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This week’s North East appointments

Enjoy our roundup of the latest appointments from across the region to kickstart your week.

Caroline McDonald, Great North Museum: Hancock

A new museum manager has been appointed at the Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle. Caroline McDonald, a specialist in Roman and prehistoric archaeology, will bring a wealth of experience to her new role.

Before her new appointment, she was senior curator at the Museum of London. A native of the capital, Caroline is keen to embrace the North East and all it has to offer.

She said: “I am very excited to join the Great North Museum: Hancock. It is a wonderful museum which is treasured by local people and which has become one of the region’s most popular attractions since its redevelopment. I’m very much looking forward to leading it to further success in the future.

“As someone who is new to the North East I am also keen to explore all there is to offer and to absorb some of the legendary culture, scenery and heritage there is here.”

Liz Cope, Vertu Motors plc

Liz Cope has joined the senior management team at Vertu Motors plc as Chief Marketing Officer, taking on the marketing responsibilities of Steve Ferry who will become Group Sales Director.

Liz has previously held a number of significant marketing roles for household names including Dyson and VAX and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role, particularly of customer centric brand and digital marketing.

She will oversee all the Group’s marketing functions including PR, digital and off-line advertising, brand development and CRM including the operation of contact centres and web live chat.

Robert Forrester, chief executive of Vertu Motors plc, said: “Marketing functions are critical to any retail business.

“This new role will bring the customer’s view to the heart of the boardroom and Liz is an excellent appointment, with the depth of knowledge and skills to work within an expanding and increasingly diversified group.

“Liz’s appointment, together with the recent arrival of Tim Tozer as Group Operations Director, further strengthens and enhances the skill set of our senior management team.”

Liz added: “I am delighted to be joining Robert and the team at Vertu Motors plc. The synergy of the leadership team and the strength and breadth of the range of manufacturers is a testament to the forward-thinking strategy.”

Jon Symonds, Naylors

Newcastle-based Naylors, independent firm of commercial property consultants, has appointed a Non-Executive Chairman to drive forward a five-year growth strategy which aims to increase the business’ turnover to £2 million.

The appointment of Jon Symonds follows the firm’s significant investment in a new business brand and website which was unveiled last year.

Jon brings with him a wealth of experience and a strong track record in working with SME’s. He is currently the Partnership Director at Carillion Plc, providing full soft and hard services to all three sites of Nottingham University Hospitals, and a former executive director of Eaga Plc.

Mr Symonds said: “I am delighted to be working with Naylors to execute a plan which will take the business to the next level. The strategy will see us consolidate and build the business using Naylors’ core strengths and values, with the aim of growing the practice turnover to £2 million over the next 5 years. This will include strategic appointments in key areas of the business and continuing to grow and extend the existing client base.”

Avril Leach, Ken Wilson & Associates

Avril Leach has joined Newcastle-based recruitment firm Ken Wilson & Associates (KWA).

With a strong background in sales, Avril previously ran a recruitment consultancy before moving into business development at a media company, an HR consultancy and an employment law firm. Taking up a recruitment consultant position, Avril will be responsible for driving sales growth.

She joins KWA from employment law consultancy Peninsula Business Services, where she was responsible for developing new accounts in the business-to-business sector.

Avril, who has more than 20 years of recruitment industry experience, said: “I am thrilled to be joining a company that’s on the up. KWA has been part of the North East recruitment scene since 1987 and is helping some fantastic companies to build their skills base.”

Ken Wilson, chairman of KWA, said: “We are delighted that someone of the calibre of Avril is joining our experienced team. She has a wealth of experience in the recruitment sector as well as an extensive network of business contacts.

“We have won several contracts in recent months and her appointment positions us for further growth.”

James Lowery, Advanced Industrial Solutions

Global passive fire protection firm Advanced Industrial Solutions has appointed an insulation specialist to help secure additional global business for its award-winning range of passive fire protection and insulation products.

James Lowery, aged 30, from North Shields has been appointed as group estimating manager responsible for identifying and bidding for multi-million pound, multi-disciplinary projects for Advanced Industrial Solution’s product range.

James has a wealth of relevant experience having joined Advanced Industrial Solutions from insulation giant, KAEFER where he was responsible for estimating and delivering insulation works for major oil and gas projects such as the Golden Eagle 5-level accommodation platform, Alder Field and GDF Cygnus.

An engineering graduate, James has in-depth industry knowledge of the technologically advanced systems manufactured by Advanced Industrial Solutions teamed with extensive experience of preparing complex competitive tenders.

James’ first priority will be to identify and secure suitable tenders for Advanced Industrial Solutions’ latest range of passive fire protection products, which protect safety critical industrial equipment from the temperature extremes of a jet fire for up to 180 minutes.

James said: “I knew about Advanced Industrial Solutions from my previous role as many of the major operators specify the company’s products so when this opportunity to join the company came up I jumped at it.

“Advanced Industrial Solutions is one of only a handful of companies across the globe to produce highly technical products of this nature and it has won a string of awards for its work, including the most prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise. I’m really looking forward to helping the company build on its excellent reputation for developing cost-effective, innovative new products, as well as promoting its full turn-key solutions globally.”

Rosie Spours, Bradley Hall

North East independent chartered surveyor and estate agent Bradley Hall has expanded its Northumberland team, appointing property executive Rosie Spours to oversee negotiations across its Alnwick and Morpeth offices.

Rosie joins the firm following a successful career at London estate agent Foxtons, overseeing sales and acquisitions of luxury properties across the capital.

Rosie, 24, from Alnwick said: “This is a fantastic time to be joining Bradley Hall during its expansion and to be back in the North East at such an exciting time for the property industry.

“I grew up in Alnwick so my knowledge of Northumberland makes me comfortable advising people on purchasing and selling property in the area. I am really passionate about property and I look forward to helping the people of Northumberland find their perfect home.”

Miller Homes

Housebuilder Miller Homes has announced a number of new appointments in the North East as it prepares to open a series of new developments in the region during 2016.

Following a successful 12 months, which has seen the launch of three new developments, Patrick Arkle, 47, from Morpeth, has been promoted to operations director, while Lee Richardson and Phillip Smith join the company’s team of highly experienced site managers.

Patrick who has over 26 years’ experience in the housebuilding industry with Miller Homes, has been promoted to operations director from area technical director.

In addition to Patrick’s internal promotion, Lee Richardson, 32, has joined Miller Homes as a site manager and will oversee the construction of The Acres development in Bedlington. Lee who is from Westerhope, originally started his career in housebuilding with Miller Homes in 1999 as an apprentice joiner and has returned to the company after gaining wider industry experience.

Also joining the leading housebuilder’s team is Phillip Smith from County Durham. The 37-year-old is bringing 21 years of industry experience to his new role as site manager at Acklam Woods.

Terence Burns and Joe Tidmarsh, Coconut Lizard

Sunderland-based business Coconut Lizard, the game development business, hasbolstered its team with two new appointments.

Set up by former Epic Games UK general manager Robert Troughton, the firm plans to grow its number to between 15 and 20 by the end of this year.

The two new appointments, Terence Burns and Joe Tidmarsh, join as senior programmers to help strengthen the company’s position in the market.

Robert said: “I’ve worked with Terry and Joe for many years now. Both joined Pitbull Studio in the early days, working on Unreal Engine and associated projects, then became part of the Epic Games team following our acquisition.

“They were very important to that transition happening and, so, it’s a fantastic win for Coconut Lizard that they’ve joined the team here. By choosing the very best developers to join us at Coconut Lizard, we really are creating a dream team that can be deployed to a project to help bring it to market at a fantastically polished standard.”

Scott Niven, Bannatyne Group

The Bannatyne Group has announced the appointment of Scott Niven as its new group fitness manager to oversee the ongoing development of its health club portfolio.

Scott’s new role comes following an eight year stint managing two Bannatyne Health Club’s in Scotland; Newcraighall, and later, Dunfermline.

Scott said: “I’m incredibly pleased to be starting in my new role as group fitness manager. I have been with the Bannatyne Group for eight years now and have thoroughly enjoyed the challenges and achievements of my positions.

“The Bannatyne Group is constantly looking for new opportunities to improve its offering, which is where my experience of creating a holistic approach to wellbeing, which combines nutrition, relaxation and fitness, will be of great use.

“The Group is looking to the future of the industry by incorporating the latest technology and partnering up with organisations who are leading the way within their sector, such as Technogym, MYZONE and Kinetica. I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues to develop best practice and creating the best possible environment for our 190,000 plus members.

“My key goals as group head of fitness are to provide our membership with best possible equipment and environments, and the advice and support that they need to realise their own fitness and lifestyle ambitions.”

To feature in our North East appointments roundup, contact Jamie at jamie.hardesty@bdaily.co.uk.