This week's North East appointments

The latest roundup of appointments from across the region.

Andrew Milnes, Identity Consult

Identity Consult, heading up Sunderland’s Beacon of Light scheme and the Smith’s Dock project in North Shields, has appointed a new director.   The firm, which provides project management, quantity surveying and BIM consultancy from its offices in Sunderland and Preston, has promoted Andrew Milnes to director. He will also take up a role on its board.   He is currently leading the £16m Beacon of Light project in Sunderland on behalf of the Foundation of Light and the £55m Dove Lane project for Places for People in Bristol.

He is also a market leader in offsite construction, an initiative currently championed by George Clarke, to improve the design and quality of new homes by building them in a controlled factory environment and then transporting them to a ready-made plot.   Andrew said: “I am delighted to be joining the board. We have grown organically over the past five years and I have really enjoyed being part of the company’s growth.

“There is a fantastic energy running through the business, and our collective desire to provide an excellent service is underpinned by our level of repeat business and the high-profile commissions we are appointed to deliver nationwide.

“I am excited at the prospect of helping to steer the future of the business and to build on the solid foundation that has been put in place to date.”

Rich Kelly, Costello Palmer Communications

Costello Palmer Communications has appointed Rich Kelly as a new digital services manager.

Rich joins this North East-based marketing firm, after spending 12 years with RIBA Enterprises. Costello Palmer specialises in working with big names in the construction industry, both in the UK and globally and has many RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) member clients.

Rich has worked on digital marketing campaigns for software programmes, publishing, retail and building product manufacturing, as well as website build and development for various ecommerce platforms.

In this new position, Rich will work with both UK and international clients, supporting and advising on digital content marketing strategies and brand development to enhance their productivity, whilst also supporting Costello Palmer’s own growing plans for international market expansion.

Costello Palmer’s managing director, Marie Grieve, said: “Bringing Rich into the team further strengthens our expertise in digital creativity, as a content led agency, we work with clients to increase their digital exposure by uniting creativity, culture and people, to builder better brand communications.

“Rich’s role will be to lead digital development and innovation, embedding digital design solutions that address technical challenges unique to each project, through close client and stakeholder collaboration.”

Ria Statham; Jonathan Wall; Keir McGovern; Sophie Lynas; Lauren Coleman; Rachel Welsh, Jacksons Law Firm

Jacksons Law Firm has appointed six new members of staff to its team.

The North East-based law firm, which was established over 140 years ago, launched its New Build department in January 2018, with the appointment of associate, Jonathan Wall to head up the department in Teesside.

Paralegal, Ria Statham has joined Jonathan to assist him in strengthening relationships with property development companies in the North East. Jonathan from Lanchester, in County Durham studied law at Liverpool John Moores University, and brings with him six years of residential conveyancing experience.

Ria has worked in the legal sector for four years’ having spent that time in the residential conveyancing departments of two law firms, one in Teesside and the other based in Stoke on Trent, where she is originally from.

Residential conveyancer, Jameel Bashir studied law at Teesside University and brings with him nine years of experience in this field. Jameel assists Jacksons’ Residential Conveyancing team in Teesside with its increasing workload.

At the end of 2017, Jacksons expanded its Residential Conveyancing department in Newcastle by recruiting Solicitor, Lauren Coleman, and paralegals Keir McGovern and Rachel Welsh.

Lauren, from Newcastle qualified as a solicitor in November last year after studying at Newcastle University.

Keir studied law at Durham University and lives in Tynemouth and Rachel graduated from the University of Sunderland. Lauren, Keir and Rachel support head of department, Ruth Beeton on a wide range of residential conveyancing matters.

Geoff Skeoch, senior partner, said: “We’re excited to see our residential conveyancing teams growing in both offices, particularly in Newcastle with it being a fairly young department in comparison to our Teesside team.

“The property market has seen a few changes over the years and can be unpredictable at times. Jacksons has seen an upward trend in its residential conveyancing and commercial property instructions in recent years and we hope it continues.”

Stuart Miller, Newcastle Building Society

Newcastle Building Society has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Stuart Miller, who has joined the Society’s board as its new customer director.

Stuart has more than three decades of customer service experience with some of the biggest names in the financial services sector, including Virgin Money, RBS International, and NatWest.

He is now responsible for ensuring Newcastle Building Society members receive an outstanding experience, whether across its branch network, via telephone or online.

Stuart leads a 370-strong team of colleagues providing a range of services including savings, mortgages and financial advice.

Born in the North East, Stuart believes in making financial planning available to all through the provision of face to face financial advice on the high street.

Stuart Miller said: “Newcastle Building Society has an amazing team of people with the talent and determination to achieve the ambition we have set ourselves.”

Andrew Haigh, chief executive at Newcastle Building Society, added: “We are continuing to invest in our Society’s infrastructure and services to ensure we’re providing everything that our customers expect of a modern financial institution.”

Karol Marketing, Plimsoll Publishing

Plimsoll Publishing, a leading global publisher of market and financial intelligence reports, has appointed North East-based public relations experts Karol Marketing to raise awareness of its unique model of financial analysis and associated products and services.

Aimed at business leaders in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world, Plimsoll’s multilingual team generates a vast array of industry analysis reports marketed to business directors worldwide.

The reports are used to assess the attractiveness of potential acquisitions, provide a better understanding of markets and identify sound companies with whom to trade.

The appointment will see Karol Marketing roll-out an integrated communications campaign, including showcasing the expertise of the Plimsoll team and raising awareness of its products across trade and national media.

This includes Plimsoll’s market-leading TALAT product, a digital tool that automatically updates as companies file their accounts, enabling business leaders to interrogate company data, gain essential industry insights and spot acquisition opportunities around the clock.

The agency’s appointment by Plimsoll is the latest in a run of new business successes, including its recent appointments by Hatton Traffic Management and Elanders UK.

Karol’s managing director, Stefan Lepkowski, said: “Plimsoll is an acknowledged leader in the field of business intelligence.

“It is a blue chip client to add to our portfolio with a strong story to tell and an ongoing pipeline of highly relevant, business friendly data and analysis.”

Steve Underwood; Ed Ammon, Dentsu Aegis Network

Dentsu Aegis Network has bolstered its management team in Newcastle as the business continues to invest in the North East following a period of significant growth.

Steve Underwood has been promoted to the role of managing partner of Dentsu Aegis Network Newcastle, while Ed Ammon takes on the newly created role of group business director.

Steve was previously director of iProspect Newcastle, the network’s digital performance agency, and was pivotal in the defining and implementing the direction, positioning and strategic growth of the business.

The promotions come as Dentsu Aegis Network Newcastle plans to expand its office to support the strategic ambitions of the business and its sustained growth.

The media and digital communications agency currently employs almost 30 people across its Carat and iProspect businesses and is taking up additional office space in its current base in Central Square, Newcastle.

Dentsu Aegis Network Newcastle has created more than 10 jobs in recent months after extending its relationship with key clients and adding a host of new accounts including the Chartered Institute of Marketing and Japanese beverages brand, Kirin.

Elliot Muscant, Dentsu Aegis Network North’s chief executive, said: “I am very pleased to announce promotions for Steve and Ed who have contributed so much to the strategic development of the business in Newcastle.

“Since launching in the North East in 2015, we have experienced substantial growth and expansion. This investment in our Newcastle business will ensure we have the foundations to drive continued growth through our people, products and services.”

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