Andrew McBeath, founder of McBeath Property Consultancy Ltd, has confirmed the appointment of Tom Grimshaw as a director at the firm.
McBeath Property Consultancy has been established in York for over 20 years, specialising in commercial property disposal, land sales, landlord and tenant matters, property management, and development consultancy.
The company operates across a wide geographical area, focusing primarily on the Yorkshire region, while also handling valuation matters throughout the UK.
McBeath said: “Tom brings a wealth of experience from the sharp end of a Leeds-based commercial property agency, which will be invaluable in helping us to develop and harness our growth trajectory.”
Grimshaw joins the firm after six years at Brackenridge Hanson Tate in Leeds, where he led the Commercial Agency team.
He brings with him experience across all sectors in commercial property disposal and acquisition, property management, and lease consultancy.
Grimshaw said: “After six rewarding years at BHT, this new opportunity couldn’t have come at a better time.
“I’m excited about this long-term opportunity to develop a well-respected and established consultancy further, bringing my experience to support and build on Andrew’s work, enhancing the services we provide to our clients.
“I am looking forward to the future working alongside Andrew and contributing to the firm’s ongoing growth and success.”
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everplay group plc, a Wakefield-headquartered independent games developer and publisher of premium video games, has appointed Mikkel Weider as group chief executive officer and member of the Board, with effect from 1 January 2026.
Weider is a gaming executive, with significant leadership, industry and M&A experience, having worked across a range of high-growth businesses.
In 2016, he founded Nordisk Games, holding the role of chief executive officer until 2023.
Under his leadership, Nordisk Games grew from zero to over 1,300 employees across Europe and the United States, delivering organic growth alongside the acquisition of a number of European based games studios.
He is currently a partner in Delphi Interactive, chair of Outlast Games, and a Board member of M2 Animation and NASDAQ-listed Trophy Games.
Historically, he has held board roles for a number of gaming and high-growth technology businesses, including Avalanche Studios Group, Supermassive Games, Raw Fury, Starstable, and Trustpilot, and senior roles with both Bookatable and Match.com.
Upon Weider joining the Board, Frank Sagnier, current interim executive chair, will revert to non-executive chair.
Sagnier said: “We are confident Mikke’s extensive gaming and M&A track record will be invaluable to our business over the coming years.
“Mikkel understands and shares the group’s clear strategic vision, and is joining everplay at an exciting time, with the business in a strong position and delivering positive momentum.
“Mikkel has the right credentials to accelerate growth and take everplay to the next level. I look forward to working with Mikkel and will continue to be closely involved as non-executive chair.”
Weider added: “I am thrilled to be joining everplay, whose iconic games I’ve grown up playing and enjoying.
“I strongly believe in everplay’s strategy of building market-leading labels focussed on clearly defined genres and audiences.
“The resulting diverse portfolio of great games, with a healthy mix of first-party and third-party IP, drives immense levels of expertise and synergies within each vertical.
“I look forward to formally joining the business in January and harnessing the tremendous knowledge, skills and passion across the group, and maintaining the business’ growth trajectory.”
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Prosura, an independent insurance broker based in Wakefield, has promoted Alison Dawson to the role of operations director.
She originally joined Prosura as broking & compliance manager ahead of its official launch in 2023. Since then, she has been instrumental in the business’s growth.
Dawson said: “Insurance has been a part of my life for over 35 years. I started as a trainee on my 16th birthday, became one of just a handful of dual site managers, finishing with managing the largest branch of a leading insurance broker. Then my journey with Prosura started and I have never looked back.
“I have enjoyed a distinguished career in insurance, but I can honestly say that becoming a director is without doubt my proudest career moment.
“I am now looking forward to representing Prosura as we grow the insurance business and welcome more independent brokers into Prosura Group.”
Jon Newall, CEO, added: “Like me, independent broking has been a major part of Alison’s life. She understands what is important not just to our colleagues, but to our clients and our many layers of compliance, which is exceptionally important as we continue our ambitious journey of growth.
“I am very much looking forward to seeing Alison thrive in her new role, and to her bringing her skills and experience as we develop our brand and continue to champion what is really important to us – true independent broking.”
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York-based Metir, a provider of fast response mobile and point-of-use water and environmental testing technology, has appointed Claire Smith as chief financial officer with immediate effect.
This is alongside key hires to grow the company’s business development function. All appointments are non-Board at this time.
Smith brings over 25 years of financial and operational experience. Most recently, she served as chief executive officer and previously as chief financial officer and company secretary of Zytronic plc, an AIM-listed manufacturer of touch sensor products.
During her tenure, she led finance, HR and IT functions. Before her role at Zytronic, she held finance positions with the NAAFI and Procter & Gamble, working both in the UK and Germany.
She holds a BA (Hons) degree in Business and Finance from Northumbria University. She qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant in 2006 and obtained a Certificate in International Cash Management in 2011.
To accelerate growth and capitalise on new opportunities in the UK and internationally, Metir has also established a dedicated business development function, comprising a new business development manager and technical support specialist.
This new team will focus on driving sales of Metir’s LX, FX and Continuous Toxicity Monitoring (CTM) product lines and expanding the group’s international distributor network, with a target to more than double its distributor base within the next 12 months.
Strengthened technical support will also enable improved customer engagement, increased instrument utilisation and reagent consumption, driving higher recurring revenue.
Bob Moore, executive chairman and chief executive officer, said: “Claire’s extensive financial and operational expertise will strengthen the group’s management, control and reporting, as we develop and execute our growth strategy.
“The creation of a new business development function marks an important step in enhancing our commercial reach, expanding internationally, building a global brand and delivering long-term shareholder value.”
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Commercial property and investment business Wykeland Group has appointed executive Neil Riseham as property director.
Riseham brings more than 25 years of experience in senior roles delivering high-value estates, development and transformation programmes across the UK.
He joins the Hull-based business as it continues to develop existing assets and expand its property portfolio in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the Humber.
As property director, he will focus on working with and supporting current and new occupiers, identifying opportunities within the firm’s existing portfolio, and adding value to property assets.
Riseham has joined from public transport business Arriva Bus, where he was UK property director. Previously he held senior roles with two Hull-based businesses with UK-wide footprints.
As property director of MKM Building Supplies he played a key role in building the portfolio from 50 to more than 130 sites across the UK over a six-year period.
Prior to that, he was divisional director, Estate and Facilities, for UK safety equipment and services business Arco, responsible for the company’s property portfolio and facilities.
A graduate of Leeds Beckett University, he began his career with defence and aerospace giant BAE Systems, progressing from entry level to senior leadership, ultimately becoming head of project management, Property and Facilities.
He said: “I’ve worked nationally for the past 20 years, but I’ve always maintained my Hull property connections and known Wykeland as an excellent company with great people and wonderful projects.
“Wykeland doesn’t just deliver property projects; the business focuses on the cultural and social aspects of development and regeneration as well.
“It also has an outstanding reputation for long-term, patient investment, development and property management. That’s all really appealing to me.
“I’m looking forward to working on lots of exciting projects and having the opportunity to do good things, both commercially and for the community.”
Riseham succeeds the previous property director David Donkin, who retired earlier this year after nine years in the role.
Wykeland managing director, Dominic Gibbons, said: “Neil brings considerable experience and expertise to the business, from his previous roles delivering and managing large-scale property portfolios.
“Neil’s credentials complement the extensive capabilities across our exceptionally strong leadership group and ensure we continue to have a top-class team in place to deliver upon our ambitions.”
