Member Article

This week’s North East appointments

Alison Cowie & Laura Nee, Horizonworks

North East-based full service strategic marketing company Horizonworks has appointed two new members of staff and made a key internal promotion.

Alison Cowie and Laura Nee have joined the firm as client marketing manager and executive assistant/marketing coordinator respectively, while Jen Dugdale has been promoted to head of client marketing.

Alison brings more than 10 years of media experience to her new role of client marketing manager.

Alison will be using her skills in copywriting, editing and media relations to support her clients in the delivery of their PR and marketing strategies.

She commented: “I have followed the impressive progress of Horizonworks since it was established in 2010 and I’m well aware of the reputation for dedication and excellent service the team have built up among the region’s business community and beyond.

“This new role represents a new direction for me and I am looking forward to using my skill set to the benefit of Horizonworks’ clients and in helping the company to achieve its full potential.”

Meanwhile, Horizonworks’ managing director Samantha Davidson has continued to demonstrate her commitment to nurturing new talent by appointing Laura Nee as an executive assistant/marketing coordinator, following Laura’s internship with the company.

Laura completed a 12-month student placement at Horizonworks while she studied for a degree in Business and Marketing.

Laura said: “To have been given the chance to begin my career at such a forward-thinking company as Horizonworks is a privilege. I am now keen to put everything I learned during my degree and student placement year into practice - and reward the confidence Sam has placed in me.”

Jen Dugdale, a key member of the Horizonworks team since 2011, has also been promoted to head of client marketing. In her new position, Jen will oversee the quality and delivery of work for Horizonwork’s growing portfolio of clients.

Jen commented: “Having joined Sam three years ago, I’ve greatly enjoyed being part of the Horizonworks journey. I am very excited about this new phase for the company and working with our growing team to ensure our clients have a positive experience that exceeds their expectations.”

Jill Russell, Anthony Woodhouse & Phillipa Donnison, Ramside Hall

The Spa at Ramside Hall near Durham, which is due to open this summer, has appointed Jill Russell, former Spa Revenue Manager at award-winning Rockliffe Hall near Darlington, as spa director.

Jill, has a background in holistic therapy and developed her industry knowledge over four years at Rockliffe Hall, initially working on spa reception before working her way up to spa revenue manager and helping grow the bookings and developed special packages, leading to it becoming one of the best performing departments at the hotel.

Jill said: “I am delighted to be taking on the role of Spa Director at the Spa at Ramside Hall,”

“I see it as a fantastic opportunity to create something special in the North East which will take the spa experience to another level.

“The guest experience will be paramount and I want to ensure that every person entering our spa for the first time will leave planning their next visit.”

Anthony Woodhouse, 36, has taken up the role of general manager for Spa and Leisure at the hotel, coming to Ramside after a career spent working at hotels with leisure facilities, including Newcastle’s Village Hotel and the Copthorne Hotel.

He said: “This is a fantastic development and is going to be a real asset to the region,” he said.

“It’s very exciting to be part of it from the very start and watch it being created from the ground up.”

Also joining the new team is Phillipa Donnison, formerly at Rockliffe Hall, has taken up the post of guest services manager at the new spa.

David Cliff with Michelle Pugh

David Cliff, Adept Communications

Growing technology firm Adept Communications and Technology has appointed leading business management expert David Cliff as a non-executive director to support its expansion plans.

The Tyneside company was founded in September 2003, with four staff, and now employs nine people.

David, Managing Director of Gedanken Ltd, is working with the management team to develop a cohesive corporate strategy as it aims to supplement its organic growth through acquisitions and mergers.

Adept, which has its offices in Newburn, now serves around 450 clients and is also looking to develop young talent through apprenticeships and internships.

Gedanken, which is based at the Evolve Centre, Rainton Bridge, works with individuals and businesses to help support personal and professional development.

Michelle Pugh, managing director of Adept Communications and Technology, said: “We have already grown to more than double the size of staff we started with and it is our plan to continue our expansion.

“However, growth requires strategies and processes to be in place that ensure new people and existing staff work cohesively towards the same goals, and that is where we get real value from appointing David as a non-executive director.

“His experience of working with business owners and managers and supporting them through development and change will help ensure we have the structure and direction we need to grow successfully.”

Hugh Welch, Jason Wainwright & Stephen McNicol, Muckle LLP

Jason Wainwright, Muckle LLP

Newcastle-based commercial law firm, Muckle LLP, has announced the promotion of Jason Wainwright to managing partner.

Jason Wainwright, a real estate partner who has been with the firm for ten years, will take up the role on 2nd April from Steve McNicol.

After more than 10 years at the helm, Steve, who at 34 was one of the youngest managing partners in the country, will take up a new position at Muckle, to focus on client development.

He said: “I am very proud to have had the opportunity to lead this business, alongside senior partner, Hugh Welch, through so many exciting developments to help make it the modern firm that it is today.

“We have built a Muckle brand with credible market strengths and a leading reputation for excellence – both regionally and nationally. Muckle has transformed itself over the years and today it is a highly engaged business and everyone shares a collective pride in working here.”

Duncan Watson, SLR Consulting

Ecologist Duncan Watson has joined SLR Consulting as a technical director in its Newcastle office.

Duncan, who has over 20 years’ experience, is tasked with developing the company’s presence in the North East and helping to further grow SLR’s business in the renewables sector.

Prior to joining SLR, Duncan was Technical Lead for Ecology at SKM Enviros, working across a range of business areas, with particular focus on the power sector.

His experience includes managing or carrying out assessments on over 60 proposed wind farms, as well as working on proposed coal-fired, gas and biomass power stations.

Duncan, who will be based in the company’s offices on Horatio Street, said: “There were a number of things which attracted me to SLR. After stints at a few large corporations, I particularly liked the idea of working for an independent environmental consultancy, where there is an opportunity for staff to have a share in the business.

“Within my own technical discipline, I am excited about expanding the ecology team in the North East and being part of SLR’s large, well-established group of ecologists who have a well-deserved reputation for producing high quality work.”

Gordon Brown Law Firm head of Residential Conveyancing Geoff Hall and technical manager Andrea Hanna

Andrea Hanna & Wendy Frame, Gordon Brown Law Firm

Andrea Hanna has been appointed as technical manager at Newcastle and Chester le Street-based Gordon Brown Law Firm.

Andrea, who has almost 12 years’ experience in conveyancing, first joined the leading North East law firm in 2008 after training in criminal defence, property and probate.

Since then, Gordon Brown Law Firm has invested heavily in the personal development and long term performance of its employees which has seen Andrea rise up the ranks three times.

Her previous role as associate solicitor saw Andrea manage a team of five solicitors and legal executives, maintaining relationships with referrers and assisting with the development of the Residential Conveyancing department.

Andrea said: “My new role is very different to what I have been doing – while I will continue to work with clients, I will be overseeing staff development with technical checks and improving standards of training across the whole department to ensure the highest quality service is provided to our clients.

“I will be responsible for implementing new procedures to keep everyone at the top of their game and drive the department forward in 2015 and beyond – a challenge which I am certainly ready to embrace.

“Gordon Brown has significantly invested in my career from day one, so it’ll be rewarding to re-invest that experience into the department with this truly performance-focused approach.”

Wendy Frame has been appointed to replace Andrea as team leader, joining from Whickham-based Bindman & Co Solicitors where she was a residential conveyancer.

Studying law at Northumbria University, Wendy has also worked at Gateshead’s Butterworths Solicitors.

Wendy said: “The opportunity to progress my career as part of Gordon Brown particularly appealed to me as the firm has such a good reputation in the region – I’ve come across them several times in my previous roles.”

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