Appointments: New regional managing partner to lead city office named by law firm Irwin Mitchell

Mr Bates, who previously headed up the firm’s commercial litigation team in the North, takes over from partner David Knaggs, who remains with the firm as a consultant.

He will be responsible for managing the Leeds office’s 20 partners and 180 staff, whilst leading the firm’s development across both its personal and business legal services divisions.

Sanderson Weatherall has made a senior promotion at its Leeds office. Finance director Martin Archer, who has been with the firm for three years, has become shareholding partner.

Epiphany Solutions has welcomed a new director, Jim Whittaker, to sit on the board, as the company continues its expansion.

Mr Whittaker, previously a director of corporate finance at KPMG and former partner at BTG McInnes, will support existing directors Shane Quigley, Robin Skidmore and Rob Shaw in the delivery of the Leeds-based firm’s growth strategy.

Serviced office operator i2 Office has appointed Bobby Van Wyk as general manager, sales, at its business centre at No 1 Leeds in the city centre. Mr Van Wyk was previously Leeds area sales manager for Regus.

Street light technology firm Harvard has appointed a new business development manager. John Charles, who has over 27 years’ experience working on local authority lighting and communications systems, joins the Leeds-based sales team.

Industrial seal manufacturer Flexitallic UK has appointed Jonathan Brough as its new sales director.

Mr Brough, who was previously sales director at E & L Engineering, will be based at the firm’s Cleckheaton headquarters.

Holiday inn, Barnsley, has strengthened its management team with the appointment of Rachel Charlton and Tim Walsh.

Ms Charlton, who was previously sales manager at Holiday Inn hotels in Rotherham-Sheffield, Leeds-Bradford, Doncaster and Leicester, has been appointed as sales and marketing director. Mr Walsh, who was previously beverage manager at Crowne Plaza NEC, joins the team as food and beverage manager.

Lubricant specialist Pennine has made two key promotions. John Grierson, who joined the firm 13 years ago, has been promoted to sales director, while Andrew McClean, who was previously technical director, has become managing director at the Sheffield-based firm.