Ridley & Hall strategy head promoted to managing partner

Adam Fletcher has been promoted to managing partner at law firm Ridley & Hall. He was previously head of strategy & business development at the Huddersfield-based firm. He replaces Sarah Young who held the position for over six years and is to stay with the company to head up the expanding contentious probate department.

Sharon McLean has joined Grant Thornton’s growing audit team as an audit executive. Prior to joining the firm’s Sheffield office, she spent four years working at Prime Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors in Solihull as an audit and accounts assistant.

Planning and design consultancy Barton Willmore has appointed James Hall as a partner in its Leeds office, which covers the firm’s operations in Yorkshire, Humber and the North East.

Mr Hall has been leading the practice in the region for the last few years, and has experience ranging from greenfield site promotions to high-profile regeneration and commercial schemes.

Creative agency McGrath O’Toole has appointed an account director and digital developer to its growing Leeds team. Andrew Robson has joined McGrath O’Toole as an account director from London-based agency RKCR/Y&R and will be responsible for helping manage the portfolio of IT security clients. Aaron Lumsden has joined as a digital developer from Dubit Platform where he was a Web UI/UX designer and developer.

Technical recruitment consultancy Dutton International has appointed John Bratby as a construction recruitment manager in its Sheffield office. He previously worked at recruitment groups Thorn Baker and Kalcrest.

Clare Danahay has been appointed Yorkshire & North East branch chairman of the Association of Women in Property for 2012/2013.

Ms Danahay, founder of York-based Be Inspired Design, has worked as a commercial interior designer for over 10 years and has served on the Yorkshire & North East committee for three years.

Law firm Clarion has appointed Tracy Booth as HR director to support its ongoing recruitment and staff development programmes. She joins the Leeds-based firm from TD Waterhouse International in Leeds where she spent 12 years, latterly as HR director.