Recruitment drive for consultancy PJA and more appointments news

Transport, engineering and placemaking consultancy PJA has made a string of new hires in its Birmingham team.

The engineering division of the business in the city has been boosted by the arrival of associate director Andrew Nixon, associate Alison Caldwell and flood risk and drainage engineer Phoebe Ryding.

In addition, Shannon Connelly has been appointed as consultant in the transport planning team and Belinda Garey as office manager.

They are part of 11 new hires across its UK networking including in its offices in Cambridge, Manchester and Reading.

Joint managing director Nigel Millington said: “The last few months have been really busy for us so it’s great to have our new starters on board to help respond to growing levels of client work.

“They all bring knowledge and experience to help us deliver exceptional solutions for our clients.”

In other appointments news, Evtec Automotive, the Coventry-based electric vehicle automotive supplier, has appointed Steve Norris as chairman.

Mr Norris is a former UK minister for transport and has been a board member of many public and private companies during a 50-year association with the UK automotive industry.

He said: “We face huge challenges, adapting to an electrified, zero-emissions future which is why I am so pleased to be joining Evtec Automotive, a new business but one that is incredibly well placed to meet those challenges.”

Financial specialist Emma Hudson has joined the Birmingham office of investment advisory practice Isio as a director.

She is a qualified actuary and worked at asset management company Mercer for 11 years after graduating from the University of Nottingham.

Specialist lender Cambridge & Counties Bank has expanded its newly formed Midlands team with the appointment of Stephen Parr as relationship manager in Birmingham.

He joins from Aldermore Bank where he was an assistant lending manager for nearly three years, prior to which he worked at NatWest in the invoice finance and commercial banking teams.

Cambridge & Counties Bank expanded its West and East Midlands teams to cover the south region at the end of last year.

Mr Parr said: “I’m delighted to have joined Cambridge & Counties Bank as it looks to expand at this key time.”

A new engineering manager has joined commercial heating specialists Lord Combustion Services as the company continues to grow on the back of a successful 2020 performance.

Peter Drew has come on board as contracts manager with the firm which serves more than 1,000 customers across the West Midlands from its base in Oldbury.

He previously spent 16 years with Solihull-based building services consultancy Stewart Associates where he was a senior mechanical design engineer.

Lord Combustion Services serve a broad range of customers including Warwickshire County Cricket Club’s Edgbaston stadium and NHS sites.

The new addition to the team comes after Greg Jones was appointed from a managerial role to the company’s board in January as part of a round of promotions.

Wolverhampton-based ROKiT Drinks has promoted Graham Higgins to chief executive and Lee Barber as chief commercial officer.

Mr Higgins has worked in the drinks industry for more than 25 years and joined ROKiT Drinks when the company was founded four years ago.

Mr Barber brings a similar level of experience in previous roles with brands such as Bass Brewers, Molson Coors and Carlsberg UK before joining ROKiT Drinks in 2017 as UK sales director.

Two students who went on work placements at Thursfields Solicitors have both ended up with full-time jobs as paralegals.

Rhiannon Bartlett and Kiran Kaur Shinjin have both been recruited as legal assistants in the residential property teams in Kidderminster and Solihull respectively.

Managing director Michelle O’Hara said: “This is a great example of how law firms can provide access to the legal profession and invest in future talent.

“We are thrilled that both Rhiannon and Kiran joined us through this educational route and we’re sure they’ll both go on to become successful in the legal world.”

In addition, the firm’s director of employment and HR law Helena Morrissey has joined the board of Solihull Business Improvement District.

BID chief executive Melanie Palmer said: “It is essential that our governing board reflects members from every sector of our diverse business community and Helena is an ideal ambassador for our office and professional services focus.”

The central region office of PR and marketing agency McCann has made two senior promotions. Gideon Wilkins and Kathryn Ellis are the firm’s new managing partners.

Mr Wilkins joined McCann in Solihull in 2019, having previously held the position of global brand guidance director at Kantar where he led the Unilever account.

Ms Ellis has more than 15 years of experience in leading brand, business and communications strategies, alongside holding the position of associate lecturer in advertising at Southampton Solent University.

The family team in the Birmingham office of law firm Irwin Mitchell has welcomed new associate Charlotte Clewes.

She is experienced in divorce and cohabitation matters and joins the practice from Shakespeare Martineau.

Ms Clewes specialises in high-net-worth and complex financial matters on divorce, pre- and post-nuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements.

Ros Bever, national head of family law at Irwin Mitchell, said: “I’m delighted to have Charlotte join our Birmingham team which continues to be one of the top practices in the region and has a truly national presence.”