Peel Ports Group, the UK’s second-largest port operator, has appointed international shipping executive Audrey Dolhen as Chief Operating Officer, Unitised.

Dolhen joins the executive board from ZIM Shipping, where she served as managing director for the UK, bringing over two decades of container shipping and logistics experience. Her background includes 20 years at French shipping giant CMA CGM in senior roles across Europe and Asia, including managing director for India and the UK, and chief commercial officer for China.

In her new role, Dolhen will oversee Irish Sea container and roll-on/roll-off operations across Liverpool, Dublin, and Heysham in Lancashire. The division handles more than 1.4 million units of cargo annually.

Claudio Veritiero, chief executive officer at Peel Ports Group, said: “Audrey brings extensive international shipping experience and a valuable customer perspective to our Executive Board.”



Deloitte Legal has appointed Chris Hardman as its UK managing partner. Based in Manchester, the commercial hub of north-west England, Mr Hardman previously served as the practice’s head of corporate law.

He succeeds Richard Punt, who will concentrate on his duties as global legal leader, an office he has held since June 2023. Mr Hardman, who joined the Big Four professional services firm seven years ago following spells at two international law practices, will oversee the division’s domestic expansion strategy.

Mr Hardman said: “We are at a really exciting point in the evolution of Deloitte Legal. Clients are navigating complex, large-scale change driven by transactions, regulation and transformation, and they want a partner who can help them deliver, not just advise.”

Alongside the leadership change, the firm promoted three individuals to partner: Tom Birdseye, who focuses on legal generative artificial intelligence and management consultancy; George Hawkins, chief operating officer for Deloitte Legal in the UK; and Ben Holguin, a corporate specialist advising on corporate restructurings and supply chains.

Deloitte Legal forms part of the group’s wider UK tax and legal division, which generated £1.33 billion in revenue last year and employs approximately 4,500 people.



Yorkshire-based LCF Law has strengthened its regional presence with five appointments across its Leeds and Bradford offices, bringing its total headcount to 149.

In Leeds, Jenna Leach joins the corporate division as a legal executive, alongside paralegals Matthew Griffiths in personal law and Hannah O'Reilly in commercial litigation. In Bradford, solicitor Emily Bailey joins the conveyancing arm, LCF Residential, while Anouska Seedheeyan joins the real estate practice as a paralegal.

The three paralegals will complete two years of qualifying work experience through the firm’s solicitor training programme, undertaking four six-month rotations across diverse commercial and personal law disciplines. The firm has added 26 staff this year across its four Yorkshire bases.

Ragan Montgomery, managing partner at LCF Law, said: “We’re very pleased to welcome Emily, Jenna, Matthew, Anouska and Hannah into our team at such pivotal moments in their careers.”



North East consultancy Hedley Planning has expanded its team with three graduate appointments across its Hexham and Newcastle offices, following a recent relocation to larger premises at Tanners Burn House in Hexham, Northumberland.

Newcastle University graduate Sophie Harrison joins the Hexham office as a graduate town planner. She is joined by Lizzie Brown and Jessica Mackie, who take up year-out placement roles as planners in Hexham and Newcastle respectively. All three will assist senior staff with planning applications and statements for residential and commercial schemes.

The expansion comes amid rising demand driven by UK planning reforms and regional regeneration.

Sean Hedley, managing director, said: “The decision to invest in new talent reflects strong and sustained demand for planning services from leading housebuilders, commercial property developers and the renewable energy sector, and forms part of a wider strategy to build a sustainable pipeline of skilled planners for the future.”



Building services contractor John N Dunn Group has appointed Andrew Wheelhouse as quantity surveyor at its Yorkshire office in Leeds.

Mr Wheelhouse, who joins from Snowden Seamless Floors, brings 25 years of construction industry experience to the group's commercial division, having previously worked alongside residential developers and main contractors.

Headquartered in North Shields, near Newcastle upon Tyne, John N Dunn was established more than a century ago. The firm provides mechanical and electrical installation and maintenance services across northern England and Scotland, working with major housebuilders, housing associations, and commercial developers.

James Harris, managing director at John N Dunn Group in Yorkshire, said: “Andrew is a great addition to the team, he brings strong knowledge and is keen to progress his career with us. We have an impressive track record across the group, of developing and retaining our people.”



British logistics and parcel delivery company DX has expanded its executive leadership team with the appointment of Karl Hodgkinson as director of strategic growth for new propositions and integrated solutions.

In the newly established role, Mr Hodgkinson will oversee commercial expansion into new sectors, launch customer services, and combine the group's logistics capabilities. The move follows the appointment of chief executive Ian Truesdale in June 2025.

Mr Hodgkinson brings more than 30 years of supply chain experience, spanning logistics operations, corporate turnarounds, and mergers. He joins DX from privately owned transport operator Howard Tenens, where he was group development, marketing and innovation director, having previously served as commercial director and managing director of logistics.

Ian Truesdale, chief executive officer of DX, said: “We are delighted to appoint Karl to the Executive Leadership Team. His appointment adds further impetus to our growth strategy as we continue to identify new opportunities for DX.”



Pantera Advisory Group, a property and asset valuation practice headquartered in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, has appointed chartered surveyor Tom Witten as director of plant and machinery.

Mr Witten joins the firm from investment and restructuring specialist Gordon Brothers, where he served as a manager in London. Bringing more than seven years of asset appraisal experience—including a prior valuation role at John Pye Auctions—he specialises in corporate recovery, insolvency valuations, asset disposals, and secured lending.

Primarily based in Pantera’s London office, Mr Witten will work alongside managing director Kevin Counihan to advise UK and international clients. Founded in 2016 by chief executive Tom Snook, the firm now employs 26 staff across offices in Harrogate, Manchester, and London.

Tom Snook said: “We are really pleased to welcome Tom to the Pantera team. His experience in plant and machinery valuation, particularly across restructuring, insolvency and lending, adds further depth to our asset valuation offering.”



Accountancy group Azets has recruited 22 graduates and school leavers across its operations in north-east England.

The new intake will join offices in Newcastle upon Tyne, Durham, and Teesside. Twelve apprentices will enter the audit practice, three join wealth management, two each will focus on corporate and private client tax, and one each will work in VAT, corporate finance, and business advisory services.

School leavers undertake a six-year training programme towards Association of Accounting Technicians and chartered qualifications, while university graduates follow a three-to-four-year chartered pathway. Azets employs more than 300 personnel across the industrial region.

Claire Hinshaw, Newcastle office managing partner, said: “Their recruitment represents continued investment in the North East, providing opportunities for both school leavers and graduates across the region. Nurturing the next generation of talent with on-the-job training, mentoring and opportunities to gain professional qualifications and hands-on experience is key to the future of Azets and the continued success our clients.”



Public sector procurement organisation YPO, based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, has appointed Richard Hinds as executive director of finance and resources.

Mr Hinds joins the publicly owned purchasing body from regional rail operator Northern Trains, where he served as finance director. In his new post, he oversees the group's financial strategy, commercial performance, and corporate resources to support public sector clients across the UK.

Simon Hill, managing director at YPO, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Richard to YPO. His experience across finance, leadership and corporate services will be a real asset as we continue to support public sector organisations with efficient, value-focused procurement solutions.”