Member Article

This week’s North East appointments

Wendy Wilson & Kala Preston, Sumo

North East-based design agency Sumo has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of two new members of staff.

Wendy Wilson and Kala Preston and have joined the agency as account director and event director respectively.

Wendy takes up the newly created position to support the agency in developing and nurturing its growing client base and lead the development and implementation of marketing and communication campaigns.

With over 15 years communications and management experience, Wendy has a proven track record of developing and delivering innovative and successful initiatives for brands across the retail, leisure, professional services and education sectors - bringing extensive sector specific knowledge that will complement the current Sumo offering.

Also joining the Sumo team is Kala, with nearly two decades of cultural marketing and development experience, Kala joins the team to lead the production and delivery of international conferences including events in Geneva, London and Indianapolis.

Jim Richardson, MD of Sumo, said; “We’re incredibly pleased to welcome Wendy and Kala to the team. Wendy’s commercial expertise and breadth of industry experience combined with Kala’s specialist sector knowledge allows us to bring a unique and engaging skill-set to our client offering.

“Recent months have seen us continue to win new business across a variety of sectors. In order to keep up with demand we felt it important to expand our teams, employing staff with the right expertise to complement our current skills set.”

Rachel Turnbull, Darlington Building Society

Darlington Building Society, the country’s 22nd largest building society with assets in excess of £530m, has appointed Rachel Turnbull as a Non-Executive Director.

Rachel took up her appointment on 1 March 2015 following a rigorous regulatory process and as well as playing a key role in the future direction of the Society, she will sit on the Society’s Audit Committee.

Rachel is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, a qualified Prince 2 Practitioner and has also achieved the Chartered Institute of Directors Diploma. She joined the team developing the £360m New Tyne Crossing in November 2007 and played a key role in the delivery of the project. In June 2012 Rachel took up the position of Chief Executive of TT2.

Before joining TT2, Rachel worked for a range of private sector organisations, including social housing landlord Home Group, building services firm Mowlem and Royal Mail.

Rachel Turnbull said, “This is a very exciting time to be joining Darlington Building Society as it further strengthens its position in the mutual sector.

“As well as providing mortgages and savings accounts to local people through a convenient branch network, Darlington Building Society is renowned for its support for local charities and community organisations.

“I am looking forward to working with my Board colleagues to assist the Society in fulfilling its key objectives of providing straight forward products and friendly, efficient service to customers while at the same time further developing its role in supporting its local communities”.

James Ramsbotham, Chairman of Darlington Building Society said, “Rachel is an excellent appointment to the role of non-executive director and her strong financial background together with her skills and experience honed in a number of different sectors will be invaluable as the Society builds for the future”.

James Oliver & Fiona Stuart, Status

North East based digital marketing agency, Status, is gearing up for more growth adding two key roles to its senior team.

The two new members of the team are, James Oliver who has joined as director of User Experience and Fiona Stuart who has taken up the role of director of Digital Marketing.

Serving a diverse range of clients from a variety of sectors including retail, leisure, education and healthcare, the agency was formed in 2011, amid very tough economic times.

Managing director, Nick Salloway, commented, “As a business we’ve been fortunate to get the opportunity to work with local clients and those much further afield, we’re proud to have competed successfully in national and international pitches against some big name agencies in London and overseas.

“To support our growing business, I’m delighted to have secured the talents of James and Fiona and have no doubt that their expertise will result in Status customers increasing their return on investment in digital marketing.”

James said: “I’ve joined Status at a really exciting time as they gear up for significant growth. As a business they already put a strong focus on customer experience and I’m looking forward to taking that to a higher level”.

Fiona said: “The firms ambitious growth plans were a key reason in attracting me to Status. I’m also looking forward to start shaping their digital marketing services offering.”

Aimee Cavener, Cottages in Northumberland

A North East holiday letting agency has strengthened its team with a new appointment.

Cottages in Northumberland, which rents out more than 130 coastal, countryside and city properties in the region, has appointed graduate Aimee Cavener to the position of sales and marketing coordinator.

This is Aimee’s first significant job role since graduating in English Language and British Sign Language from York St John University last summer - skills she will put to good use promoting the company both regionally and nationally.

She said: “I have settled in really well. Cottages in Northumberland has a great reputation for being both professional and friendly and the properties it lets are so lovely, that it really is a pleasure telling people about them.”

Cottages in Northumberland manager, Angela Mazingham said: “Aimee was born and bred in Alnwick and knows the surrounding areas like the back of her hand, so she is hugely helpful and informative when chatting to people keen to come and stay in the area.”

Paul Blakey & Nicolas Kleist, Matfen Hall Hotel

Two of the North East’s most experienced chefs are to lead the culinary team at Matfen Hall Hotel, Northumberland.

Paul Blakey (pictured above), a 2014 Great North Menu winner, and Nicolas Kleist, who trained under Alain Couturier at Michelin-starred La Roche Le Roy, have been appointed executive head chef and head chef at Matfen Hall Hotel.

Paul, from Durham has worked in restaurants throughout the UK including the Lake District, Durham and Kent, before spending three years in the Channel Islands where he obtained his first role as head chef.

Nicolas Kleist, who will be working alongside Paul, began his career at the age of 15 as a cooking apprentice at a brasserie in his home town of Tours, France, before being chosen to train at the world renowned La Roche Le Roy.

Managing director, Bernard Bloodworth said: “We are delighted to welcome Paul and promote Nicolas in our the team.

“With expertise in fine dining and an unrivalled ability to create contemporary cuisine from Northumberland’s finest and varied ingredients, we feel sure they will be an asset to Matfen Hall.”

Jo Amos, Winn Solicitors

Newcastle-based Winn Solicitors, which specialises in road traffic accident and personal injury claims, has announced a senior level internal promotion with the appointment of Jo Amos as associate director.

Jo, who lives in County Durham, has been with Winn Solicitors since it was established in 2002 and has worked in the legal sector for almost twenty years.

Prior to taking up her new role which sees her heading up a team of approximately 60 staff, Jo held the position of deputy manager of the Trials Team.

She said: “Winn Solicitors is highly regarded and is widely recognised as a market leader nationwide. We have been instrumental in challenging the perception of the sector and at the forefront of pioneering a new approach when it comes to personal injury and road traffic accident claims.”

Jeff Winn, managing director at Winn Solicitors said: “Jo has been an extremely important and influential member of our team from the outset; this promotion recognises the significant contribution that she has made to the business and the key role that she will play in the future growth and development of the firm.”

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