South: New head for insolvency group R3

Andrew Watling, director at Southampton-based Quantuma Restructuring, has become chairman of the southern regional committee of R3, the insolvency trade body.

As chairman, Watling will be responsible for steering the committee – made up of insolvency practitioners and solicitors from companies across the south – towards meeting its aims and those of R3 nationally.

These will include overseeing the planning of a topical and relevant calendar of regional programme of events, as well as providing networking opportunities for their members.

An insolvency practitioner, Watling – who joined Quantuma in January 2014 – has over 20 years' experience in advising distressed companies and individuals with financial issues.

He said: “It is a privilege to have been put forward by my peers to serve as chairman.  Over the next two and half years I want to raise R3’s profile within the local business community and forge strong links with other trade bodies during what promises to be a time of increasing work levels and change in our industry.  It is key that our members engage properly with businesses and part of achieving that is improving everybody’s awareness of what we do and how we do it”.

Watling succeeds former chairman James Stares. Mike Pavitt, a partner at Paris Smith LLP, remains vice chairman.