Member Article

This week’s North East appointments

Paul Stewart, Siglion

Siglion has recruited experienced commercial property specialist Paul Stewart as asset manager to direct and manage a substantial investment portfolio of property assets

Property assets include retail, industrial units and business centres transferred from Sunderland City Council to Siglion. The company has also appointed Knight Frank as managing agents.

Siglion, an innovative joint venture company between Carillion and Sunderland City Council, for which Igloo Regeneration is providing development, asset and fund management advice, is carrying out an ambitious £100 million-plus programme to transform Sunderland.

Paul Stewart joins Siglion as asset manager from NHS Property Services, where he was responsible for providing strategic asset management and property management advice in relation to the NHS primary care estate across the North East and Cumbria.

He was formerly a development surveyor with GVA commercial property consultants, based in Newcastle.

Paul Stewart and Siglion’s chief executive John Seager are developing a long term strategy for the management of the asset portfolio to increase its value, develop job opportunities and economic return to Sunderland and the wider region.

Paul said: “It’s great to be involved at the start of a major regional project, which is hugely important in shaping the future of Sunderland.

“The work I’ll be heading up will be reviewing the asset portfolio and working with our tenants to ensure that operating a business from one of our premises is as simple and efficient as we can possibly make it. I’m excited to be part of the team at Siglion and keen to meet as many of our tenants and key stakeholders across the city as possible.”

Steph Edusei, Healthwatch Newcastle

Steph Edusei from New Hartley is has been appointed as the first chief executive of Healthwatch Newcastle (HWN), an independent, not for profit champion for social care and health services.

The busy mum has previously held a number of key professional roles within the health sector over the past 19 years including strategic head of Corporate Affairs with NHS Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group and assistant director of Operations with North East Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust.

Based in Higham Place, Newcastle, Healthwatch Newcastle’s dual remit covers all publicly funded health and social care services for both adults and children.

Steph said:“I’ve always been a team player and firmly believe in working in partnership with others.

“I feel that it’s important to bring in people with expertise in different aspects of the social care and health sector, whether it’s someone who has experienced care or a former social care or health professional, their personal experience is vitally important.

“From my perspective, I also need us to be accountable and ensure that we get the very best people available to help lead Healthwatch Newcastle into the future.

“I’m therefore seeking committed volunteers to act as Board members (including a Vice Chair) to lead and develop the organisation. It’s an ideal way for someone to make their mark on a worthwhile organisation. “

Lynda McCaslin, BHP Law

Lynda McCaslin has joined North East legal practice BHP Law.

Lynda, who completed a degree in medical microbiology before converting to a legal career, is a specialist in wills, trusts and probate, she is now heading the team at BHP’s Newcastle office having recently returned to the region after a year in Australia.

A member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, Lydia’s expertise covers inheritance tax planning and powers of attorney as well as the administration of estates.

She worked for a number of well-known law firms in the North East and Cumbria before spending a year in Perth, where her husband, a surgeon at the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, was offered a fellowship.

Lynda explained: “We’re working towards expanding the department in Newcastle, which is all about meeting people and working with professional advisers to share our expertise. BHP Law is renowned for being a family firm with breadth and depth of experience, which is especially important in this area of law,”

John Adam Drew, Boro Taxis

Boro Taxis has appointed an additional mechanic to help look after the firm’s 750-strong vehicle fleet.

The Middlesbrough company already employs 900 people and has now taken on a further full time employee after he completed his apprenticeship with the company

John Adam Drew joined Boro Taxis in the second year of his apprenticeship in Motor Vehicle Maintenance and Repair.

His apprenticeship included one day each week at Thornaby-based training provider Actions Ltd along with on-the-job training at Boro Taxis. John Adam, 20, from Middlesbrough, has now passed his advanced-level apprenticeship with flying colours.

John Adam said: “I wasn’t the best behaved pupil at school, but my apprenticeship gave me the opportunity to knuckle down and get stuck into something I really enjoy.

“I was thrilled to be able to continue my training at Boro Taxis and can now put my skills to good use helping to look after the taxi fleet.”

Boro Taxis founder Mohammed Bashir said: “The safety and comfort of our passengers is our number one priority, so it’s incredibly important to us to find the right people to maintain our vehicles.

“We’re very proud of John’s achievements in his training with us and delighted to have been able to take him on as a full-time employee following his success in his apprenticeship.

“It is all part of our continued investment in our fleet, our workforce and our customer service.”

James Blackman, Powertecnique

Powertecnique has welcomes James Blackman as finance director, a new appointment to the board.

Joining Powertecnique in November 2014 from PwC, James has worked with a range of businesses specialising in technology and IT, and has a PhD in Chemical Technology.

James said: “I’ve always been interested in business, and in being a part of growing a commercial operation. I met with Darren last year. He is a dynamic and inspirational leader; it was easy to buy into him.

“Powertecnique is a scalable business and it’s exciting to join it at this pivotal point in its expansion. My aims will be not only to help grow the company, but also its market share, and to help it succeed in its objectives.”

Powertecnique offers backup power products (UPS and diesel generators) along with the associated services, to enable businesses to keep running through electrical issues.

Powertecnique’s board includes chairman John Pettifor, managing director Darren Pearce, sales and marketing director Peter Chai-Tsai, and now finance director James Blackman.

Mike Pitchford and Grant Watson, Surgo Construction

North East-based independent construction companies, Surgo Construction, is continuing to expand its management team by appointing a further two experienced contracts managers.

The latest duo to join Surgo’s growing team are Mike Pitchford and Grant Watson, both of whom bring with them immense industry experience.

Mike and Grant will manage the successful delivery of Surgo sites from Northumberland down to Leeming Bar in North Yorkshire.

Surgo continues to win new contracts and was most recently appointed by Homes For Northumberland, Northumberland County Council’s Arms Length Management Organisation, on a £1.8 million development to construct 16 new homes in the coastal village of Embleton.

Phil Bennett, Central Employment Agency

Phil Bennett has been appointed to Newcastle-based recruitment specialists Central Employment agency, focusing on the Industrial and Manufacturing sector.

Phil is a highly qualified professional with over 16 years’ experience in the Telecommunications industry, bringing with him a strong and proven track record in business development and customer service.

Phil’s strong customer focused approach and excellent interpersonal skills make him an exciting addition to the team and ensures Central Employment’s reputation for exceptional customer service is maintained and built upon into the future.

Commenting on his new position, Phil said “I am excited to join Central Employment and look forward to combining my knowledge and experience to assist the team as we move the business forward.”

Mark Trett, business development manager, Central Employment, said, “We are delighted to welcome Phil to the Central Employment recruitment team and look forward to his customer focused and strategic contribution to the team. His extensive experience and business development credentials will help ensure we achieve our long term growth aspirations.”

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