Insurer takes on new strategy director

The Leeds-headquartered firm said that the role is effective immediately and will see Mr Woollam report to Mike Keating.

Mr Keating said that as well as being responsible for distribution, Mr Woollam, who was previously the director of key accounts for NIG, will be using his contacts in commercial broking to develop new propositions and boost UK General’s UK-wide network of independent trading part- ners.

Mr Keating said: “I’m delighted to welcome Chris to the UK General commercial management team.

“He brings fantastic drive as well as depth and breadth of commercial market experience which will be invaluable as we continue to grow alongside our independent broker partners.”

Elsewhere, three managers of a Sheffield-based firm of chartered accountants have been appointed partners in the business.

Senior tax manager Stephen Charles, Simon Bladen, a manager who specialises in the legal and not-for-profit sectors, and Paul Wormald, an audit manager, took up their new roles with Hawsons, of Glossop Road, Sheffield, from January 1.

Mr Charles and Mr Bladen work in the firm’s Sheffield office and Mr Wormald is based at the Doncaster office.

Meanwhile, Henry Beckwith has joined Hileys Solicitors in Thirsk as a partner specialising in inheritance and estate planning issues.

Hileys merged with York firm, Harrowells Solicitors, in 2011 and trades as Harrowells incorporating Hileys in the Thirsk and Easingwold areas.

Mr Beckwith moved to the firm from Denison Till in York and will work alongside fellow partner, Colin Moore.