Member Article

This week's North East appointments

The latest appointments from across the North East.

Barry Cooper, Brian Tait, Colin Simpson and Stephen Elliott, AMF

The Advanced Manufacturing Forum (AMF) has added four industry leaders to its strategic board.

Established by the private sector to offer a single voice on behalf of the manufacturing community, the AMF is now the largest manufacturing forum in the North East.

Joining the AMF’s board are Barry Cooper, operations manager at subsea cable, umbilical and flexible pipe protection systems provider Tekmar Energy; Brian Tait, business unit manager at Marshalls a manufacturer of natural stone and concrete hard landscaping products and street furniture; Colin Simpson, business development director at pump distributor and manufacturer Tomlinson Hall; and Stephen Elliott, director at HVR International a manufacturer of high voltage, high energy, non-inductive, ceramic carbon linear resistors.

As AMF board members, the four will contribute to policies and strategies, plan member events, and be involved in decisions over the allocation of funding and budgetary spend.

Jack Hanwell, AMF manufacturing sector development manager, said: “I am thrilled to welcome our new board members. Each of who brings with them an exclusive perspective and a breadth of experience, which will prove invaluable to our members.

“After a successful 2016, I am confident that the appointment of our new board members, and our ever-growing membership, will see us continue to go from strength to strength throughout 2017.”

Rachel McDermott, Ben Johnson Interiors

Rachel McDermott has been appointed by workplace interiors specialist Ben Johnson Interiors as Business Development and Events Manager.

This is a new post and reflects Ben Johnson’s growing profile within business and commercial property circles all over the UK, and particularly in the North.

Ben Johnson Ltd, based in Newcastle and York - has recently worked on a string of big workspace interiors contracts for national clients including: Unilever; BT; Taylor Wimpey; The Rank Group; and commercial property giant DTZ, with many more in the pipeline.

Rachel (30), who’s the daughter of footballing legend Terry McDermott, held a similar role with the Entrepreneurs Forum in the North East for nearly 10 years, and is well known in business management circles for her enthusiasm and talent for arranging top class, engaging events.

Rachel said: “Not only is great interior design in the workplace good for senior management morale, it’s also really important for staff productivity as well as for visitors. And it’s so much more than mere appearance.

“It’s about a great welcome in your reception, giving staff and visitors a choice of space, the right lighting, acoustics, colours and comfort - even the right washrooms!

“I know Ben Johnson Interiors always get all these aspects spot on for their clients and are talented, creative designers who are quickly gaining a well-deserved reputation in the commercial property field. I’m so pleased to be working with them and although I’ve only been in the role a couple of weeks I’m loving it already!”

Chris Barrett, Physiotherapy Matters

Newcastle-based Physiotherapy Matters has strengthened its senior team with the appointment of Chris Barrett. Chris has joined the firm as business manager and senior physiotherapist, a role which will see him assist with operational management as well as utilise his skills as an experienced physiotherapist.

Chris’s role will include driving forward the three core areas of the business – occupational health, NHS and private clinics. Chris will support the business with its ambitious growth plans, as well as: explore opportunities within new markets; assist the business in attaining new accreditations; oversee the day-to-day running of on and off-site clinics; and ensure all services are managed within the framework of robust clinical governance, professional standards and the Healthcare Standards Act 2000.

Chris’s role as senior physiotherapist will see him treating patients at both Darras Hall and Gosforth.

Speaking of his role, Chris said: “I have a passion for ensuring that as a physiotherapist I fully understand the needs of my patients and can provide them with the highest level of care.

“It is vital that patients receive the right treatment, at the right time. It doesn’t matter whether we are talking about an employee with back pain who works for one of our large contracts, or an elite athlete. “Physiotherapy Matters is renowned for offering clients an exceptional service. Manual therapy and rehabilitation is at the heart of what we do at Physiotherapy Matters, I am therefore thrilled to be joining the company.”

Alison Gwynn, NFM

Alison Gwynn, formerly Programme and Development Director at Seven Stories, is joining Northern Film & Media (NFM) as the agency’s new Head of Marketing and Commercial Development.

In the newly created role, Alison will be heading up the outward-facing arm of NFM, responsible for fundraising and identifying new sources of revenue and developing the organisation’s programming activity. NFM is the North East’s creative industries development agency, nurturing talent and driving commercial film and television production in the region.

Alison, who comes from a diverse commercial and marketing background, has spent the past 13 years at Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books, where she was responsible for leading the programming and events team.

She was part of the executive team who managed the launch of Seven Stories in 2004. At NFM she will be working with Managing Director John Tulip to expand the organisation’s commercial operations and broaden its relationship with potential stakeholders, from local councils and regional businesses, to arts and other media organisations, as well as assisting him with NFM’s strategic development.

Alison said: “I am really looking forward to joining the team at Northern Film & Media, where I hope to build on their many achievements and contribute to the organisation’s future development.

“I chose to join NFM because of the unique role it plays as industry champion and regional specialist and their commitment and passion for supporting growth in the film, TV and digital industries in the North East”.

Bdaily’s North East appointment roundup will return Tuesday 30 May.

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