People: Destination Coventry; Cattaneo Corporate Finance; Hayward Wright

Paul McMahon has joined Destination Coventry as its new managing director and joins with a track record of success in leadership roles and fostering sustainable commercial growth.

He was previously chief executive officer of easyMarketing, which is part of the Easy Group, a director of an international coaching business and cultivated a group of 34 franchises over 18 years into what was then the UK’s largest independent corporate caterer.

He has experience working with public and private sector partners and will be responsible for leading a new business development strategy and raising the profile of Coventry and the wider region to national and international audiences.

He said: “We want Destination Coventry to be the UK benchmark in best practice for destination management organizations. I had been looking for an impactful role which would positively impact communities by driving meaningful change and successful outcomes.

“The aim is to showcase the rich and diverse culture we have in the area, enhancing the national and international profile of Coventry and Warwickshire for both leisure and business tourism. I know the area well and it has an incredible amount to offer to visitors, whether that is through the heritage and culture offering, or the proud history in automotive, advanced manufacturing and other key industries.

“Partnerships are going to be central to our approach, ensuring that as a region we are all working towards the same overarching strategic vision. I look forward to working with stakeholders from across Coventry and Warwickshire to achieve our goals.”

Cllr Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change at Coventry City Council, said: “I’m very pleased to welcome Paul to this really important role. Coventry has loads to offer visitors and the visitor economy supports lots of jobs in the city so it’s an area that we are keen to grow.

“We are very proud of our heritage offer and it sits alongside some brilliant new attractions too so there is lots for Paul and his team to promote to a really wide audience.”

Paul Michael, chair of Destination Coventry’s Oversight Board, said: “Paul brings a new dynamic, a wealth of experience and a strong commercial skillset, which will be pivotal to supporting a stable future for Destination Coventry and be essential as we continue to work towards establishing the Coventry and Warwickshire LVEP.”

Cattaneo Corporate Finance has appointed experienced dealmaker Richard Newman as a director in its team.

Newman is a highly respected and popular figure in the Midlands corporate finance market where he has worked for 25 years in M&A advisory and debt structuring roles.

Richard Newman

Having held senior roles at HSBC, The Royal Bank of Scotland, KBC Peel Hunt and more recently at specialist debt fund, Thincats, he joins Cattaneo to provide advice on M&A transactions and debt and equity structuring.

Before this, he spent 15 years in mainstream banking where he provided structured debt packages in support of growth finance and acquisition transactions. Richard originally qualified as a chartered accountant before moving into corporate finance and then gaining equity market experience at KBC Peel Hunt.

In his role at Cattaneo, Newman will bring his experience to bear assisting clients with accessing, structuring and negotiating debt facilities as well as securing equity funding and advising on M&A transactions.

He said: “Having funded a number of Cattaneo’s transactions in my banking roles I am delighted to now be joining their team. By bringing a perspective from the funding side, including the intricacies of navigating a path through ever evolving market conditions and an appetite of lenders, I look forward to furthering the firm’s reputation for providing top quality advice to clients.”

Martyn Pilley said: “We are delighted to have secured someone of Richard’s calibre, breadth of experience and reputation and look forward to having him as part of the team. We have a strong pipeline across M&A and debt and equity funding and know that both his skill base and style of working will perfectly complement our client offering.”

Worcestershire-based accountancy firm, Hayward Wright, has recruited Daniel Lewis to join their team to help lead and grow its Worcester office.

Daniel Lewis and Alistair Hayward-Wright

Lewis joins Hayward Wright following his time in the industry as financial controller for Ultra PCS, a manufacturer specializing in military aircraft and vehicles.

Before this, he spent several years in practice, holding the role of practice manager for Evesham-based GC Accountancy, and at Grant Thornton in their audit team and is a qualified accountant with both the ICAEW and AAT.

He will be responsible for managing a client portfolio of owner-managed businesses and he will also work closely with the managing director of the firm, Alistair Hayward-Wright, to continue to drive the growth of the firm from their Worcester office.

He said: “I am thrilled to be joining Hayward Wright at such an exciting stage of their growth and contribute to their ongoing success. The trading environment remains challenging for many owner-managed businesses that are looking for an accountant who can be a trusted advisor to help them navigate those headwinds and take advantage of new opportunities. Hayward Wright is well-placed to deliver this, and I am excited about the value I can bring to the firm and its clients.”

Alistair Hayward-Wright, managing director at Hayward Wright said: “We are delighted that Daniel has joined our team. His combination of industry and practical experience will bring a lot of value to our client base which is predominantly owner-managed businesses that value clear and robust advice along with great interpersonal skills from their accountant. Daniel is a great fit for our business, clients, and our growth plans and I am excited about the future and what he will bring to our firm.”