Salford-based independent brewer and pub retailer Hydes has appointed Peter Borg-Neal as its new chairman. He succeeds Richard Lancaster, who steps down after guiding the historic business through the post-pandemic recovery. Borg-Neal brings more than 40 years of hospitality experience, notably as the founder of Oakman Inns, a premium pub group which he scaled to a portfolio of 32 sites. He has also held senior leadership roles at Whitbread plc and Allied Domecq Retailing. Established in 1863, family-controlled Hydes operates 44 pubs across the North West of England and North Wales, alongside a brewing facility in MediaCity, Salford. Outgoing chairman Lancaster leaves the enterprise on a firm financial footing following a period of record turnover. Borg-Neal stated that his initial responsibility is to preserve the stability established by the executive team, ahead of shaping the next phase of the brewery's long-term operations.



Lancashire-based asset finance provider Haydock Finance has announced three executive appointments to its senior leadership team to support its regional growth strategy. Andrea O’Brien has been promoted to sales director after 24 years with the company. O'Brien will provide strategic oversight across the sales function and expand the firm's broker partner network. Alistair Brew has been named finance director, having progressed through several analytical and management roles since joining the company in 2021. He will oversee financial strategy and funding operations for the SME-focused lender. Additionally, Alison Perks joins the permanent board as IT and transformation director following a period working as an external consultant for the firm since 2023. Perks will lead the company’s technology strategy and operational efficiency agenda. Andy Taylor, managing director, stated the appointments reflect a commitment to investing in internal talent to drive commercial and financial strategies.



Czajka Care Group has appointed Samire Pervetica as the registered manager of Brookfield Care Home in Nab Wood, West Yorkshire. Pervetica brings 13 years of healthcare sector experience, having progressed from an initial part-time role as a teenage kitchen assistant to registered manager at Larchfield Manor Care Home in Harrogate. In her new role, she will oversee the 45-resident facility, which provides residential, respite, and palliative care for individuals across Bradford, Saltaire, Shipley and the Aire Valley. The Nab Wood site has recently received significant capital investment to upgrade its en-suite bedrooms and landscaped communal areas. Konrad Czajka, managing director of Czajka Care Group, stated that Pervetica’s career progression aligns with the independent provider's core operational values, noting her extensive leadership skills and dedication to creating a stable environment for both staff and residents within the care facility.



Leeds-based housebuilder Thomas Alexander Homes has promoted Gemma Bateman to sales and marketing director. Bateman joined the Yorkshire residential developer in March 2024 and has since overseen a complete corporate brand refresh, the launch of a new digital platform, and the integration of updated sales management systems. The executive appointment coincides with increased regional activity for the developer, including completed unit sales across its Monks Court, Hartley Vale, and Manor Gardens communities, alongside recent site launches at Harcourt View in Sharow and Staveley Walk in Staveley. Managing director Alexander Blease noted that Bateman has brought structure and leadership to the expanding department during a challenging period for the broader UK housing market. In her executive position, Bateman will manage marketing operations as the housebuilder targets a scaling strategy to deliver more than 150 properties per year over the next three years.



Law firm Freeths has appointed corporate tax specialist David Smith as partner and joint head of tax to support its operations across the North of England. Smith joins the firm from international practice DLA Piper, bringing more than 20 years of legal experience advising multinational companies, private equity funds, and management groups on domestic and cross-border transactional tax matters. Working alongside existing partner Adrian Hackett, Smith will co-lead the national tax practice with a specific focus on international tax structuring, corporate restructurings, global mobility, and mergers within the energy sector. Freeths maintains a significant operational presence across northern legal markets, and the strategic hire reflects ongoing client demand within complex corporate finance sectors. Hackett noted that Smith’s commercial expertise arrives during a period of transactional growth for the firm, particularly in cross-border investments and private equity portfolios.