Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has hired Aviva Investors' managing director of global shared services and transformation, Anup Kollanethu, to lead its new Manchester office.

Kollanethu has held a variety of management roles at Aviva Investors since 2008, when he moved across from his post as vice president and head of operations at Aviva Insurance.

Speaking with Legal Week last month, Freshfields managing partner David Aitman confirmed that an external candidate would be centre director, but would not be drawn on a name.

In a statement today Aitman said: "[Kollanethu's] extensive experience in building and managing shared services centres, together with his business and technology acumen, will be of great value to us in establishing our Manchester office. We are delighted to have him on board."

The firm has also confirmed that London corporate partner Gareth Stephenson will relocate to Manchester to set up the legal services operation at the centre.

Stephenson has been running Freshfields' shared services centre pilot project in London for the last 18 months.

As well as announcing the appointments, the firm has also confirmed that it has signed a lease to take up 40,000 sq ft at Arndale House in Manchester from July onwards.

The current plan is to open the shared legal and business services centre in the city in the second half of 2015.

Freshfields' website currently list some 15 job vacancies for the Manchester base, including paralegals and IT staff.

It has not yet confirmed the number of relocations from other Freshfields' offices, however.