McKerracher takes a step up at bank

Published on Friday 20 November 2009 21:20

CLYDESDALE Bank has a new man to front its 16-strong Scottish network of "financial solutions centres".

It follows the appointment of Scott McKerracher, right, as sole regional director for the centres, which offer business and private banking facilities. The move is a step up for McKerracher, who had already been responsible for some of the sites, including key operations in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

He had effectively shared the regional director role with David Douglas since 2006. The bank said Douglas had taken on a new "strategic" role as head of specialist business in the UK.

McKerracher, who joined the Clydesdale from school way back in 1985, says: "Over the recent economic uncertainty, Clydesdale Bank has continually reiterated its position as being open for business."

Meanwhile, the wealth management arm of Standard Life has appointed James England as its senior business development manager. He joins from Swiss bank UBS, where he was a director and client adviser, responsible for building relationships with IFAs and providing investment advice to end clients.

England, who, appropriately, will be based in the firm's London offices, will be responsible for "developing market awareness of the Standard Life Wealth proposition".

Hailing the appointment, Richard Charnock, chief executive of Standard Life Wealth, said: "James' appointment comes at a crucial time in the development of Standard Life Wealth, as we continue to see strong demand for discretionary investment management services."

International law firm Pinsent Masons has announced its latest round of promotions north of the Border. Ashley Graham and Scott McCallum have been promoted to associate level within the Scottish practice. Graham joined the firm's employment team in 2006 and specialises in both contentious and non-contentious issues, while McCallum has specialised in planning and environmental law since he qualified with the Masons in 2005.

Insurance broker Marsh hires Barnes for oil and gas role

GLOBAL insurance broker and risk adviser Marsh has appointed Amy Barnes as a development executive in its Aberdeen office.

The move will see Barnes, pictured below, focus on driving business from the independent oil and gas sector in Scotland as well as supporting local service delivery for Marsh's London-based energy practice clients.

Ron Thomson, head of Marsh's Aberdeen office, says: "The global economic downturn has touched all parts of the global oil and gas industry and Aberdeen has not been immune to its effects. I look forward to working with Amy as she delivers innovative solutions that add value to our clients and help them to manage through the downturn."

Barnes has worked for the firm's energy practice for eight years, specialising in risk financing for oil and gas companies.

GOOD DAY

Simon Howie

THE eponymous Perthshire butcher has proved it's a cut above the rest after its Auchterarder store was named Scottish Butcher Shop of the Year at the, er, annual Butcher Shop of the Year Awards. It is the first time two shops from the same chain have won the coveted award, with Simon Howie in Perth having scooped the title in 2000, 2003 and 2006.

BAD DAY

Michael Dell

ANOTHER eponymous company, only the news here was not quite so bright. Dell, the PC maker named after its founder and chief executive Michael Dell, reported a worse-than-expected 54 per cent drop in net profit, hitting its shares. That said, Dell claimed its core business of selling PCs to companies was returning.