Armstrong Watson welcomes experienced restructuring and insolvency practitioner in Newcastle
Armstrong Watson has appointed Kerry Pearson as Director of Restructuring and Insolvency in its Newcastle office. A licensed Insolvency Practitioner with over 30 years’ experience, Pearson joins from Azets, where she was a partner, and previously spent nearly 20 years at Tait Walker. She will lead the firm’s restructuring services across the North East, bringing extensive expertise in both corporate and personal insolvency. Her arrival follows that of Lindsey Cooper in Manchester and marks further growth of the firm’s national insolvency team. Pearson is also Vice Chair of the R3 North East Regional Committee and is widely respected in the profession.

Disruptive Law Firm ALT Legal Expands its Team
Wetherby-based ALT Legal has expanded its team with the appointments of Lisa Hyndman as Head of Commercial Property and Caroline Broad as Operations and Business Development Manager. Lisa brings two decades of experience from Eversheds, while Caroline, an expert in governance and ESG, will enhance operations and client experience. The fast-growing firm, known for its subscription-based model and plain-English approach, has seen 75% growth in early 2025 and projects 130% by year-end. ALT now supports over 500 clients and 15 lawyers, offering legal services tailored for SMEs and high-growth companies. The hires reflect ALT’s continued push to modernise legal services.

Rebecca Baldaro-Booth Joins Leeds Hospitals Charity
Leeds Hospitals Charity has appointed Rebecca Baldaro-Booth as Director of Grants and Impact. In this new strategic role, she will oversee grant-making, research investment, and the expansion of volunteer services across Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Rebecca, who joined the charity in 2018, steps up at a pivotal time as it prepares to invest £3.5 million in projects tackling health inequalities, medical innovation, and rare disease treatment. Her leadership aims to enhance patient care and support NHS staff across the region’s busiest hospitals. Grant applications remain open throughout May, June, September, and October for eligible healthcare professionals.



MKM Names First Chief Operating Officer
MKM Building Supplies has appointed Dave Castle as its first Chief Operating Officer, marking a major milestone in the company’s growth strategy. Reporting to CEO Kate Tinsley, Castle joins from Travis Perkins Group, bringing two decades of sector experience. His appointment follows a strong 2024 for MKM, which saw revenue grow by 6.4% to £986 million and 11 new branches open. Castle will focus on supporting local teams, operational improvements, and expanding into new areas such as HVAC and sustainability. He is also committed to developing talent and maintaining MKM’s strong community-focused culture as the business scales.


New Partners Join Bishopton Veterinary Group
Bishopton Veterinary Group, one of North Yorkshire’s longest-established independent practices, has appointed Laura Pearce and Alex Oliver as its newest partners. Laura, a small animal vet, and Alex, a farm vet, are both based in Ripon and bring the total number of partners to 11. Their appointments come shortly after Bishopton’s 80th anniversary and support its continued growth, including a refreshed Lifetime Care Club and advancements in pain management. The pair will lead their respective teams while contributing to wider business operations. Their promotion reflects Bishopton’s commitment to succession planning and maintaining its independent, client-focused approach.

Aon Strengthens Leeds and Humber Teams
Aon has announced a series of promotions and appointments across its Leeds South and Humber advisory offices. James Fell has been promoted to head of advisory clients, with Taz Begum and Andrew Hall becoming heads of office for Leeds and Humber respectively. Andrew Robson takes on the role of technology practice lead, while Mark Brown joins as client management director and Kieran Fields as account executive. Sarah Hanson has been appointed client director in Humber. The changes support Aon’s growth strategy and reinforce its commitment to client service and talent development across Yorkshire and the Humber.

Hexa Adds Five to Northern Team
Engineering consultancy Hexa has added five new team members to its Leeds and Sheffield offices as part of its continued northern expansion. Ricardo Vendone, Cristian Moreno, Callam Gartland, Stan Jones and Ethan Reid join the firm’s civil and structural engineering teams, supporting a growing regional client base. Their arrival brings Hexa’s total new hires to 24 in the past year, with more expected next month—including roles within Hexa Land, its in-house geo-environmental division. The SME has also delivered over 1,100 hours of social value activity and invested in apprenticeships and outreach to tackle the sector’s skills gap.

Experienced Lettings Manager Joins Dacres in Ripon
Dacre, Son & Hartley has appointed Lucy Edwards as lettings manager and sales negotiator at its Ripon office. With 17 years in the property sector, including senior roles in Norfolk and more recently in York, Lucy will oversee lettings across Ripon, Boroughbridge, Knaresborough and Harrogate. Her role supports Dacres’ expansion of its North Yorkshire lettings service under the Lister Haigh brand. She will also assist the Ripon sales team, led by Claire Tiplady. Lucy’s appointment reflects growing demand for tailored property services across the region, as Dacres broadens its reach across both lettings and sales.

Enspec Appoints New Head of Engineering
Mourya Ghosh has joined Enspec Power as Head of Engineering, bringing 15 years of experience in electrical design and innovation leadership. Based in St Helens, Enspec also operates from Manchester and Washington, serving major renewable energy generators and large energy consumers. The company, which grew revenue by 45% to £5.4m in 2024, plans to double its workforce by year-end. Mourya will lead the firm’s new engineering department, advancing R&D and product development.

Former Apprentices Join McCarrick Board
McCarrick Construction has appointed Melanie Robson and James Brown to its board of directors, both of whom began their careers at the firm as apprentices. Their promotions mean 60% of the Chester-le-Street company’s leadership team are now former apprentices, reinforcing its commitment to developing talent from within. Melanie, who joined in 1999, becomes accounts and HR director, while James, who started as a joinery apprentice in 2004, becomes operations director. The family-run contractor, established in 1953, delivers projects across the North East. Managing director Matthew McCarrick praised the pair’s long-standing contributions and said their journeys reflect the firm’s people-first ethos.

Ward Hadaway Appoints Head of Private Client
Ward Hadaway has appointed Alison Hall as Partner and Head of Private Client, marking a strategic move to expand its full-service legal offering. With over 25 years of experience, Hall returns to the firm to lead its private client services, specialising in wills, trusts, probate and rural estate planning. Her appointment, alongside the recent addition of Tom Wills as Head of Agriculture, reflects a growing focus on rural clients. Hall also joins the firm’s management board, where she will help shape private client strategy and drive growth across the firm's UK offices.