Appointments: Trio of appointments boosts law firm's Leeds office

Specialist business financier, Absolute Invoice Finance, has promoted Dave Jones to the position of senior regional managing director in Yorkshire and the North East.

In his seven years since joining Absolute, Mr Jones has grown the Yorkshire and North East office in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, into the firm's largest and most profitable.

The office recently made seven new appointments to support the growing demand for its alternative funding services, including regional sales manager, Peter Cromarty, who will spearhead the firm's continued expansion into the North East.

Neil Williams has been appointed to the board of Chem Resist in Dewsbury just three years after joining the company as a technical sales engineer.

Mr Williams was promoted to manager of the fluid transfer division shortly after joining Chem Resist, and oversaw a considerable increase in both client numbers and turnover.

The company designs and manufactures thermoplastic chemical storage tanks. Its fluid transfer division is a major stockist and supplier of many of the world's most-specified pumps.

Laurie Beagle, divisional director at P&A Receivables, has been elected to the advisory council of the Institute of Credit Management to represent the credit services sector.

Mr Beagle, who will sit on the council for two years, is the founder and chair of several international credit forums run by Sheffield-based P&A which bring together credit and senior managers from corporates in diverse industry sectors.

Professor Colin Mellors has been appointed to the board of York Science Park.

Prof Mellors is the pro-vice chancellor for business and community at York University.

He is also executive chairman of Higher York, director of higher education strategy for Yorkshire Forward, chairs the executive board of Yorkshire Universities, and is a non-executive director of the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber.

Matthew Spivey, general manager of Assured Fire and Security, has been promoted to become the company's operations director.

He will still be responsible for the day to day running of the company's Sheffield headquarters, but he will also now take up a place on the company's board.

He will be particularly responsible for ensuring the company's strategic growth strategy is backed up with a sound operational plan, optimum performance and continue with great customer service.

HSBC Commercial Banking has appointed Jill Hague as area commercial director for Wakefield, extending her current patch which covers Calderdale and Kirklees. She will now oversee a team of 35 individuals based across the area who provide banking support for SMEs in the region.

Independent estate agency Hunters Property Group has appointed Andy Pearse as its first personal agent in Pontefract. York-based Hunters Personal franchises home-based agents to sell and let properties in their own communities.

Mr Pearse, who will work closely with Hunters' existing Selby office, currently works as an independent financial adviser in the area.

Specialist recruitment firm Renovo has appointed Caroline Dugdall as business development manager. In the newly created role, she will develop opportunities across the public sector. She brings more than 18 years experience in sales and marketing.