People: New billet for Youngman

David Youngman, former pillar of stockbroker WH Ireland, is joining stockbroker Daniel Stewart to head corporate finance at its Manchester office. Youngman, who quit abruptly as managing director of WH Ireland last year amid the turmoil over its abortive tie-up with Blue Oar, is joining Daniel Stewart to beef up its corporate finance operation.

He says, ‘I am excited to be joining such a dynamic company as Daniel Stewart, as it continues to grow its offering.’ Daniel Stewart’s boss, Peter Shea, argues that Youngman’s experience, contacts and knowledge will help the recently loss-making company build on an improvement in last year’s second half.

Youngman left WH Ireland at the same time as ex-chief executive officer Laurie Beevers, who bought and now runs WH Ireland’s Colwyn Bay office. Shareholders in Daniel Stewart must hope for great things from Youngman, especially now that Cairo-based investment bank Prime Group has dropped last autumn’s proposed £2.3 million investment in the company and is talking about co-operation possibilities instead.

Blue Oar, of course, has now become Astaire Group and, headed by the abrasive Edward Vandyk, has been snapping up a decidedly mixed bag of small company broking and investment concerns. Unconfirmed rumour has suggested that HB Corporate (Hoodless Brennan that was) is also on his shopping list.