Tax firm jump starts UK sales push

JUMPSTART, the research and development tax relief specialist, is aiming to grow its presence in the UK with the appointment of a new sales and marketing director.

Cheshire-based Mike Dean has joined the Edinburgh-firm to drive client acquisition activities and field sales capability. He will also be responsible for inside sales, partner development and digital marketing.

Mr Dean will head up a team of 16, half of whom will be based in Edinburgh and the remainder of whom will be active across the rest of the UK, focused on replicating the company's business in Scotland.

Jumpstart said it had recouped £42 million for Scottish companies since its inception in 2008 as a result of 1,318 specifically-tailored applications. It currently has 173 active clients in Scotland and more than 500 in the wider UK.

Mr Dean said: "Having worked with Jumpstart in a consultancy capacity for several months recently, I am delighted to formally join the company and look forward to contributing to its continuing success.”

He will report to Brian Williamson, managing director at Jumpstart, who said: "We are delighted to have attracted someone of Mike's calibre and experience and we are confident that great benefits will accrue to the company as a result."

Senior associates at Anderson Strathern

THERE ARE two new senior associates at Anderson Strathern with the promotion of Margaret Coady in Edinburgh and Jon McGee in Glasgow. In addition, Hannah Currie has joined as an associate from Shepherd + Wedderburn.

Ms Coady works across a wide range of commercial real estate matters while Mr McGee is an established legal name in the public and utilities sectors.

Anderson Strathern’s growing commercial real estate team is further bolstered by the arrival of Ms Currie at Associate level. She handles all aspects of commercial property, including acquisitions and disposals.

Head of the commercial real estate department Drew Morris commented: “Hannah’s arrival coincides with the promotion of Margaret and Jon to senior associate level. Their appointments to senior level underline the strength and depth of the commercial real estate team at Anderson Strathern. We are delighted to announce Margaret and Jon’s promotions, which are well deserved.”

SafeDeposits Scotland gets new chairman

SafeDeposits Scotland has appointed Ian Potter as chairman. SafeDeposits Scotland is the country’s leading tenancy deposit scheme, holding more than £73m of private rental deposits.

Mr Potter has spent over a quarter of century working in the private rental sector and has been a key contributor to the legislative redevelopment of the private rental sector in Scotland. He has served on the board of SafeDeposits Scotland since 2012 and succeeds Sir Andrew Cubie as chairman.

He said: “It is an honour to be elected to this position and to chair the board as the company continues to grow its share of the market.

“The protection of tenant deposits is a cornerstone of the private rental sector and with more than £73m held secure by SafeDeposits Scotland thousands of lives are touched by the responsible management of the company.”

Originally from Arbroath, Ian Potter spent two decades working for TSB in various senior posts around Dundee, Argyll and Glasgow. He then became an associate partner with Fineholm Letting Services where he remained until 2000 before joining Countrywide Residential Lettings.