New faces seize the day as growth on cards
In spite of the pandemic a number of firms in Wales are hiring new employees at the highest level as well as promoting from within. These new positions are in a variety of sectors and span the country. Business correspondent Chris Pyke reports
■ Partnership promotions at Peter Lynn Regional law firm Peter Lynn and Partners Solicitors have announced the promotion of three lawyers to partner level.
Rebecca Jackson, Greg George, and Charlotte Hewins will join the leadership team of the firm as they look to further expand throughout Wales over the coming years.
The three promotions are all from the residential conveyancing department within the firm and all three manage their teams in Morriston (Rebecca Jackson), Llanelli (Greg George) and Mumbles (Charlotte Hewins).
The company is now actively looking to increase its network of offices.
“As we come out of the lockdown, we have ambitious plans to continue our growth – something the new partners will play a key role in achieving,” said Mr Lynn.
■ Director of audit and assurance for Azets
Azets, the UK regional accountancy and business advisor to SMEs, has appointed Paul Haley as director of audit and assurance for Wales and the South West.
Mr Haley specialises in internal audit services and will be based at the firm’s Cardiff office. He was formerly internal audit manager at Tata Steel Europe.
Azets says it is committed to growing in Wales and the South West area and Mr Haley’s appointment is described as fundamental to the long-term growth strategy of the company.
Paul Bowden, partner at Azets
Swansea, said: “I am delighted to welcome Paul into our Wales and South West region to lead the local delivery of our internal audit service for existing clients and the wider marketplace.
“Azets has incredibly strong internal audit credentials, and the array of clients attracted through this service line offering is very impressive. Paul will bring considerable professional experience to strengthen our service and further develop our reputation as a nationally recognised leading internal audit firm within the UK.”
Mr Haley will lead the internal audit services in Wales and the South West, as well as becoming part of the senior leadership team in the area. He says his ambition lies in growing the regional presence of Azets as well as developing the growing client base.
■ Amber energy appoints its first CFO
Amber energy, the Cardiff-headquartered energy management consultancy, has appointed Jeremy French as CFO. Mr French becomes the company’s first CFO, and will look to play a pivotal role in helping amber energy realise its ambitious long-term plans.
Amber energy has achieved a period of uninterrupted growth since it launched in 2009 and is working with some of the world’s best-known and most well-regarded brands, including Aston Martin, ASOS, and the Welsh Rugby Union.
Mr French joins amber energy from Equilaw, where he was group finance director. Prior to that, he worked for companies such as Airbus and Hamilton Sundstrand. He has also held finance director roles at Prezola and Ministry of Cake.
Nick Proctor, founder and CEO of amber energy, said: “With Jeremy on board, our leadership team is stronger than ever and we are well-positioned to be able to deliver our services in more industries and geographies, while continuing to innovate our offering so that we keep ahead of the environmental, regulatory and commercial needs of our clients.”
On his appointment Mr French said: “amber energy is a strong business with a sound commercial model, but what adds to its appeal is the genuine commitment to doing good – something that is clear no matter who you speak to at the company.
“I’m looking forward to helping the business tap into its potential and develop even further the fantastic work that is already being done to help businesses operate more efficiently – which has arguably never been more important – and all without compromising environmental sustainability.”
■ Codeherent appoints non-exec to drive commercial
A Newport-based code management platform has appointed Bill Crank to its board of directors as a non-executive director in a bid to strengthen its commercial expertise.
Codeherent says that Mr Crank, current CEO and executive board member of Clearspan and former president, CEO and executive board member at Dialogic, holds a proven track record of commercial growth and has also overseen acquisitions in the enterprise technology market.
“We’re delighted to welcome Bill. He joins us at a critical moment in our growth plans,” said Paul Sheehan, managing director of Codeherent. “We look forward to leaning on his vast experience as we scale our commercial strategy and evolve our cloud management capability in 2021.”
Mr Crank added: “It is an exciting time to join Codeherent. Aided by their investment in 2020, they have developed smart software that solves big problems for enterprises that are actively trying to reduce costs and save time by overhauling cloud management processes.
“I’m looking forward to working closely with Paul and the board to grow a loyal customer base very quickly.”
■ Wynne & Co appoint new director
Carmarthenshire-based accountancy firm Wynne & Co is set for further growth following the promotion of accountant Catrin Burt to the role of director.
Ms Burt has been with the firm for six years and has now gained her ACA Practising Certificate from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). This qualifies her to take a more senior role within the company, so she has been appointed director alongside the company’s founder and managing director, Sarah Wynne.
They believe that having two directors will enable the company to continue the steady growth it has pursued since starting life in 2012. Wynne & Co currently has eight staff, all women, based across its two offices.
Ms Wynn said: “I’m highly ambitious for Wynne & Co, and having a second director opens up further opportunities for expansion. Training and development are one of our strengths, and having Catrin in her new role enables us to train staff to a higher standard and give them opportunities to progress their careers within the firm.”
Ms Burt added: “I’m really excited about the opportunities this is going to bring for me personally and for the firm. Achieving my ACA practising certificate enables me to progress further in a career I love, with a company I’m proud to be part of. ”
■ New FSB Wales appointments
FSB has recently made new appointments to its Wales staff team.
Dr Llyr ap Gareth will take on the role of head of policy, while Brett John will join the team as deputy head of policy.
Dr ap Gareth is promoted from deputy head of policy for FSB Wales into the new role, having previously worked for the Community Transport Association, where he was employed
as support and engagement executive.
Dr ap Gareth said: “It’s a real privilege to take on the responsibility of head of policy at FSB Wales at this crucial time for small businesses.
“I look forward to working with our great staff and volunteers across Wales in driving the recovery from Covid and putting SMEs at the centre of economic policy in Wales.
“It’s been a difficult year for everyone, but for small businesses it has also been a constant threat on livelihoods and economic prospects, as well as families and basic security. At the same time these businesses have shown themselves to be key leaders in their communities, adapting their goods and services to support others during the crisis. It is this spirit that we need to tap into in order to benefit all of us in Wales.
“I look forward to being part of helping FSB to set the business agenda for the next Senedd term.”
Mr John will join FSB Wales in May from his role as a policy manager for the Welsh Government and has previously worked in the Welsh Parliament to promote the work of Members of the Senedd.
Mr John said: “I am delighted to be joining the FSB at this critical time for the Welsh economy. The tumultuous experiences of the last year and challenging economic prospects have demonstrated the unparalleled value of the FSB in providing a voice for small and medium-sized businesses.
“These businesses are in a unique position to strengthen economic stability in communities throughout Wales as discussions shift to consider recovery and reconstruction efforts.
“I look forward to playing my part in ensuring that those voices are heard clearly to help achieve a Wales that is prosperous, connected and resilient.”
■ Hugh James appoints consultant to its specialist gaming and betting legal team
Hugh James has looked to strengthen its specialist gaming and betting legal team with the appointment of former Novomatic UK CFO, Neil Paramore, as a consultant.
Mr Paramore has been involved in the gaming industry for almost 20 years, initially with Astra Games and then following its acquisition in 2004, within the Novomatic Group, the largest integrated gaming group in Europe with 22,000 employees and subsidiaries in more than 50 countries.
Mr Paramore has joined the corporate and commercial team at Hugh James that has sought to develop a reputation as one of the UK’s leading legal practices in the gaming and betting sector. Aled Walters leads the firm’s work, representing some of the world’s largest online and land-based operators such as Novomatic, Amelco, TCS John Huxley, Double Diamond and BtoBet.
Mr Paramore’s relationship with
Hugh James goes back many years and he worked closely with Mr Walters’ team on many of Novomatic’s mergers and acquisitions. As a consultant, Mr Paramore will look to provide insight into the sector’s challenges, trends, and opportunities to assist with the team’s growth. He will also be on hand to support Hugh James’ clients where required.
■ Gleeds appoints project director for Wales
Gleeds, the construction and property consultants, has appointed Justin Moore as its project director for Wales.
Mr Moore has worked in construction for nearly 25 years, initially with Carillion as an operations manager and then Bouygues UK, where he worked in numerous roles, including Wales regional operations director.
In his role at Bouygues UK, Mr Moore oversaw the building of many of Wales’ most innovative education buildings. These include the awardwinning Penarth Learning Community in the Vale of Glamorgan, and Cardiff University’s Innovation Campus, which will house the world’s first social science research park and start-up hub, as well as two worldleading scientific research organisations – the Institute for Compound Semiconductors and the Cardiff Catalysis Institute.
Mr Moore, an active member of the CBI in Wales, has joined Gleeds to lead on all education projects in
Wales, building on his expertise in the education field to further develop the company’s offering in this market.
Speaking of his appointment, Mr Moore said: “Seeing education projects come to fruition has always been one of the parts of the job I have really enjoyed – being able to see the building come to life, handed over and be used day in, day out by students and teachers. So, I am looking forward to the change of working on projects from day one, from scoping out a building to its design, managing costs and its construction, and then on to the completed, working building.”
■ Dudley’s Aluminium makes five director-level appointments
Cardiff-based aluminium fabricator Dudley’s Aluminium has strengthened its senior management team with five director-level appointments.
The appointments are all internal promotions.
Neil Andrews and Simon Hoggett have been appointed estimating director and sales director respectively, to support new business development.
The estimating team led by Mr Andrews will liaise closely with sales director Simon Hoggett, whose wealth of sales experience from 30 years within the aluminium curtainwalling and window industry will look to support the development of existing and new client projects and further company growth.
Supporting clients from design to project completion, Neil Jones has been appointed contracts director. Mr Jones will oversee all projects from contract appointment, engaging with clients on the planning, co-ordination and programming of their projects as well as ensuring that quality is delivered through supply and installation by internal employees and their supply chain.
Dudley’s Aluminium offers clients full in-house design and production facilities and within the design team, Gary Smythe has been appointed technical director. Mr Smythe oversees the design process of all secured projects, ensuring that his team prepares and presents concise drawing packs in line with company guidelines and standards.
The final appointment sees Stephen Muir become commercial director. Mr Muir’s responsibilities include contract condition negotiations for main contractors, issuing sub-contract orders and payments to the supply chain and supporting the planning of future projects.