South West companies across a wide range of sectors, including law, hospitality, technology and property, have all made significant appointments in recent weeks. In our latest jobs round-up, BusinessLive takes a look at some of the people in the region who have taken on new roles.
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South West chartered accountants and business advisers Westcotts has bolstered its financial planning team with the appointment of a new chartered financial planner.
Steven Clemence, who is based in the Plymouth office, joins the firm with more than 35 years’ experience and specialises in complex pensions work, employee benefits and business protection.
He is a fellow of the Personal Finance Society (FPFS), part of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), and received the Chartered Insurance Institute’s 'Distinguished Award' in recognition of his contribution to raising standards in the profession.
Mr Clemence, who is also secretary of the Insurance Institute of Plymouth and Cornwall, said: “I am grateful for this opportunity to work with such a prestigious firm, with a great reputation for putting the needs of their clients first."
Truespeed, the Bath based full-fibre broadband provider, has appointed Nelson Missier as its chief commercial officer. Mr Missier has joined the firm from Storytel, one of the world’s largest audiobook services, where he was head of Europe and responsible for growth and profitability across all European markets.
Before that he was commercial director at the Swedish quadplay operator Tele2, and has previously led various product, commercial and strategy teams at BT, Booz & Company and Vodafone.
He said: “I was drawn to Truespeed as a rapidly growing business with an amazing mission to roll out world-class connectivity across the South West.”
James Lowther, Truespeed chief executive, added: “Nelson’s vast experience, drive and stellar record of delivering growth will be hugely influential as we continue scaling-up the business.”
UK law firm Ashfords has appointed Andrew Perkins as its new commercial disputes head. He replaces partner Rory Mac Neice who will continue to lead the firm's sport practice.
Mr Perkins has been a commercial disputes partner at Ashfords for 10 years - principally focusing on shareholder disputes - and has advised on more than 200 cases and contractual disputes relating to joint ventures, business acquisitions and finance.
He has been recognised as a leading practitioner by independent guides Legal 500 and Chambers for the last 15 years.
He said: "It’s a particularly interesting time as the disputes market returns to full swing following Covid-19 and at a time when financial pressures are starting to impact on businesses.”
Global fulfilment technology provider Huboo has appointed Gareth New as chief people officer. Mr New will deliver organisational change and developmental activities to enrich the team and culture of the rapidly expanding business.
He has 15 years of experience working in people, culture and leadership industry positions, with previous roles at energy firms SSE (now OVO) and Ecotricity.
He said: “I’m really excited to have joined Huboo’s C-Suite during this period of pivotal growth. As a business that’s expanding worldwide, it goes without saying that creating and maintaining an exceptional culture whilst scaling is key to support the wider business’ aims.”
Martin Bysh, chief executive of Huboo, added: “Welcoming Gareth onto the C-Suite as chief people officer has come at the perfect time for Huboo.”
Real estate firm CBRE is expanding its offering in the South West with the appointment of Nick Reed as a director within the capital markets team.
The creation of Mr Reed's role follows the continued growth of the build-to-rent (BTR) sector and he will work closely with developers and funds across the region. His role will also include exploring opportunities relating to ground rent transactions and income strip opportunities.
Prior to joining CBRE, Mr Reed operated his own national property consultancy business for 15 years. Earlier in his career, he worked in partnership with CBRE through his role as director in Hamptons International.
He said: “Joining CBRE gives me the opportunity to use my experience in residential capital markets to help grow the team’s offering in the South West.”
Law firm Clarke Willmott has appointed family lawyer Philippa Yeo as a partner, based in its Bristol and Taunton offices. She specialises in resolving high-net-worth financial cases involving complex trust assets, farms and businesses.
Ms Yeo is a qualified family mediator and deals with all types of mediation including financial claims arising on divorce, disputes arising from cohabitation and arrangements around children (including international relocation).
Before joining Clarke Willmott, she spent more than six years at boutique practice CHR Family Solicitors and five years at London law firm Charles Russell Speechlys, where she trained and qualified.
She said: “I am very excited to join such a strong team which has the benefit of being able to draw on the extensive expertise of other practice areas, offering clients the highest service."
Specialist business property advisor Christie & Co has appointed Richard Wood as the new regional director for pubs and restaurants in the south of the UK.
He joined Christie & Co in 2012 as a trainee negotiator in the Exeter office, before relocating to Winchester, where he has spent a 10-year period selling pubs and restaurants across southern England.
He said: “Having begun my career with Christie & Co a decade ago, I’m very excited to take on a new senior role as regional director, particularly as the hospitality sector continues to recover from the pandemic.”
Stephen Owens, managing director of pubs and restaurants at Christie & Co, added:“It’s fantastic to see one of our own specialist hospitality brokers come through the ranks.”
Pension management firm Isio has announced the promotion of a new partner in its Bristol office. Andrew Craig is driving the organisation’s new reward and benefits offering, supporting employee benefits and financial wellbeing with platforms, coaching and consultancy, the company said.
He is joined by two other new partners - Richard Birkin in Birmingham and Calum Brunton Smith in Glasgow - who will each take on specific roles to enhance Isio’s position in existing markets and support growth in new areas.
Andrew Coles, Isio chief executive, said: “Isio has grown rapidly since launch in 2020 and these individuals have played a hugely important role in our development. Delivering high- quality work for clients, exploring new opportunities to grow our business and demonstrating exceptional leadership qualities.”
A Bristol-based business turnaround expert at Evelyn Partners, the wealth management and professional services group, has been appointed to the board of an influential professional body. Partner Claire Burden, who leads the firm’s national advisory consulting team in Bristol, has joined the board of the Institute for Turnaround (IFT), which is a UK membership organisation for turnaround specialists.
The IFT’s members and corporate partner organisations help underperforming businesses, and those at risk of failing, avoid unnecessary insolvencies.
“The IFT is an institute for trusted, accredited and experienced professionals who have proven their ability to turn around businesses and save jobs,” said Claire, who has responsibility for Evelyn Partners’ restructuring and recovery team in Bristol.
"I’m looking forward to helping the IFT get to the forefront of the conversation, increasing awareness in the market that turnaround professionals are here to help struggling businesses.
Persimmon Homes has appointed a new regional construction director in its Cornwall and West Devon region. Mike Crawford, who has chalked up more than 20 years in the housing industry, joins Persimmon from Bloor Homes where he served as a construction director.
He will be responsible for driving construction performance in Cornwall and West Devon against build targets, quality targets, and implementation of group policies and procedures.
“I am delighted to be joining Persimmon Homes at such an exciting time for the business in Cornwall and West Devon,” he said.
“The opportunity to work for a company with a growing presence in the area was very attractive, and I’m looking forward to putting my mark on the business, which is putting quality and customer service at the forefront of everything they do.”
Exeter-based digital marketing agency Optix Solutions has promoted Paul Lawrence to director of design after his successful first year with the company. In this new role, he will be responsible for directing Optix Solutions’ design offering, ensuring the agency’s studio output delivers against its proposition to “engage, support and delight customers at every touchpoint”.
The promotion stems from his “outstanding contribution” to the design department over the past year, the company said.
He said: "I am honoured to be recognised for the results achieved to date. It’s a team effort; we work collaboratively and every day I appreciate my colleagues’ experience and support in creating the best crafted designs to meet clients’ high ambitions and expectations.”
Mr Lawrence’s 25-year design career to date has included stints as lead designer for Virgin Media, Mercedes-Benz and most recently Nvidia.
A new general manager has been appointed at one of the South West’s most popular hotels. Brady Smith has taken over the reins of the 134-bedroom DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at Cadbury House in Congresbury, North Somerset.
Mr Smith was previously in charge of the Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff, where he oversaw the £50m development of the newly opened five-star venue in the Welsh capital. Before this he was in charge of the St David’s Hotel in Cardiff Bay.
He has now returned to Cadbury House where he was operations director from 2014 to 2018.
He said: “It’s great to be back! It’s such a beautiful hotel and with the Hilton name attached offers a lot for both our corporate and leisure guests. It’s regarded as being one of the world’s best four-star brands and often influences people’s decisions on where they want to stay.”
Specialist lender Cambridge & Counties Bank has expanded its South West and Wales real estate team with two new senior hires. Sophie Wilkins and James Roche join as senior relationship managers, reporting to Paul Howard, regional director for the West and Wales at the bank.
Originally from Plymouth and now based in Bristol, Ms Wilkins joins following a five-year stint working for Bankwest in Australia, where she managed a portfolio of around 50 clients with debt facilities of between £1m and £15m.
Based in Exeter, Mr Roche has been in commercial banking for 16 years, including more than two years at Yorkshire Building Society as a relationship director.
The addition of the duo means the bank now has five members of staff covering the West and Wales region.
LCP, the national commercial property and investment company, has expanded the Bristol office with two appointments.
Gemma Aldridge and Alec Turner have joined the team, based in Great George Street. Ms Aldridge joins LCP as assistant property manager from Workman, while Mr Turner has joined as building surveyor from Cheltenham-based Evans Jones.
Adam Martin, director and head of the Bristol office, said LCP’s portfolio had doubled in size over the last 12 months, with about £225m of assets now under its management.
He said: "We're pleased to welcome Alec and Gemma to the office. Gemma joins with a wealth of experience in property management and tenant liaison, while Alec has a solid 20 years of building surveying experience.”
Bristol-based Shaw & Co, the specialist corporate finance advisory firm, has appointed Marcus Harrison as an executive in its mergers and acquisitions (M&A) division.
He joins the company from Saffery Champness, one of the UK’s oldest accountancy firms, where he was an auditor responsible for SME audits across a range of industries.
Mr Harrison will support Shaw & Co’s M&A division which offers advice on all aspects of buying and selling a business including management buy-outs, management buy-ins, mergers, exit strategies and business valuations.
Rob Starr, head of M&A at Shaw & Co, said: “Marcus is another great addition to our rapidly growing team. He will have a key role to play in supporting our strategy to really transform the quality of corporate advisory services being offered to SME owners across the UK who are looking to buy, sell or fund the growth of their business.”
The Eden Hotel Collection has appointed Craig Routledge as general manager to Cheltenham’s The Greenway Hotel and Spa in Shurdington. He has joined from sister hotel Brockencote Hall Hotel in Worcestershire.
Mr Routledge will play a “key role” in significant growth plans at the boutique 21-bed hotel, which is undergoing a major internal refurbishment, according to The Eden Hotel Collection.
“I’m really delighted to be here and I can’t wait to get started,” he said. “Greenway is such a beautiful hotel with a proud reputation for exceptional service and hospitality, and well-known for its fine dining and spa experiences. I’m looking forward to building on the fabulous work of the team and showcasing the very best of hospitality right here in Cheltenham.”
Mr Routledge took up his new post on November 1, replacing previous general manager Dean Gunston who left Greenway after six years following his internal promotion to thengeneral manager position at sister hotel Bovey Castle in Devon.
Gloucester-headquartered cyber consultancy and managed services firm Cyber Security Associates has appointed Kallen Townsend as digital marketing officer.
Ms Townseend joins the 25-strong team to lead the marketing function across digital and events. Her role encompasses data analysis and marketing strategy, digital brand content creation, lead generation and social media.
David Woodfine, co-founder and managing director at CSA, said: “We are thrilled to have so many new female members on the CSA team. Building a diverse talent pool is paramount to us at a pivotal time of growth and we are proud to recruit and support our new female members, all who have exceptional credentials and offer a broad and diverse skillset.”
PKF Francis Clark has appointed an audit partner to serve its growing client base of owner-managed businesses in the Bristol and Somerset area.
Rob Whitehead has relocated from Yorkshire, where he gained over 30 years’ experience in audit, accounts, business planning and tax, most recently as a partner in a regional accountancy firm. His clients have included businesses in recruitment, engineering, IT, haulage, property and the motor trade.
Based in PKF Francis Clark’s Bristol and Taunton offices, he will advise businesses in a wide range of sectors.
He said: “I’ve always enjoyed the people side of my role and I find it rewarding being a trusted adviser on business ideas, not just accounting matters."
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