Communisis names financial expert as a new non-executive director

Communisis said that his financial experience spans 30 years during which he has played “key roles in driving the profitability and growth of listed and private companies”.

Mr Harris was previously finance director of marketing services group Engine. Prior to that, he was group finance director of Capital Radio Plc.

Peter Hickson, chairman of Communisis, which has its registered office in Leeds, said: “I am delighted to be welcoming Peter to Communisis. He has extensive experience as a finance director in the marketing services and media sectors and his experience will further strengthen and diversify our board”.

Elsewhere, a fourth partner has been appointed at York-based HPH Chartered Accountants. Sarah Wearing joined the firm in 1998 at its head office in Bootham, York, after completing an economics and finance Bsc at University of York, to train as a chartered accountant and was promoted to manager at the firm’s Harrogate office in 2006.

Leeds Metropolitan University has appointed Edmund Hewson as its new director of distance learning. He joins the university from BPP Professional Education, where he is currently chairman of BPP Learning Media and BPP International.

In the legal sector, Wilsons Solicitors, which has offices in Leeds and Bradford, has announced new heads for two of its offices. Senior partner James Mawbey-Shaw is transferring to the Ilkley office, with Leanne Pollard moving from Whitkirk to replace him in Horsforth. Mr Mawbey-Shaw is a property law specialist and has completed a number of multi-million pound property investment deals across the UK on behalf of private investors.

The Leeds office of hlw Keeble Hawson has appointed Elaine Buckley as head of business development. It said her achievements include playing an instrumental role in launching and growing the Leeds office of Irwin Mitchell.

Dale Robinson has been promoted to director within the planning, development and regeneration team at property consultancy GVA in Yorkshire. Mr Robinson has been with GVA for the past 10 years.