices and I am eager to being part of those plans.”

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NIKKI GRIFFITHS has been promoted to sales director at Doncaster Racecourse following an acceleration in new business at the South Yorkshire venue.

She joined Arena Racing Company, which owns Doncaster Racecourse, in October 2012 as head of event sales after four years working at Doncaster Chamber of Commerce.

“Having worked here for the last two and a half years I have witnessed the growth in business at Doncaster Racecourse,” said Ms Griffiths. “We have expanded our offering to stage major corporate events and large-scale exhibitions, fairs and music concerts – which has enabled us to ramp up footfall and attract more people to the area.

“Our major showpiece race days are also increasing in popularity and as part of my role I’ll be further developing this side of the business.”