This week's North East appointments

Dr David Dunn, The Digital Economy Council

Digital Economy Council has appointed Dr David Dunn to its committee.

CEO of Sunderland Software City (SSC) and chair of the UK Tech Cluster Group (UKTCG), Dr Dunn joins the likes of Microsoft President Cindy Rose OBE, Darktrace CEO Poppy Gustafsson OBE, Google UK MD Ronan Harris and Amazon UK lead John Boumphrey on the council.

Dr Dunn has led Sunderland Software City for over a decade, supporting over 1000 North East technology companies.

As chair of the UK Tech Cluster Group, Dr Dunn also helps to bring UK regional technology ecosystems together to enable nationwide industry collaboration and provide a forum that represents thousands of tech companies.

On his appointment, Dr Dunn said: “I am privileged to be appointed to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Digital Economy Council and yesterday I attended my first meeting chaired by Oliver Dowden CBE MP.

“It’s good to see what the government has in store and learn from some of the other Digital Economy Council members such as Ron Kalifa, OBE discussing his review of FinTech, Juergen Maier CBE continuing to highlight the importance of Made Smarter and Tabitha Goldstaub share the work of the AI Council.

“My personal priority and mission within the group - ensure everything the government does linked to digital plays a positive role across the whole of the UK. I want to ensure levelling up is actioned.”

Francesca Fothergill, Parklane Plowden Chambers (PLP)

Parklane Plowden Chambers (PLP) has appointed matrimonial finance barrister Francesca Fothergill to its team.

Francesca, who was called to the Bar in 1994, joins the Newcastle and Leeds-based chambers from St Philips Chambers, where she was joint head of the family finance team.

Francesca practices across all aspects of matrimonial finance provision, with an emphasis on high-value cases. These often involve contested business valuations, complex trust and tax structures, and issues of inherited wealth.

Francesca also has experience in cases involving landed estates and farms, and the connected issues of succession, family settlements and partnerships.

PLP’s senior practice director to the family team, Mark Williams, commented: “This is excellent news for our family property and finance team and for chambers as a whole. Francesca is an outstanding barrister who is nationally recognised for her high value matrimonial finance provision work.

“She will play a key role in further enhancing PLP’s reputation for excellence in family law across the North Eastern Circuit and beyond.”

Francesca added: “I am delighted to join the team at PLP and to join a set which has a clear vision for how it will expand and will grow its practice areas nationwide.

“I shall continue to advise my existing clients and I am looking forward to building new professional relationships, with the help of the excellent clerking and introductory network that PLP provides.”

Alys Dunn, NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI)

Tourism and inward investment agency NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) has appointed Alys Dunn as head of strategic partnerships.

In this newly created role, Alys will lead on a programme of strategic partnerships that will support NGI’s wider organisational ambitions. She will work to identify, develop and retain a portfolio of key partners and ambassadors that will help drive economic development.

Alys has over 17 years of experience in partnership and business development roles in London, the Middle East and the North East, including posts at digital marketing agency Mediaworks and Newcastle University.

Alys commented: “As a proud ‘adopted Geordie’, having lived and worked in London and Dubai for over 12 years prior to making the move to the North East, I am excited that this role gives me the unique opportunity to contribute to the region’s economic development – something that is needed now more than ever.

“Newcastle, Gateshead and the wider region have so much to offer. With vibrant city-life, amazing countryside in all directions and people that are so warm and passionate about the North East, there’s a lot to love about the place.

“Partnerships are a two-way street and I look forward to getting to know our partners, so together we can maximise the profile and development of our fantastic region.”

Sarah Green, chief executive of NGI, added: “We are delighted to have Alyss on board to join our mission to inspire people to visit the region, to host business events here, to live and learn here and to invest or bring their business here, supporting growth and employment.

“Alys joins our senior management team with a strong track record and vast experience in managing programmes of strategic partnerships. Collaboration will be critical to restarting our city and rebuilding our economy post Covid and we will be working closely with our 170 public and private sector partners to enable our region to build back stronger.”

Andrew Carr, Essity

Global tissue manufacturer Essity has appointed Andrew Carr as converting operations manager.

Andrew brings a range of manufacturing experience to the mill through previous leadership roles at Rio Tinto Alcan and currency printers De La Rue.

Andrew has a first class honours degree in leadership and management from Northumbria University and is currently studying for an MBA.

As a Lean Six Sigma black belt, he has experience of driving change and progress through continuous improvement projects.

Andrew commented: “Ever since I began my career as a production operator with Alcan, I have always been excited by manufacturing. This has given me the opportunity to work alongside and learn from some really talented people.

“I believe Essity is a very forward looking and people-focused organisation. Its products are critical to peoples’ lives and the company places huge emphasis on developing its workforce.

“The sign of a successful team is to see people progress in their careers. I hope to use my leadership skills and continuous improvement training to bring fresh ideas that create business results through clear direction, strategy and talent growth.”

Tony Richards, Essity operations director for UK manufacturing and site manager at Prudhoe Mill, added: “This is a great time for Andrew to join the business.

“He understands our values and his knowledge of manufacturing processes and people development will provide focus and leadership moving forward.”

Adam Gilroy, Esther Adesina, Jordan Evans and Liam Richardson, RMT Healthcare

RMT Healthcare has made four new appointments to its Gosforth-based team.

Adam Gilroy, Esther Adesina, Jordan Evans and Liam Richardson have joined the firm and, working with a range of medical and healthcare businesses to help them manage their income streams and financial processes.

Adam was previously an emergency care physician and has spent the last 12 years working in hospital A&E departments and walk-in centres across the North East while also running his own video production company as a side venture.

Adam commented: “When I decided it was time for a career change, I wanted to find something where I could use both my medical knowledge and the financial experience I’d picked up running my own businesses, and the specialist healthcare services that RMT provide fit the bill extremely well.

“Both my medical background and my experience of running my own business give me the insight needed to help healthcare providers structure themselves in the best possible ways, and to see clearly how their financial performance reflects and impacts on the services they provide.”

Esther originally qualified as both a solicitor and barrister in her native Nigeria before moving to England to study for a Masters degree in international tax law. On graduation, she switched tracks to begin a career in the accountancy sector, working with two firms in south west England before moving to the North East.

Liam began his accountancy career in Sunderland by completing a modern apprenticeship and has since amassed two decades’ experience in the industry, including experience in the dental sector, while Jordan trained with one of the Big Four accountancy firms and has five years of industry experience.

Maxine Pott, director at RMT Healthcare, added: “The continuing safe provision of clinical services has obviously been a real challenge for many healthcare providers over the last year and our team has been working extremely hard to ensure they can stay fully focused on doing so while we keep their finances in proper order.

“Demand for our healthcare team’s services has grown substantially and we’re expecting this trend to continue through the coming year and beyond.

“Our new recruits each bring an impressive range of skills and experience with them and we’re very pleased to have them all onboard.”

Tom Robinson and David Haley, Generator

Creative digital sector support agency Generator has appointed Tom Robinson as official patron and David Haley as chairman of the board.

A BBC 6 Music presenter, punk-era pop star and LGBT rights activist, Tom will work with Generator to raise its profile on a regional and national level as well as create new opportunities in talent development for emerging artists.

Tom commented: “I’ve long been an admirer of Generator’s exceptional support for new and emerging artists across the North East.

“Their talent development programmes and the opportunities created for musicians are outstanding.

“It’s an absolute honour to take up the position of patron for Generator - their tireless work over the years and their relationship with the local music community is unique in my experience.”

David is the current senior vice president of global IT giant Atos, and has worked at a senior and executive level for a number of years.

David added: “The need to support the music sector in the North East has never been greater. If you needed to know how important the creative and music sector is to us here in the North East, then just look at the impact that 2020 had on all our lives.

“Along with our partners, Generator is superbly positioned to drive the growth and support of music in the region.

“To have the honour of being the chair of this great organisation along with its superb board and hugely talented team is a dream come true.”

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