Leeds Credit Union has announced the appointment of James Brown as its new Chief Executive Officer. Brown, who has more than two decades of experience across the financial services, fintech, and technology sectors, previously served on the credit union's board. His background includes a proven track record of generating revenue and leading large-scale business transformation programmes for major banks. Beyond his work in finance, Brown also brings experience in government policy, having contributed to the UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement discussions. He also co-founded Fintech New Zealand, successfully uniting the public and private sectors to stimulate economic growth. Brown will be tasked with fostering innovation, aligning operations with strategic goals, and ensuring the credit union can adapt to the evolving financial landscape. Paul Whitlock, Chair of the Board, commented on Brown's "data-driven decision-making skills and agile mindset," calling him "the ideal leader to guide our credit union into a new era of innovation and success."



Leeds-based recruitment consultancy Headstar has appointed Karen Pitchforth as an associate director to lead its Interim and Transformation department. Pitchforth brings over 25 years of recruitment experience, specialising in placing senior interim finance professionals, including CFOs and finance directors, across various industries. Her appointment comes in response to an 11% year-on-year increase in demand for Headstar's services, driven by market uncertainty and the need for more agile, data-driven finance functions. Pitchforth will shape the firm's interim and transformation offerings, leading a team of two consultants to connect clients with high-impact, temporary finance specialists.




Top 100 law firm Ward Hadaway has appointed 24 new legal specialists across its offices in Leeds and Newcastle as it continues to grow across the North of England.

In Leeds, the firm has welcomed 11 new hires, including directors Ian Abel and Scott Nodder and associates Hanaan Mohammed and Greg Cross.

The firm's Newcastle office has also seen significant expansion with the addition of 13 new specialists. Notable appointments include director Fran James and solicitor Josh Harper. The private client team has also grown with the addition of head of department Alison Hall, along with associate Kirsty Allen and solicitor Megan Bradley.

This major recruitment drive is part of a broader strategy to increase Ward Hadaway's market share, following the opening of a new office in Birmingham and the recent merger with Teesside-based The Endeavour Partnership.



BGF, the UK and Ireland’s most active growth capital investor, has strengthened its teams across the North of England with two key appointments in Newcastle and Manchester.

In the North East, Scott Johnston has joined as an investor in the Newcastle office. He will be responsible for supporting the team's investments and building relationships with local businesses. Johnston brings experience from PwC and Deloitte.

Meanwhile, in the North West, Emma Cassidy has been appointed as an investor in the Manchester office. She joins from DSW Ventures, where she worked as an Investment Manager, and previously trained at KPMG. Cassidy will focus on executing transactions and supporting BGF's portfolio companies in the region.

The appointments come as BGF earmarks significant funding for the North. The firm has pledged £400 million for Yorkshire and the North East and another £400 million for the North West, building on its substantial existing investment in both regions.



Leeds-based Solution Performance Group (SPG) has appointed Ian Noble as its new group finance director to support its international expansion and potential acquisitions. Noble brings senior finance experience from the international recruitment and corporate sectors. He joins the group as it looks to grow its presence in the United States and continental Europe. SPG's two businesses, SPG Resourcing and SPG Intelligence, focus on providing technology talent and advising on digital transformation, including cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and AI tools.



Assetz Capital has announced the appointment of Shamima Hoque as a Mortgage Processor, a key addition to its growing operations team. Hoque joins the specialist lender with a background in customer service from Skipton Building Society. In her new role, she will provide administrative support to the Operations and Origination teams, helping to ensure a smooth and efficient customer journey. Her appointment is aimed at strengthening the company’s internal processes and maintaining its high service standards. Hoque's role will be fundamental in supporting the team’s operational success.