Member Article

This week’s North East appointments

Join us for a roundup of the latest appointment news from across the region this week.

CCS

Sunderland-based telecoms company CCS has appointed six new members of staff working across all areas of the business.

ICT technology lead Terry Hugill, technical solutions architect Richard Weddle, marketing executive Michael Duell, lead generation executive Emma Wilson and business development managers Lee Carter and James Logue have all joined the company as part of CCS’ strategy to expand its offering to clients and double turnover by 2018.

Terry Hugill, who has more than 18 years’ experience working within the IT industry, will be working to develop and shape CCS’ IT department, which provides remote IT services and support to a variety of clients.

Terry, who is Microsoft and VMware qualified, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to shape an IT department from the ground upwards. CCS is an ambitious company with really exciting plans and I was keen to play my part in contributing towards its future success.”

He is joined by 39-year-old Richard who will work closely with the sales team to develop bespoke IT solutions for clients, ensuring the services provided exactly match individual requirements, as well as providing installation advice and supporting Terry to develop and grow CCS’ IT offering.

Marketing executive Michael Duell has also joined CCS and will be working closely alongside the firm’s 10-strong sales team to generate new leads and build up links with the local business community.

Michael, who previously worked as a marketing and events officer at the University of Sunderland, said: “With my technical skills and previous marketing experience this role seemed like an ideal fit. The telecoms sector is always evolving and CCS prides itself on being at the forefront of technological developments.”

New business and development managers James Logue and Lee Carter have been appointed to strengthen CCS’ sales team and, with more than 50 years’ experience between them, will be working to source new business opportunities and build client relationships.

They are joined by 32-year-old Emma Wilson who will use her sales experience to generate new leads for the sales team and will be the first point of contact for many new clients.

The appointment of Terry, Richard, Michael, Lee, James and Emma follows the recruitment of new UK sales manager Kevin Greener in May.

Chris Lee, managing director of CCS, said: “This is a very exciting time for the business – bringing Kevin on board was the first step in our plan for expansion and our new appointments further strengthen the quality and variety of service we can provide to clients.

“Each of them brings different experience and skills and I’m very proud of the team we now have in place – we’ve got the very best technical and sales talent in the north east and I’m confident there will be further appointments over the coming months.”

Martin Gardner, Scott Logic

Martin Gardner, 41, has joined software development firm Scott Logic as a Business Development Support Executive, and will be based at the firm’s headquarters in Newcastle.

The psychology graduate, who lives in Cullercoats in North Tyneside, was approached about the newly-created role on LinkedIn.

He explained: “I was impressed by the approach, which seemed very well researched, and the interview process was handled smoothly and thoroughly.

“I also liked the various people who interviewed me, which is extremely important as it’s your first impression of the personnel and culture of the workplace. I liked the location and the feel of the office and the company itself is a very exciting one to be associated with – literally on the cutting-edge of technology.

“My new colleagues seem great and extraordinarily knowledgeable. I’ve been looking for the right company to give the best years of my career to and Scott Logic seemed to offer everything I was looking for.”

Barney Davis, Lanchester Wines

Lanchester Wines has appointed a new head of commercial operations, Barney Davis, who will lead the company’s global wine buying strategy, ensuring continued relevancy within the UK and European marketplaces, across all channels.

Barney will be primarily responsible for the buying of all bulk wine for the wider County Durham based Lanchester Group which includes Europe’s most modern bottling facility, Greencroft Bottling.

Barney joins the company with extensive global wine buying expertise having worked in various purchasing, sales and general management roles within the wine sector for over 15 years. This newly created role will see Barney working proactively and intrinsically with the sales teams and assuming overall responsibility for Lanchester Wines’ multiple retail strategy.

Barney said of his new role: “This is an exciting challenge, enabling me to bring my wine buying and experience of strategic implementation into the UK marketplace to an already strong business.

“Lanchester Wines already has a strong portfolio of products and my role will see me identifying opportunities for innovation within both the producer and Lanchester Wines branded portfolios. I’ll be responsible for defining strategies for each producer, developing cross-channel plans with Lanchester’s global sales teams.”

Simon Burrow and David Grey, Franks Potlock

Simon Burrow and David Grey have recently joined asbestos services company Franks Portlock as asbestos analyst operatives within its site-based team at Sellafield Ltd.

They will support a number of new on-site asbestos consultancy, inspection, testing and management projects, further enhancing Franks Portlocks’ sizeable Sellafield-based team.

In August 2014, Franks Portlock which is headquartered in Washington, Tyne and Wear, was commissioned to provide asbestos analytical services to Sellafield Ltd in a four-year contract worth £2 million. The company provides site-wide support to Sellafield, its partners and suppliers for maintenance, site remediation and decommissioning.

David Grey joined Franks Portlock to support and undertake Air Monitoring and 4 Stage Clearance works throughout the Sellafield site. David has worked in the asbestos industry since 2004 and prior to joining Franks Portlock worked both in the UK and Hong Kong as a laboratory technician undertaking soil testing, material and chemical analysis. More recently he worked as an asbestos surveyor for UKAS accredited testing laboratories and inspection bodies.

Commenting on his appointment, James New, regional manager at Franks Portlock, who oversees the work at Sellafield, said: “David brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in both the asbestos industry and the wider material analysis field, and he will add an extra dimension to the existing team and bring a fresh perspective from outside the nuclear sector. We are looking forward to his development as an integral part of the analytical framework and to the professional support he will bring to an already dedicated and dynamic Sellafield team.”

Simon Burrow will also be undertaking Air Monitoring and 4 Stage Clearance works throughout the Sellafield site, supporting the Site Wide Analytical Contract awarded to Franks Portlock in 2014. Simon has worked in the asbestos industry since 2011 and, prior to joining the company, was employed in a similar role at Magnox, a multisite nuclear operator with operations ranging from power generation to nuclear decommissioning and conventional demolition.

James said of Simon’s appointment: “The expansion to the Sellafield analytical team further strengthens our ability and commitment to meet the requirements of our customers, and the addition of Simon brings further experience in both the asbestos and nuclear fields.

“The next few years will bring an ever increasing demand to the decommissioning processes on site and as an asbestos consultancy professional with nuclear experience, Simon will play an instrumental part in Franks Portlock’s work at Sellafield.”

Margaret Toberty & Denise Brown, MSP

North East based Metrology Software Products (MSP), which develops production software solutions to the manufacturing sector, has announced the appointment of two company Directors.

Margaret Toberty, who joined MSP in 2010, as Business Development Manager and has sat on the board of senior management for the past year, will take on her new role as Director of Operations developing sales and operations serving MSP customers globally.

Denise Brown, who was a driving force in the formation of the company in 2002 and instrumental in the financial success of the business, will take up the post of Director of Finance.

Commenting on the new appointments Peter Hammond, MSP Technical Director said: “We are delighted to welcome Margaret and Denise’s Directorships.

“Without Denise’s detailed practices, prudent investment and careful financial housekeeping we would not be in the position we are today. Margaret joined MSP with enthusiasm and positivity, leading the team through a period of expansion and has proved instrumental to ensuring continued growth and longevity for the business.

“The pair bring a wealth of invaluable experience to the team and I am confident that their expertise will strengthen our position in the industry as we head in to an exciting chapter at MSP.”

Margaret Toberty acknowledged the appointment and paid tribute to the team at MSP: “I am thrilled to take up my new role as Director of Operations.

“We have a growing team of excellent people and the future of the business is exciting. Operating predominantly within the aerospace and Formula One sectors, we will continue to grow through emerging markets by delivering innovative solutions to the manufacturing industry.”

Andy Dawson, Castle

Hebburn-based Castle Building Services Organisation (Castle), which specialises in designing and installing mechanical, electrical and plumbing services, has promoted Andy Dawson to its board of directors as commercial director.

Dawson joins co-founders Allan Carr and Tony Lister and fellow board members David Harland and Simon Groom at the helm of the company.

This latest promotion is in recognition of his significant contribution to Castle’s success to date and is part of the company’s detailed strategy for further growth and future expansion, as it continues to secure a greater share of the market here in the region and in Scotland where it opened its second office in 2014, as well as other parts of the UK; including Yorkshire and the North West.

Dawson joined Castle as a mechanical estimator seven years go and since that time he has gone on to lead Castle Green Services, a subsidiary set up in response to the Government’s commitment to renewable energy within the domestic residential market via its Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO) initiatives.

This proved to be a step in the right direction as Castle became an accredited (ECO) installer and assessor and secured a number of contracts with Green Deal provider, Local Energy. The company went on to win the Regional and National Boiler and Renewable Installer of the year awards for 2015.

Speaking about his promotion and the organisation’s plans for the future he said: “I feel privileged to be joining Castle’s board of directors at this time.

“I believe my appointment is in recognition of my contribution to date and reflects the board’s confidence in my commitment and ability to play a key part in continuing to shape the business going forward.”

Dr Alan Lowdon, NOF

NOF Energy, the energy industry business development organisation, has appointed Dr Alan Lowdon, a specialist in renewable energy, to its board.

Alan, who has more than 25 years’ experience in the international energy and water sectors, brings his extensive knowledge and expertise to NOF Energy.

NOF Energy’s board, which is made up of 14 prominent industry professionals from the energy sector supply chain, works to inform and direct the organisation’s strategy.

He has previously worked in major corporations, including Rolls Royce, PB Power, British Gas, Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux, Shell, Mott MacDonald and Sinclair Knight Merz.

Previously Director of Technology and Innovation at NaREC, now the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, Alan currently operates a broad portfolio of interests of an executive, non-executive and advisory nature.

He is CEO at asset inspection start-up business Invisotech, as well as holding advisory roles at the Green Port Hull Initiative, the University of Strathclyde’s Technology & Innovation Centre and water purification technology business CatalySystems.

Alan currently advises the UK Government’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, on all renewable energy matters as well as the US Department of Energy on offshore wind issues. He holds non-executive director positions at Port of Blyth, and Innovation North East Ltd and is Chair of the Innovation Board of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership.

He is also a visiting professor of Durham University and is the chair of Durham Energy Institute’s Advisory Board.

Dr Alan Lowdon said: “I am proud to be joining the NOF Energy board. Having spent more than a quarter of a century in the sector, I’m excited to be joining a team of directors committed to providing the insight, advice and expertise needed to support the ambitions and business development of NOF Energy members.”

George Rafferty, Chief Executive of NOF Energy, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Alan to the NOF Energy board. The role of our board has never been so important as NOF Energy evolves to meet the changes and challenges facing the global energy industry, so it is fantastic that Alan is joining our highly experienced cohort of directors.”

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