Sheffield-based technology and IT firm, Simoda, has announced three new board appointments as it expands its services into Europe following a year of 35% growth. The expansion is driven by rising client demand and will see Simoda initially leverage its new base in Amsterdam to deliver services across the continent, having already completed projects for a French governmental body. The move is expected to boost its overall growth in 2026 by at least 5–10%. Founder and Managing Director, Daniel Bumby, said the firm continues to prioritise its South Yorkshire roots while capitalising on the overseas opportunity. To strengthen its leadership team, the company has made three key promotions: Christian Colton becomes Network Services Director; Simon Flint, formerly Head of Finance, is promoted to Finance Director; and Kate Hill, previously Head of Customer Relations and Marketing, takes on the role of Commercial Director. The appointments build on the firm’s commitment to its foundations in Sheffield as it enters this new international chapter.



Trojan, an e-commerce partner that helps Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) brands accelerate profitable growth across online marketplaces and Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) channels, has created the new role of Chief Growth Officer and appointed Jack Tomson to accelerate its European expansion. Reporting to the executive team, Tomson will lead integrated growth, with a mandate to help brands reduce their reliance on marketplaces while strengthening D2C relationships. He brings 14 years of experience from key FMCG organisations, including Lindt & Sprüngli, Johnson & Johnson, and Newell Brands. He previously launched the UK’s first D2C platform for Lindt. CEO James Rigg noted that Mr. Tomson's "real-world experience" will be crucial in helping brands scale their digital operations with agility and precision.



North East technology consultancy Test Driven Solutions (TDS), founded in 2020, is celebrating five years of rapid, self-funded growth, escalating from a six-figure start-up to an eight-figure global business. This success is driving an ambitious international expansion, with plans to open a new office in Edinburgh early next year, followed by a base in Latin America in 2026. To steer this next phase of growth, TDS has introduced a new senior leadership team with four key appointments: David McAvelia, Chief Revenue Officer, focusing on new market opportunities; Andy Thompson, Chief of Staff, overseeing sustainable scaling and culture; Adrian Pollard, Financial Director, responsible for strategic financial planning; and Jack Reed, Head of Technology Services, shaping technical strategy and innovation. CEO Sam Clark stated the new team brings the necessary "experience, insight and drive" to expand the company's footprint while remaining true to its "quality, culture and collaboration" values.



PHD Industrial Holdings (PHD) has strengthened its senior leadership with the appointment of Tom Soar as Commercial Director. The new role will focus on driving growth and value creation across PHD's expanding portfolio of industrial businesses. Soar brings over 25 years of industry experience to the role, including senior positions at GKN and McKinsey, with extensive work in the automotive and aerospace sectors. A Chartered Engineer, he previously led the establishment of the engine assembly factory for McLaren Automotive. Philip Price, a director at PHD, said Soar's expertise would "help drive growth and value creation across our group companies", supporting strategic acquisitions and helping platform businesses "deliver their full potential". The appointment follows PHD's recent acquisition of tracing dye supplier, Tolbest Ltd.



Deloitte Legal has appointed Nicola Brookes as a partner in its Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and Corporate team, based in Manchester. Brookes, who has a strong reputation in the North West, joins from a background that includes senior roles at Addleshaw Goddard and Eversheds Sutherland. Crucially, she also has five years of in-house experience as General Counsel at Genesis Cancer Care UK, a private equity-backed global healthcare business. In her new role, Brookes will lead Deloitte Legal’s focus on the healthcare industry, leveraging her deep transactional capabilities and experience managing legal teams in a global setting. Richard Punt, managing partner for Deloitte Legal in the UK, stated that the appointment "reflects our sustained ambition and commitment to invest in developing our capabilities".



Accountancy and advisory firm Armstrong Watson has appointed David Rome as a Tax Senior Manager in its Corporate Tax Team, based at the Carlisle office in Cumbria. Rome brings nearly a decade of corporate tax expertise, joining the firm from Johnston Carmichael in Edinburgh. He is a Chartered Tax Adviser and Chartered Accountant with particular specialism in the taxation of corporate debt, including complex areas like debt restructuring and corporate interest restriction. Head of Tax, Becky Bowness, welcomed the appointment, noting Rome's proactive, client-focused approach and his value in supporting clients through the increasingly complex tax landscape. The appointment follows a period of rapid expansion in Armstrong Watson's senior tax division across the North and a string of senior hires and promotions: Private Tax, Gary Rowson joined as a Partner in Manchester; Clare Lancaster joined as a Director in Glasgow; and Jane Greenwood was appointed in Northallerton as a Tax Senior Manager.



Azets has strengthened its North West team with key appointments and promotions. Nadine Crosby joins as Private Client Tax Partner. A Certified Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor with 25 years' experience, she specialises in advising business owners and high-net-worth individuals on complex matters like inheritance tax, trust and estate planning, and business restructuring. Martin Woodhall is promoted to Restructuring and Insolvency (R&I) Director. A qualified Insolvency Practitioner, he brings 21 years of expertise in the SME market, helping businesses navigate financial distress through practical solutions and preserving value for all stakeholders. The firm also announced the promotions of 34 staff across its seven North West offices, including: Tax Associate Directors: Lewis Parry and Vicky Pickering; Audit Associate Directors: Adam Hilton-Mason and Adam Hooley; Rebecca Bolton also returns as a Senior Tax Advisory Manager, bringing expertise in corporate tax, R&D, and share schemes.