Appointments: Armstrong Watson; LEP; Callcredit Information Group,Hart Shaw; Deloitte

MATT OSBOURNE has been promoted to corporate director in the Leeds office of Armstrong Watson.

Paul Dickson, managing partner, said: “He joined us just over two years ago and has been a real asset in delivering audit and planning advice to our clients in Yorkshire.  This promotion is recognition of the fantastic contribution that Matt has made in making a real difference to clients and to the firm.”

Mr Osborne said: “My move to Armstrong Watson fulfilled a long term career goal of working for an independent, growing, progressive accountancy firm.  Over the course of the last two years I have enjoyed getting to know my clients and helping them with their growth plans as the UK economy has slowly crept out of recession.

“My promotion demonstrates my commitment to the firm and to our clients for the long haul. I look forward to continuing and developing new and existing client relationships for the next 25 years.”

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A NUMBER of appointments have been made by Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), including a director of trade and inward investment, to deliver its ambitious plans to drive increased international trade and inward investment into the area.

David Shepherd has been appointed director trade and investment, joining with extensive experience in both the public and private sector, including his most recent role with industrial services and developer Able UK. He has worked on a number of nationally significant industrial projects alongside influential business leaders and will now play a key ambassadorial role for Leeds City Region.

The trade and investment department also welcomes a trade policy lead and two additional business development executives to the team to support the delivery of the ambitious trade and investment business plan. The team will focus activity on key business sectors and international markets to drive increased investment, job numbers and economic growth.

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LEEDS-BASED Callcredit Information Group has appointed Steve McNicholas as managing director of its Marketing Solutions division, taking over from Will Lowe.

Mr McNicholas has been with Callcredit for more than four years and Mr Lowe is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities.

“I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Steve on his appointment,” said Chris Green, chief commercial officer, Callcredit Information Group, “and to thank Will for his leadership of Marketing Solutions and wish him every success in his future career.”

In a separate move, Callcredit has also restructured its Marketing Solutions division following its response to regulatory developments in the marketing data marketplace.

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NATALIE BRACEY has been appointed partner at Hart Shaw Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers.

The promotion follows Ms Bracey’s appointment to associate 12 months ago. She has 12 years’ experience, having joined the firm as a business services Junior in 2004.

Ms Bracey is responsible for a portfolio of clients mainly consisting of owner managed businesses of varying sizes and sectors, along with working alongside Hart Shaw’s other general practice partners in leading the business services department.

The firm has also announced the promotion of Carla Davis and Hannah Jones to associate.

Ms Davis has been with the firm for 10 years and during that time qualified as a chartered accountant in 2008 and a chartered aax Advisor in 2013, with her specialism being VAT.

Ms Jones has been with the firm almost nine years and qualified as a chartered accountant in 2012.  Since qualifying she has been involved with managing the business services department and has taken a lead role in managing the firm’s academies service.

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A SENIOR adviser at Bupa, who also worked in the NHS, has joined the Leeds-based healthcare team at business advisory firm Deloitte.

Penny Dunn becomes an assistant director within Deloitte’s transaction services team, focusing primarily on the healthcare and life sciences sector.

Her healthcare career began in the NHS, including two years as a staff nurse and junior sister at hospitals in Salford and Manchester.

Ms Dunn then spent six years at PwC, where she qualified as an accountant, before joining Leeds-based Bupa Care Services in 2013. At Bupa her role included strategic planning for its care homes business.

“My frontline experience and operational understanding of healthcare has given me some valuable insights and experiences that I can use to benefit our clients at Deloitte,” said Ms Dunn, who graduated from Nottingham University with a degree in nursing science.

“The Deloitte team has a growing presence in the healthcare arena, and I am looking forward to working with the firm’s broad range of clients in both the public and private sectors.”