BARCLAYS has appointed Ann Brabyn as its new branch manager for Colchester.

Ann has worked for Barclays for more than five years and was recently, before taking up her new role, the branch manager of the Princes Street, Ipswich, branch.

Ann will lead a team of more than 40 staff, including five assistant managers and 10 personal bankers. Specialists are also available at the branch; Martin Byford and Ziyaad Hendricks, premier banking managers, Gavin Hunt and Kirsty Edwards, mortgage advisers and a number of business managers who support people who are looking to start up a business as well as existing business owners who are

looking to expand their business.

Ann said: “I am looking forward to working in Colchester. The branch has seen a great history, having recently celebrated its 225 year anniversary. Customers will find me approachable and easily accessible in the banking hall and my main aim is to make sure Barclays stands out as the most helpful and friendly bank on the high street.”

: : JAMES Brown, partner at business and financial advisers Grant Thornton, has been promoted to the position of practice leader of the firm’s Ipswich office.

James, who joined Grant Thornton in 1998, specialises in audit and financial reporting, offering advice that extends beyond the traditional audit role to a wide client base from early stage companies through to more mature businesses including clients listed on AIM.

As practice leader James will oversee operations at the firm’s Ipswich office in a role that has been created to emphasize the strong local focus Grant Thornton offers clients, backed by the knowledge and expertise of a large national firm which is a member of an international organisation.

James said: “Grant Thornton sets itself apart by offering a genuine client-focused approach which incorporates a solid understanding of the sector and location each business operates within.

“Businesses are as unique and diverse as the people who run them and through this new Suffolk-focused role I will be working to ensure that the type of dynamic, forward thinking companies we work with benefit from advice that is specifically tailored to their individual needs.”

: : ALEX Butler-Zagni has joined Ashton KCJ’s agriculture and estates team in Norwich as an agricultural solicitor.

Alex joins the firm from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), where he was East Anglia policy adviser for almost seven years. Alex’s role included representing NFU members on all livestock, poultry and dairy related matters within the region.

Alex was called to Bar in 2002 and qualified as a solicitor in 2010. Prior to the NFU, Alex worked for the Serious Fraud Office, 2 Paper Buildings, Temple and Russell Cooke Solicitors in London, as well as other firms in the Suffolk area.

Alex’s technical knowledge includes EU policy, CAP reform implications, livestock movement and recording rules, and funding opportunities under the Rural Development Programme for England. He also has a particular interest in renewable energy, rural crime, and the

better regulation agenda.

Jonathan Long, head of agriculture and Estates at Ashton KCJ, said: “We are delighted to welcome Alex to the team; his wide experience in agriculture in the region complements the work of the team. Alex joins partner Simon Cunningham in our Norwich office. I would like to wish Alex all the very best in his career at Ashton KCJ.”

: : GARY Riches has purchased the Colchester franchise of leading transport and logistics recruiter Driver Hire.

Gary brings more than 20 years’ of industry experience to his new business venture. Before joining the world of commerce, Gary was a serviceman in the Royal Corps of Transport. He subsequently worked in sales for TNT, UK Mail and DPD. He’s had extensive transport management experience with local firms Taskforce and Industrial Water Jetting. Gary, who for many years was a retained fire-fighter, has also worked for Driver Hire’s office in Bury St Edmunds.

“I’ve always wanted to run my own business,” said Gary. “I decided to go down the franchising route because it’s a less risky way into self employment. I looked at a number of other franchises but, because of my background in transport, Driver Hire was the obvious choice. There are plenty of opportunities to take the business in Colchester to a new level.”

: : IPSWICH law firm Kerseys has continued to strengthen its market position with the appointment of Lucy Barnard, an experienced Fellow of The Institute of Legal Executives. Lucy joins the highly regarded conveyancing department led by partner Jane Riley, where she will continue to specialise in helping clients with residential freehold and leasehold conveyancing, and remortgaging.

The expansion of the conveyancing department is a bold move for the firm given the forecasted slump in the housing market due to uncertainty in the economy; however, managing partner Anthony Wooding is keen to build on Kersey`s excellent reputation of high quality client service for residential and commercial property law, and regards Lucy`s appointment as key to the delivery of its strategic plan for continued growth in the local conveyancing market in 2013.

Kerseys has also recently appointed trainee solicitor Victoria Mead, who joins the firm following two years’ experience as a paralegal. Victoria is delighted to have secured a highly sought after training contract with the firm. She read English and History at Nottingham Trent University, before taking her Legal Practice course at Nottingham Law School. She will begin her training under the supervision of partner Clare Thomas in the firm’s matrimonial and child care department.

: : SARA Cullis and Hannah Marshallsay have joined Mackman as client leads to provide dedicated strategic marketing support for the firm’s growing portfolio of regional clients.

Paul Mackman, company director, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Sara and Hannah on to our team. As we continue to grow as a business, we’re continuing to invest in excellent people to ensure we have all the resources we need to best serve our clients.”

Mackman launched in Colchester in 2003 before moving to Sudbury in 2007. In 2011, Mackman opened a second office at the University of Essex and also moved into a larger premises on Meadow Lane in Sudbury as the business needed more space to accommodate its growing team.

Mackman’s people act as an external marketing resource for a range of premium businesses across the region. Sara and Hannah are the main point of contact for all Mackman clients, ensuring that all tactical activity is in line with wider marketing aims.

Sara has more than 25 years of corporate marketing experience, and has worked globally in senior marketing positions for British Telecom. “I look after the clients and make sure they are getting the best we have to offer,” she said. “I love the variety of the work; one day I could be working in the education sector, food, hospitality or industrial the next! I get to work with premium clients who have a focused sense of direction and feel lucky to be in a position where I can help people grow their businesses.”

Hannah comes to Mackman from working with Tesco.com and is a customer engagement specialist. “Moving from an enormous international corporation to a family business has been a wonderful transition,” said Hannah. “The team are so passionate about what they do and are all dedicated ambassadors for the brands they serve.”

: : ENSORS Chartered Accountants has welcomed 11 new student accountants to its offices across East Anglia, with seven of them being based in Suffolk. The majority of the students join the firm having completed A levels and will study for the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualification whilst James Pilley joins as a graduate and will study to become a chartered accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Robert Hatch, senior partner at Ensors, said: “We are really pleased to invest in the future of the firm by welcoming the next generation of accountants. We have a long history of exam success with our student accountants and look forward to further successes with our new intake.”