Member Article

This week’s North East appointments

Esme Founders & Alan Dickinson, Press Ahead

North East marketing communications firm Press Ahead has appointed Esme Flounders as marketing and communications director and Alan Dickinson as non-executive director.

Flounders joins from social landlord Coast & Country Housing bringing marketing and communications knowledge with her.

Working first with Toyota, she then went to work for Endeavour Housing Association and stayed within the social housing sector for a decade, subsequently working with North Star Housing prior to Coast & Country Housing.

Dickinson has a background in media publishing houses and was regional advertising director with Trinity Mirror and magazine director with the Business Magazine Group.

Kieron Goldsborough, managing director of Press Ahead said:“I am delighted that Esme and Alan have joined the team. Both bring specialised knowledge to the business and complement the business strategy of investing in talented people. As a business, we are continually investing in our people skills and strengthening our offering.

“Esme brings a wealth of marketing communication knowledge having worked on numerous re-brands, marketing and content strategies. Alan has vast knowledge of print, digital and event platforms, which will allow him to contribute significantly to the shaping of Press Ahead’s client campaigns.

“We have an exceptionally skilled team of creatives, marketers, PR and media specialists and the new appointments will only add to our credentials. Our client portfolio has grown following recent account wins and we are working on substantial brands such as Berghaus, Coast & Country Housing, Huntsman, SSI, Changing Lives, Owen Pugh and the University of Cumbria.”

Matthew Williamson, Land Factor

Matthew Williamson has been appointed to the position of associate at Bywell-based Land Factor.

The married 31-year-old, from Ponteland, who qualified four years ago, holds an MSc in Rural Enterprise and Land Management, is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and a fellow of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers.

Land Factor manages estates throughout the north of England and southern Scotland and Matthew will be principally involved with overseeing agricultural and commercial activities at privately owned Blagdon and Belsay.

Matthew, who is RICS registered, spent six years as assistant land agent and, latterly, Associate, at a national firm of land agents where he gained a breadth of experience.

He said: “I wanted to specialise in estate management and I was interested in a new role where I could manage large estates and Land Factor was the best in this field

“I was fortunate to grow up surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK,”

“and from quite a young age I was keen to do whatever I could to help preserve rural communities for future generations.

“I love everything about rural life and, when I’m not at work, I’m either playing cricket, fishing on the River Tyne or shooting in Northumberland.”

Paul Gough, Andrea Johnson, Barbara Wilson & Tom Aust; Gateshead College

Gateshead College has strengthened its commercial training operation with the creation of a dedicated new sector-based business-to-business team.

Headed up by Paul Gough (left), director of business development, the team will be promoting tailor-made training solutions.

Joining Paul Gough will be business development managers Andrea Johnson, Barbara Wilson and Tom Aust, who will be supported by advisors Jenny Lang, Lianne Marston and Rachel Van Zyl, and telesales specialist Sarah Hussan.

The business-to-business team will be specifically targeting employers in construction engineering, manufacturing, transport and logistics as well those operating in service sector industries such as hospitality and catering, retail and contact centres with a range of training solutions.

Paul Gough said: “We’ll be targeting employers with dedicated and bespoke solutions to their training requirements. “We’ll be focusing on showing how employers can benefit from adult apprentices as a route to improving the existing workforce and securing the skills they’ll need for future growth and success.”

Gloria Sanchez, Ringtons

The catering division of North East tea and coffee company Ringtons has appointed Gloria Sanchez as business development manager to the Ringtons Beverages team.

Based in Cumberland Gloria Sanchez joins the business-to-business division of the 108 year old company and is responsible for securing new business for the renowned family business across the Lakes and North West of England.

With over 12 years’ experience within the coffee industry, Gloria is already making an impact, having secured high profile accounts including the newly refurbished Haig Pit Mining and Colliery Museum and Maryport Golf Club just a few weeks into the role.

Gloria said: “It is fantastic to be part of a family-orientated business with real northern values. This alongside a great product range which includes commercial coffee machines and a fantastic selection of teas, infusions and coffee which are all packed, blended and roasted in Ringtons’ own UK facility to ensure quality and freshness, is a dream to sell for a business development manager.

“The position allows me to combine my existing experience with the opportunity to grow the business-to-business division in an area of the country and industry sector I know incredibly well.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .