This week's Yorkshire appointments

Claire Gallagher, Freaks of Nature

Plant-based desserts brand Freaks of Nature has appointed Claire Gallagher as director of product innovation.

With 25 years of experience in the food industry. Claire has worked alongside Michelin starred chefs including Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir Quat Saisons.

Freaks of Nature founder, Peter Ahye, commented: “Claire is a highly innovative product developer; it really is quite a coup for us to have her on board. She had been working with us for a few months as a consultant helping to expand our product range but now she is a fully-fledged member of the team.

“The input she had in developing our latest dessert has been invaluable. It’s the first plant-based and gluten-free Belgium chocolate mousse in the UK. She’s as passionate as I am about creating great tasting plant-based desserts without compromising on quality.”

Claire added: “I am so excited about joining Freaks of Nature, I love that the company is so bold in its approach to making the best tasting plant-based desserts possible.

“We are committed to using the highest quality raw ingredients and because we are the only producer making desserts in a dedicated site that is free from gluten, dairy and egg the market potential is significant and safe!”

Brogan Huntington, Toby Skinner, Kate Jenkins, Waqar Ahmed and Ashley Amos, JudgeService

Data insight firm JudgeService has made several new appointments to its team. Brogan Huntington and Toby Skinner have been promoted internally to marketing manager and client services manager respectively.

Brogan will retain her responsibility for partnerships, having been with the business for two years. Toby has been with the business for more than five years, having originally started in the company’s research centre.

Kate Jenkins joins the business to oversee change projects, with more than 10 years’ experience in the automotive industry.

Waqar Ahmed joins the company as an app developer and Ashley Amos is a new account executive after eight years in retail and customer service roles.

JudgeService managing director Neil Addley said: “We’re really pleased to welcome both Waqar and Ashley to JudgeService.

“They bring a wealth of experience and expertise to our team which will help us to bring further benefits for our clients.

“It is also great to see existing colleagues grow with the business.”

Daniel Lambie and Polly Dowson, scarlettabbott

Employee engagement consultancy scarletabbott has appointed Daniel Lambie as senior consultant and Polly Dowson as consultant.

Daniel brings 20 years’ experience, most recently heading up IC consultancy at AB Comms, following a range of both agency and in-house roles.

Daniel commented: “The team’s reputation is one of exceptional quality, innovation and true determination to drive positive change for our clients.”

Discussing the consultancy’s new hires, managing director Jeremy Petty added: “We have a big year ahead and so do our clients.

“It’s vital we have the best team in place to ensure we continue to deliver to the standards our clients have become accustomed to.

“Polly and Daniel have joined at just the right time to help us accelerate our plans for the consultancy and I can’t wait to see what they can achieve.”

Mara Gosling, LCF Law

LCF Law has appointed Mara Gosling as an associate solicitor on its insolvency and corporate recovery team.

Mara previously spent eight years at Keebles, where she trained and qualified, before working at two other specialist Leeds based law firms.

In her new role, Mara will advise insolvency practitioners, businesses and financial institutions, as well as individuals and company directors, on all aspects of insolvency, business recovery and bankruptcy.

Mara commented: “This move gave me an opportunity to join a well-established Yorkshire based firm that works for all types of clients across every area of insolvency and business recovery.

“LCF Law’s insolvency partner, Jo Barnes is also well-recognised within the industry, which added to the role’s appeal.

“In addition, the company has a strong reputation throughout the industry and is on an expansion drive, which all combined to make this an exciting career move for me.”

Simon Stell, managing partner at LCF Law, added: “Mara has a strong track record and plenty of experience, so we’re delighted to welcome her into our busy disputes team in Leeds.

“The department has grown significantly over the last two years, after seeing a sustained uplift in demand for our services, and there’s no doubt that Mara’s appointment will further enhance the level of service and expertise that we offer our clients.”

Nick Stevens, Billy Bingham, Joe Horrobin, Charlie Scott, Louise Taylor and Matthew Simkin, Dynamic Networks Group

Dynamic Networks Group has made seven new appointments to its Headingley team.

Nick Stevens joins the group as innovations director, while Billy Bingham takes on the role of commercial manager.

Stuart Hall joins as business development executive, Joe Horrobin comes onboard as site supervisor, Charlie Scott has joined as apprentice engineer, Louise Taylor has been appointed group-wide legal and compliance manager and Matthew Simkin joins as third line support engineer.

Nick brings many years’ experience in the residential sector from his previous role at European door entry, access control, home automation and fire systems manufacturer Comelit.

Nick commented: “When Dynamic Networks Group offered me this new and exciting opportunity, embracing innovation in the residential sector, it was an offer that ticked all of my boxes. I simply couldn’t refuse.”

Of his new commercial manager role, Billy Bingham commented: “I have strong traditional values, and I’m an advocate of always trying to find better ways of doing things, so to find a company that shares those values and is even more passionate about them than me really excites me.

“I’m looking forward to supporting the founder and group CEO and the contracts director to make Dynamic one of the region’s leading mechanical and electrical contractors.”

Dynamic’s group CEO, James Baird, added: “We have spent the last five years putting strong foundations in place on which we can build a vibrant and relevant business. A key part of that has been – and remains - attracting the right people to the group who share our values and can-do attitude.

“I’m very excited to welcome this latest wave of new recruits; all of whom bring a wealth of experience to the business and are well regarded in their respective fields. The group is continually evolving as we embrace and help our customers benefit from the latest technologies, and I have no doubt that every one of our new team members will add huge value, both to the company and to our customers.”

Adam Varley, Scarborough International Properties Limited (SIPL)

Real estate firem Scarborough International Properties Limited (SIPL) has appointed Adam Varley as project and investment executive.

Adam is a chartered surveyor with over 18 years’ experience in the property industry predominantly in the north of England.

Prior to joining SIPL, Adam was director and head of office advisory at Lambert Smith Hampton’s Leeds office responsible for office acquisitions and disposals across Yorkshire

Adam originally qualified as a chartered surveyor in 2008, having gained a diploma in surveying at The College of Estate Management.

Simon McCabe, chief executive of SIPL, commented: “With an intimate knowledge of the Yorkshire market, Adam will be invaluable in generating both occupier and investor interest in our major schemes in the county.”

Jeff Chambers, MechFS

Mechanical and electrical engineering firm, MechFS, has appointed Jeff Chambers as head of digital design.

Jeff brings over 30 years of experience in technology and digital transformation in both the public and private sectors, where he has led on projects such as The Millennium Dome, British Aerospace, The Millennium Centre, Cardiff and Bristol University.

Paul Firth, managing director at MechFS, said: “We welcome Jeff into the MechFS family fold as head of digital design.

“Jeff’s appointment is a magnificent coup for the business, bringing with him a wealth of experience and knowledge.

“Jeff’s passion for building information modelling will push the boundaries within our current digital offering bringing not only exciting times ahead for MechFS, but also for our clients existing and new, as new technologies are introduced.”

Jeff added: “Joining MechFS as its first head of digital design is an exciting prospect and I am delighted to be part of such a forward thinking and innovative company, with an ambitious team at a time when digital transformation and innovation is a priority”.

Steve Makin and Kathryn Heywood, Thornton & Ross

Pharmaceutical company Thornton & Ross has appointed Steve Makin as vice president of OTC research and development and Kathryn Heywood as vice president of human resources.

A qualified pharmacist, Steve brings with him a range of experience in consumer health research and development.

Steve started off his industrial career in Unilever before moving to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) where he was responsible for R&D on GSK’s consumer brands. Most recently he was based in Switzerland, where he led R&D efforts on GSK’s Pain Relief portfolio.

Steve holds a PhD in pharmaceutics from the University of Manchester and is an honorary professor at King’s College London, and Keele University School of Pharmacy. He has been elected a fellow of both the Royal Society for Chemistry (2014) and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (2018).

Kathryn Heywood has over 20 years’ HR, leadership and development experience working across a variety of industry sectors including media, engineering, telecommunications and food and drink.

Kathryn worked in a senior role for the TalkTalk Group before moving to Smith & Nephew where she was senior HR director for global business services.

In addition to Steve and Kathryn, the company has recently made senior appointments in other areas such as procurement and marketing.

Roger Scarlett-Smith, executive vice president of Thornton & Ross, said the opportunities had been created as a result of the company’s continuing growth. “Steve, Kathryn and our other recruits have joined us at a time of rapid expansion and will be real assets in driving the business forward through this period of transformation and growth.

“Steve has a proven track record of delivering differentiated pipelines to support brand growth in FMCG, Consumer Health and OTC industries as well as the leadership experience during major organisational changes.

“Coupled with Kathryn’s experience in delivering large scale growth trajectory, we are in the best position possible to develop a clear roadmap for HR transformation across the organisation and develop employee engagement.”

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →