Promotions at law firm

Private client executive Ms Frost will now handle wills, probate and administration of estates, lasting powers of attorney and deputyships, while personal injury executive Mr Shord will act for injured road traffic accident victims in their legal expenses cases.

Ashton Graham managing partner Mark Merriam said: “I’m very pleased to recognise Tony and Catherine’s commitment to study, as they both joined us from sixth form, through the Ashton Graham Law Club – which aims to train and support future legal execs.”

Ms Frost and Mr Shord previously worked within Ashton Graham’s uninsured loss recovery department in Felixstowe.

SIMON Whittley has joined Fiducia Wealth Management as director of private client portfolios.

Mr Whittley has over 15 years’ experience in wealth management and joins from Collins Stewart where he was responsible for winning and managing new investment mandates using his extensive market knowledge and experience on behalf of private clients, charities and private as well as corporate pension funds.

Previously he held similar positions at Credit Suisse Private Bank, Arbuthnot Private Bank and Close Brothers where he focused on discretionary investment accounts for UK based clients.

Mr Whittley is based in Cambridge and will have particular responsibility for promoting the Fiducia investment proposition in London and the Home Counties.

He said “I am greatly impressed by the entire business proposition at Fiducia which is why I believe joining the Company at this time is such an exciting opportunity. The investment team have developed an impressive investment process, it has the exceptional advantage of economic input from Michael Hughes and is producing excellent and consistent results. With the additional planned developments there is no reason why Fiducia should not establish itself as a true Investment Boutique.”

TREVOR Howard, of Marshall Nissan in Bury St. Edmunds, has achieved ‘Nissan Master Technician’ status following an intensive training programme run by Nissan Motor (GB) Limited in which he finished in the top 30.

The 42-year-old, from Stowmarket, was awarded the prestigious title after completing the three-day course, which is designed to develop the skills of the most talented technicians, as well as creating a new level within the service teams of Nissan dealerships – the ‘Nissan Master Technician.’

Out of the 252 technicians who took the course, Nissan Motor (GB) Limited selected the 30 technicians with the highest grades in the country to enjoy a day in the driver’s seat at Bruntingthorpe racetrack.

Qualified instructors were on hand to help Mr Howard get to grips with some of the most exciting Nissan models and an extremely challenging off-road course involving gravity-defying climbs and deep swampland.

Mr Howard spent five years as an apprentice and has extensive supercar experience, working at Brands Hatch, Kent as a race mechanic and at Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk as chief engineer.

He said: “It’s great that have I been shown recognition for all my hard work and training. Nissan train you well and the tutors are very knowledgeable and inspiring.”

Tim Dorrington at Nissan Motor (GB) Limited said: “This training course is extremely challenging and really tests the skills of our technicians. Quality leadership and technical excellence within our dealer network is a must if we are to meet the high expectations of our customers.

“The scores this year have been particularly impressive and I am delighted that Trevor has been awarded the title of ‘Nissan Master Technician’. Customers visiting Marshall Nissan will experience the very highest levels of customer service and technical expertise from Trevor and his colleagues.”

A NEW department at Suffolk and Norfolk-based Bedfords estate agents is to be headed by Ian Kitson.

The new department, Bedfords Professional, will cover the requirements of individuals, solicitors, accountants and other professionals seeking advice.

Mr Kitson will undertake residential property surveys, energy performance certificates and a wide range of professional valuations, such as probate, capital gains tax, marital separation and charity purposes.

Mr Kitson grew up on his family farm just outside Woodbridge and was educated at Woodbridge School. He is a keen golfer and is currently a member of the Suffolk Men’s Squad, as well as representing Woodbridge and Aldeburgh golf clubs in competitions.

THE Colchester-based building surveying and project management department at Whybrow has welcomed the return of its former director, Scott Barlow.

Mr Barlow has more than 15 years’ experience gained from working for market leading surveying practices, including Drivas Jonas and Atkins.

After developing the building surveying team at Whybrow, he left in 2008 to further his experience and skills by working for primarily public sector clients including Essex County Council, the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice and the National Police Improvement Agency.

MEDIA group Archant has strengthened its business development team with the appointment of new group business development director Serge Taborin.

Mr Taborin joins from Perform Group, a digital media sports and entertainment group, where he was head of group strategy and business development and worked with a host of major rights-holders globally, including football clubs, leagues, governing bodies and media groups.

He previously worked for the BBC as well as a number of IT consulting companies and holds an engineering degree from Oxford and an MBA from INSEAD.

Leading the new Archant group business development team, he brings particular expertise in digital media, primarily in areas of commercial strategy and digital content monetization.

Digital will be a large part of his new role, he said.

“Digital has grown in importance exponentially over the past few years and its impact on our daily lives will continue to grow. As such, digital distribution presents a big challenge for all media owners today – it is here to stay and, although it is often seen as a threat to the traditional business models, it also offers numerous opportunities for growth,” he said.

“As a key part of my role, I will be working closely with divisional staff to identify and implement those opportunities, aiming to grow our audience and its level of engagement with our content and brands, and also develop additional revenue sources made possible by digital platforms.”

“Aside from digital, the role will also involve growing certain verticals that Archant is already involved with as well as developing new verticals altogether.”

Archant chief executive, Adrian Jeakings, said: “Serge and his team will work with divisional teams from across the group to accelerate our development of new revenue streams.”