Firms freatured include Mrs Bucket, Deloitte, Savills, UWTSD , Lumen SEO and voco St David’s Cardiff.
Left to right Mrs Buckét’s Kate Ablett and Siwan Morgan.
Swansea headquartered commercial cleaning company Mrs Bucket has announced key changes to its senior management team.
Kate Ablett has been promoted to managing director. Previously people and operations director, she now steps into founder Rachael Flanagan’s former role. Ms Flanagan, who founded the business in 2005, moves into the position of chief executive allowing her to focus on the strategic direction of the business and continue as a brand ambassador.
Swansea-born Ms Ablett, who now lives in Caerphilly, has been with Mrs Buckét for four years. She joined as Head of People, where she played a key role in introducing the company’s senior leadership team. She later progressed to people and operations director, managing that team and overseeing operational performance.
In her new role as managing director, she will continue to lead the senior leadership team while focusing on driving efficiency and productivity across the business.
She said: “I’m thrilled to step into the role of managing director. One of the things I love most about Mrs Buckét is that anything is possible – you can grow ideas, you can change and you can try new things, and Rachael is fully supportive of all of this. It’s an environment where people can genuinely contribute and make a difference.
Moving into the senior leadership team is Siwan Morgan, who has been appointed senior business development manager. Previously business development manager at Mrs Buckét, her promotion comes at a pivotal time as the company accelerates its growth strategy.
She said “I’m really looking forward to stepping into this new role. I really enjoy the diverse nature of my work, which enables me to speak with a wide range of clients from different sectors – no two days are the same!”
Ms Flanagan said: “This is an incredibly exciting time for Mrs Buckét. After achieving 30% growth in 2025 and welcoming more than 30 new clients, it’s vital we have the right leadership structure in place to support our continued expansion.
“Kate has been instrumental in shaping our senior leadership team and strengthening our operations over the past four years. Her passion for people, performance and progress makes her the ideal managing director to lead the business day-to-day.
“I’m also delighted to welcome Siwan onto the senior leadership team. Her drive, energy and commitment to delivering an outstanding client journey will be pivotal as we continue to grow.”
She added: “Moving into the CEO role allows me to focus on the strategic direction of the business and continue championing our brand, our people and our purpose. We are building something very special at Mrs Buckét.”
Lumen SEO
Left to right founder and CEO of Lumen SEO Aled Nelmes and non executive director Daniel Simmons.
Former chief executive of Populate Social Daniel Simmons has been appointed a non executive director of Lumen SEO as it targets expansion and the US market.
With over ten years of experience in founding and scaling a Cardiff-based agency, his appointment will support Lumen SEO through its next growth phase as it plans to expand internationally.
Now in its sixth year of trading, Lumen SEO has become the largest SEO (search engine optimisation) agency in Wales with consistent year-on-year growth.
Lumen SEO’s founder and chief executive Aled Nelmes, said: “Despite continuous yearly growth, it’s been at the expense of my being incredibly overworked in the business when I should be working smartly on the business.”
His appointment has come at a pivotal moment for Cardiff-based Lumen SEO, as the company aims to become one of the UK’s largest SEO agencies.
Mr Nelmes said: “I believe we can double in revenue in 2026, but it’s more about how we get there.
We must be able to get there by maintaining our cultural values that make Lumen one of the greatest places to work, and we need to get there by making sure I confidently delegate more and hire some great leaders during the year.”
Mr Simmons said “I truly believe culture and leadership are two of the most important things when running a people-powered business.
It’s important to still have a strong commercial focus to sit alongside this, and having the right balance is integral.”
Mr Nelmes believes moving into the US market is the next natural step. He added: “The very culture that runs through SMEs in the USA is more experimental, more pro-risk, and more ambitious compared to the UK, where businesses tend to act more conservatively.”
Deloitte
Dave Tansley and Andrew Wright of Deloitte.(Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
Professional advisory firm Deloitte has appointed Andrew Wright as its new practice senior partner for the south west and Wales.
Mr Wright, who has close to 30 years of experience at the firm, will lead a combined team of 2,300 people, succeeding Dave Tansley.
He joined the firm in 1996 and became a partner in 2012. He leads Deloitte’s audit business in Bristol and Cardiff and is also part of the national Deloitte Private leadership team and the global audit transformation group. In his new role Wright will oversee the firm’s strategic direction across the South West and Wales.
Mr Tansley has led the firm in the region for the past two years. He will continue his work as partner at Deloitte leading key initiatives until his retirement in May.
During his two-year stint as practice senior partner, Mr Tansley spearheaded the firm’s move into its new Bristol headquarters in the Halo Building in Finzel’s Reach. He also accelerated the growth of the firm in Wales, including its Cardiff Delivery Centre.
Mr Wright said: “The South West and Wales stands on the cusp of a vibrant future, powered by innovation in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and a thriving digital economy, offering unparalleled opportunities for sustainable economic growth.
“My career has been rooted in the South West and Wales, and I know first-hand the depth of talent, expertise and potential that we have here. I am committed to developing that talent.
“I want to thank Dave for his exemplary leadership. He has fostered a real sense of collaboration across the firm, leaving a strong foundation for future growth.”
Voco St David’s Cardiff
Carl Davies-Phillips general manager of the voco St David’s Cardiff.
The five star voco St David’s Cardiff has appointed Carl Davies-Phillips as its new general manager.
He joins the Cardiff Bay hotel after a successful 2025, which saw the hotel welcome 67,463 guests and achieve record turnover.
Born and raised in Swansea, he brings more than 25 years’ experience in the hospitality industry He joins Voco St David’s Cardiff from Castlebridge Hospitality, where he held the role of operations director.
Mr Davies-Phillips said: “This is an iconic property that the whole of South Wales is proud of – everyone knows voco St David’s. “Combined with its location in the capital city it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down as a proud Welshman.“To be joining the hotel on the back of such a strong year makes it even more exciting. The foundations are incredibly solid, and my focus now is on working with our talented team to elevate the hotel even further.”
UWTSD
Elliott Atkins.
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) has appointed managing director of Exercise3, Elliott Atkins, as a professor of practice. His appointment strengthens the University’s engagement with industry leaders and provides students with direct access to cutting‑edge expertise in cyber security and digital resilience.
The title of professor of practice is awarded to recognise individuals of significant academic and professional distinction whose expertise aligns with the strategic intentions and mission of the university. Mr Atkins’ appointment reflects his outstanding contribution to the field of cyber security and his commitment to advancing professional practice, education, and industry collaboration.
A fellow of the British Computer Society he was appointed the first chief information security Officer to the Royal Household in 2021. Since 2014, he has served as managing director of Exercise3, a National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) assured provider of cyber incident exercising. The company uses realistic, scenario-based simulations to help organisations test and strengthen their cyber incident preparedness and resilience.
Prior to founding Exercise3, he held several senior leadership roles across government and industry. These included head of the UK Government’s computer emergency response team at GCHQ, head of cyber Intelligence at QinetiQ, and head of incident Response at Nominet, the UK’s top-level domain registry.
Kapilan Radhakrishnan, academic director (applied computing)at UWTSD said: “Elliott’s appointment as Professor of Practice reflects our commitment to bridging academic excellence with real-world professional leadership. His experience at the highest levels of national and international cyber security, from government to critical infrastructure and global incident response communities, brings exceptional insight to our students and staff.
“We are proud to welcome Elliott to the University and look forward to the impact his expertise will have on our teaching, research, and industry partnerships.”
Mr Atkins said: “I’m delighted to have been appointed as a Professor of Practice at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. I’m really looking forward to sharing real-world insights and experience with students, early-career academics, and staff, as well as contributing to curriculum development across the Applied Computing, Cyber Security, and Digital Forensics programmes.”
Savills
Emma Lewis of Savills.(Image: JON PAUL LADD)
International real estate advisor Savills has announced four promotions within its Cardiff office
The promotions will see one person become director and one take on the role of associate director, and two become associates. Wayne Farnell, who specialises in property management has become a director, Cerys Hulbert-Scott, planning, an associate director, Tina Owen, property management, an associate and Emma Lewis, property management, also an associate.
Wayne Farnell of Savills.(Image: ©Jon Paul Ladd. 2019)
Jonathan Latham, head of Savills Cardiff office, said: “It is with great pleasure that we can announce the promotion of four outstanding individuals in our Cardiff office. Each has demonstrated exceptional commitment, expertise and drive in supporting our clients and contributing to the continued success of our office. Congratulations to all on this well‑deserved recognition.”
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