Jodie Wildridge, a specialist in insolvency and commercial litigation at Kings Chambers, has been named the new Yorkshire chair for R3, the Association of Business Recovery Professionals.

Succeeding Dave Broadbent, Ms Wildridge steps into the role as corporate insolvencies in the UK rose by 7% in March, according to the Insolvency Service. Against a backdrop of rising energy and fuel costs, her tenure will focus on representing the interests of restructuring and turnaround professionals both regionally and on a national stage.

Recognised by the Legal 500 as a "Rising Star," Ms Wildridge’s practice at Kings Chambers—which operates from Leeds, Manchester, and Birmingham—covers shareholder disputes and professional negligence. Her appointment comes at a critical juncture for the North of England’s economy, as businesses navigate post-pandemic recovery and inflationary pressures.

Jodie Wildridge said: “It’s an honour to be taking on this role and building on the fantastic progress made by my predecessor, Dave. I look forward to supporting the county’s restructuring and insolvency professionals and ensuring their views and opinions are heard and represented both here in Yorkshire and from a national perspective too.”

Caroline Sumner, R3 CEO, added: “Jodie brings significant experience and understanding of the challenges facing businesses across the region."



National independent commercial building, project and sustainability consultancy Jones Hargreaves has hired an associate partner and chartered project manager in its Manchester office.

William Thorpe brings around 15 years’ experience to the role, further strengthening the firm’s project management offering. He joins from Hollis, where he held the position of senior chartered project manager, before which he worked in senior roles at MDA Consulting and Trident Building Consultancy.



DWF, the global provider of integrated legal and business services, has appointed Stephen Webb as a partner and head of its national planning team, together with legal director Rachael Coulsting and solicitors Francesca Dykes and Catherine Losty.

Stephen, a dual qualified planner and solicitor, joins DWF with over 35 years' experience in planning and planning law. His background spans roles as both a planning officer and solicitor, enabling him to advise developers, local authorities, investors, landowners and individuals on a wide range of planning matters. His practice includes town and country planning law, highways, compulsory purchase, Transport and Works Act Orders, judicial review and major development projects. Over the course of his career, Stephen has advised on a number of high-profile and complex developments.

Thorpe began his career in the property industry following military service as a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer in the British Armed Forces. He went on to complete a higher national qualification in construction and a degree in building surveying before starting his professional journey as a building surveyor.



Superior Wellness, a global manufacturer and distributor of hot tubs and wellness products, is pleased to announce the appointment of Giles Brown as Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Giles brings nearly 20 years of senior financial leadership experience across a diverse range of global organisations. His career spans Private Equity-backed businesses as well as a Fortune 500 NYSE-listed corporation, with sector expertise including engineering, manufacturing, healthcare, and digital industries.

Prior to joining Superior Wellness, Giles served as Group Finance Director within the automotive engineering sector, where he played a key role in driving financial performance and supporting strategic growth initiatives. He has a strong track record in scaling businesses, enhancing operational efficiency, and building high-performing teams across organisations.



Gleeson Homes has appointed Joanne Morrison as its new Regional Managing Director for the North West, further strengthening the leadership of one of the UK’s leading developers of high-quality, affordable homes.

Joanne steps into the role as the business continues its expansion across the region, with new communities emerging in Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Carlisle and Cumbria. She will be based at Gleeson’s Cumbria office in Penrith, with plans already in place to expand operations into Warrington in the near future.

Joanne brings more than 20 years’ senior-level experience in the housebuilding industry. She most recently served as Regional Managing Director for Vistry Group’s Mercia region, where she led the division for over a decade. Under her leadership, the region expanded significantly, delivering more than 600 homes per year across 8–10 active sites under the Bovis Homes and Linden Homes brands.



Newcastle-based XLVets is bringing leadership experience and complementary skills into its board structure from outside the veterinary industry, after welcoming Roxanne Hobbs into its ranks as an independent non-executive director and Co-Chair.

Roxanne will lead the XLVets board in partnership with the current Chair, Jonathan Stockton. XLVets is a community of over 70 independent practices that share experience, knowledge and skills in support of one another. Roxanne has worked with the organisation on several projects, firstly in 2020 when she supported a Veterinary Women in Leadership Event with XLVets and Veterinary Woman and more recently she delivered a hugely popular ‘Courageous Leadership’ workshop at XLVets’ 2025 AGM.



Yorkshire’s largest independent estate agent, Dacre, Son & Hartley, has strengthened its expanding lettings division with the appointment of Rachel Fisher as a lettings and property manager based at the firm’s Harrogate office.

Rachel joins Dacres with more than six years’ experience in the property sector and will oversee the continued growth of the company’s lettings portfolio across Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Wetherby and Pateley Bridge, as well as their surrounding villages.

Her new role includes generating new business, supporting landlords, conducting rental valuations and managing properties on behalf of clients. She will also oversee maintenance and day-to-day property management services for landlords using Dacres’ fully managed offering.



Law firm Switalskis has appointed Jonathan Hyldon as head of commercial property (Lincolnshire) as it continues to invest in senior leadership to support the expansion of its South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire commercial property offering.

Based at the firm’s recently launched Grimsby office, Jonathan will lead the commercial property team’s activity across South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, working alongside the company’s nine-strong specialist team.

With over 20 years’ legal experience, Jonathan qualified in 2002 and began his career as a licensing lawyer advising multinational PLCs in both the alcohol and gaming sectors. He has specialised in commercial property law for the past decade focusing on acquisitions and disposals, landlord and tenant matters, refinancing, secured lending and property development.



Two experienced legal professionals have joined Yorkshire-based legal firm LCF Law, strengthening its private client capabilities in Harrogate.

The appointment of associate solicitor Jenny West, and solicitor Pascale Adams, reflects a growing demand for specialist advice on wills, estates and inheritance planning.

Jenny qualified as a solicitor in 2006 and after a career break, she re-entered the profession in late 2021 following the pandemic, undertaking further qualifications including passing a diploma in advising vulnerable clients to become a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Pascale, who brings more than a decade of legal experience and a strong client-focused approach to the firm’s growing private client team, is also a Harrogate native. She qualified in 2014 and spent 11 years practising family law before moving into private client work.



A fast-growing Alderley Edge wealth management specialist has made a high-profile appointment to boost its ambitious expansion plans.

Clarion Wealth Planning, which has been operating across the North West since 1985, has recruited Mike Barnes as its newest Financial Planner, taking its expert team to eighteen people.

The qualified lawyer brings with him a clear, thoughtful approach to building wealth that has been honed at the academy of a national wealth management firm and, more recently, at a regional financial planning business.

His arrival will help the firm manage a 33% increase in funds under influence, as well as ensuring it continues to deliver the highest level of personalised service.