Bradford law firm Gordons has hired an additional two lawyers to further strengthen its expert construction practice area.

Mark Smith arrives from Addleshaw Goddard as a senior lawyer specialising in construction and engineering disputes, risk management and dispute avoidance.

He is joined by solicitor, Haiqa Baig, who was previously at Shoosmiths and is experienced in contentious and non-contentious construction matters.

Gordons’ construction team is led by partner Richard Piper. The firm’s construction clients include contractor GMI Construction, developer Bridgecore Developments, infrastructure and housing contractor United Living Group and parcel delivery business Evri.

Mark has 25 years’ experience and has advised clients in the retail, education, transport, energy, utilities, water and power sectors. He acts for contractors, sub-contractors, employers and the public sector, as well as private sector professionals in the fields of construction and engineering.

Haiqa has advised on multi-million pound residential and commercial development projects as diverse as hospitals, leisure centres, railway networks, oil refineries and botanic gardens. She has also successfully led adjudication and litigation matters, settling cases via mediation in the Technology and Construction Court.

Commenting on the new appointments, Gordons’ Richard Piper, said: “Mark and Haiqa are excellent additions to our expert construction team. Mark is a highly regarded lawyer whose knowledge and expertise is already providing our clients with additional insights and commercially effective advice.

“Haiqa is an ambitious and proven operator with a track record of securing positive results for clients across a wide range of construction matters, and she is continuing to do so at Gordons.”

Bradford-based bakery products manufacturer Baker & Baker has appointed Matthew Acheson as its group CEO, succeeding John Lindsay in the role.

Acheson served as CFO of Baker & Baker and the previous CSM Bakery Solutions business since 2017.

Lindsay, who has served as CEO of Baker & Baker and the previous CSM business since 2016, has stepped down and moved into a strategic advisory role until 1st May 2025, when he will formally retire, thereafter he will take up a noneExecutive director position with the company.
Paul Jones has succeeded Acheson as Baker & Baker’s Group CFO.

Acheson said: “I am extremely pleased to be entrusted with leading Baker & Baker, as we look to expand our presence and distribution in markets throughout Europe and further afield. 2024 has been another robust year for the Group, and we are excited about the opportunities to grow our business in collaboration with our key customers and partners.”

Baker & Baker Group employs 2,500 people in total, with 1400 people working in the UK across four sites. 360 people are employed at Baker & Baker’s manufacturing site at Cutler Heights Lane in Bradford.

Yorkshire Building Society has appointed a new director of people and culture.

Kirsty Webb will join the mutual on 3 February, bringing 25 years’ experience in people and HR leadership roles.

She was most recently HR director group diversity, equity and inclusion and interim head of talent for the Retail Division at Barclays Bank, where she has been since 2013.

She has also held senior HR roles CPA Global, BlackRock, Future Capital Partners and Lloyds Banking Group.

Webb said: “I am excited to be joining the team at Yorkshire Building Society as director of people and culture.

“Joining an organisation with such focus on making positive impacts to society and enabling customers to ‘make real life happen’ is a great honour.

“I am particularly looking forward to getting to know the team and working together to further develop our people plans to enable both colleagues and members to grow and be successful.”

Holly Rankin, Yorkshire Building Society’s chief people officer, said: “Kirsty brings a wealth of experience and I’m looking forward to working with her as we continue to strive to create an inclusive environment for all colleagues.”

Saqib Saleem has been appointed as the new director of operations at Manningham Housing Association (MHA).

He will lead on the delivery of customer-facing services as well as driving MHA’s management strategy, including overseeing its property portfolio.

Mr Saleem, currently director of strategy and regulation at Altair, brings more than 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors, including roles at Homes England, KPMG, and The Guinness Partnership.

He said: “I am excited to join MHA as director of operations.

“Social housing has an important part to play in people’s lives and can be a stepping stone to a prosperous future for families and individuals.

“I understand the difficulties faced by many BME communities and deeply admire the work that Manningham Housing Association does for such communities in Bradford and Keighley.”

MHA was founded in 1986 following a piece of research on the housing needs of Black and Asian communities in Bradford.

With an annual turnover of £8.2 million and a staff of 42, the association now manages more than 1,400 homes for more than 6,000 residents.

Calbee UK, owner of Bradford-based Seabrook, has appointed Martin France as sales director.

With 23 years’ experience at Mars, starting his career as a temporary factory associate in the pet care business before progressing to customer development director for the Grocery channel at Mars Wrigley UK, France will lead the sales team and strategy for Calbee.

He said: “Working in a business that owns and develops brands I grew up with has always been a passion. Seabrook crisps in particular were a regular purchase from my childhood in Yorkshire.
“I am excited by the investment from the wider group into Calbee UK and the opportunities that this brings.

“The amazing portfolio of global products that we have opens up great partnership potential with customers, as consumers seek out both innovative new flavours and formats, as well as healthier snack options.

“Joining Calbee, I can see huge opportunities for category growth, not just on the core Seabrook brand, which will always be at the heart of the business, but also the wider portfolio.

“The added value in unique, high-quality products, and the UK’s interest in global cuisines, particularly Japanese flavours, creates space for product and flavour innovation that makes this an incredibly exciting time for the business.”

Group managing director of Calbee UK, Jon Wood, added: “We are very excited to share the news that Martin is joining Calbee UK.

“With ambitious plans, we know Martin will be instrumental in continuing to build the Seabrook and Harvest Snaps brands and leverage the innovative product technologies and market-leading brands available to us through the wider Calbee group.