This week's national appointments

This week’s round up of national appointments includes Apogee Corporation, OT Group, Wearwell, Higgidy, and Albert Goodman. Read on to find out more.

Marion Brooks, Apogee Corporation

Apogee Corporation today announced the appointment of it chief people officer, Marion Brooks onto the Executive Leadership Team.

Marion will take a strategic HR lead on the Executive Leadership Team, leading the People & Culture function to drive the organisational culture by cultivating and championing it to create an environment that fosters integrity, diversity, inclusivity, agility, wellness, and open communication.

Aurelio Maruggi, CEO at Apogee, said: “Marion has made a significant impact since joining Apogee. In her role leading the People & Culture team, she has been instrumental in connecting Apogee to its employees, helping us develop and care for our employees and helping those employees with their personal and career development.”

He added, “Marion has fantastic ideas, and her team oversees many functions, including employee experience, wellbeing and equity, diversity and inclusion.

Our people are critical to our success, and I am looking forward to working closely with Marion to continue to reimagine our culture and operations to suit the needs to today’s rapidly changing marketplace.“

Marion, who brings more than two decades of UK and international HR experience to the role, has previously held senior HR roles within the retail, engineering, and technology sectors.

Marion said, “I am delighted to be joining the board at Apogee Corporation. As a business we have an exciting journey ahead of us and the people agenda will be a critical part of our success.

Dave Emsley, OT Group

Leading provider of business services and workplace solutions, OT Group, has appointed Dave Emsley as account director for the CCS Tail Spend Solution framework.

Experienced industry professional Dave joins following 20 years with Lyreco UK and Ireland, where he worked in several senior leadership roles – including national and strategic divisions – before rising to the position of director of business development.

Dave commented: “I’ve watched OT Group grow into one of the UK’s leading workplace solutions brands. The appointment to Crown Commercial Service’s Tail Spend Solution framework is testament to the continued trajectory the brand is on and heralds a significant opportunity for all involved.

“OT group has over 30 years’ experience in servicing the public sector and boasts a new flagship headquarters in Ashton-under-Lyne, Manchester – which holds over 22,000 products – and means we aren’t held back by some of the supply chain issues others are facing at present.

“That, coupled with the opportunity to shape the vision for OT Group’s next chapter, means this is absolutely the right next step for me. I’ve set myself bold targets, never mind the goals that have been outlined as part of my role!”

Former Royal Marines Commando Dave has quickly become a staple member of OT Group – a UK-based company employing over 6,000 people – and is supported by a well-established team of public sector specialists.

Group sales director, Stuart Derbyshire added, “Dave has a wealth of experience in managing the large, complex accounts we’ll be working on as part of the Tail Spend Solution framework.

“His understanding of the nuances within the commercial and public sector is outstanding, and he knows exactly what you can achieve in organisations if you’re agile, inquisitive, and collaborative.”

“I don’t have any preconceived ideas about contracts,” added Dave. “I have an impartial, objective view on every account and will bring a fresh pair of eyes to each and every project while simplifying the tail spend challenge for customers in the public sector.

“I’m here to take a holistic view of CCS’ contracts – moving it forwards not only operationally but by delivering environmental and social value too.”

Steve Ciuffini, Wearwell

One of Britain’s oldest workwear manufacturers, Wearwell has added to its senior management team with the appointment of industry veteran, Steve Ciuffini as the company’s new commercial director.

The appointment comes amid Wearwell’s ongoing campaign to champion British manufacturing and a move to capitalise on the opportunities presented by its central England location in the face of persistent global supply chain issues.

A sales and marketing professional with more than three decades experience in the apparel sector, the former Tamworth local has relocated back to Staffordshire from Australia, where he has spent the previous five years working for several corporate clothing and uniform specialists.

Ciuffini said: “Wearwell is a tremendous British company with a fantastic stable of products and brands, including the exclusive licensing rights to Herock®. Combine this with the UK manufacturing facility and what’s not to be excited about?

“The problems surrounding product availability as a result of both Brexit and the pandemic places Wearwell in a unique position to truly leverage its UK manufacturing capabilities.

“I’m keen to look at how the flexibility of self-manufacturing and the ability to reduce lead times for deliveries can better serve our clients and firmly cement Wearwell’s position at the forefront of the British workwear industry.”

Wearwell CEO Richard Wright said: “Steve brings with him a huge wealth of knowledge and experience, and is fantastic addition to the management team.

“Steve’s appointment as Wearwell’s Commercial Director ushers in a new era for Wearwell, as we pro-actively look to challenge our competitors in the wake of the COVID pandemic and Brexit.”

Megan Welch, Higgidy

Veggie-led fresh food brand Higgidy has appointed Megan Welch to the recently created role of sustainability manager.

Welch, formerly the Environmental Engagement and Behaviour Change Manager at Kent County Council, will be in charge of devising and leading the brand’s sustainability strategy.

Welch has a background in sustainability having started her career as a sustainability specialist at Canon where her main responsibilities centred around its Environmental Management System and assuring the business maintained its ISO14001 accreditation.

Other roles include Sustainability Executive at Virgin Atlantic where she supported the Sustainability team on various projects and initiatives for its sustainability programme, Change is in the Air including the implementation of an onboard recycling programme and the launch of the first commercial flight using sustainable aviation fuel made from recycled gases.

More recently, Welch has worked as part of the corporate communications team focusing on stakeholder engagement at Virgin Atlantic, and at Kent County Council.

Rachel Kelley, CEO at Higgidy says: “We are living in a climate emergency. Now more than ever before it is the responsibility of the business sector to help make a positive difference to our planet.

“Going through the B corp accreditation process last year helped us to understand what we are doing well and where we can do more. Appointing Megan as our new sustainability manager, will allow us to set ambitious targets to help us move from a good place, to a great place when it comes to reducing our environmental impact.”

Megan Welch, commented: “Higgidy is a brand that I have always admired and having the opportunity to shape the brand’s sustainbility strategy is a dream come true.

“My main focus is working cross functionally at Higgidy to understand the key sustainability themes that are important to us, encouraging them to come up with their own ideas, as well as providing direction and focus in the form of our new strategy. This will be detailed in our first impact report that will be published in the new year.”

Iain McVicar, Albert Goodman

Accountancy firm Albert Goodman has announced its managing partner, Richard Bugler, will be stepping down after serving six successful years at the helm.

A new successor and current partner at the firm, Iain McVicar, will take on the role for the same term starting on May 1.

Richard trained at Albert Goodman before working his way up to partner status and eventually taking on the six-year term as managing partner in 2016.

Under his leadership he has exponentially grown the firm year on year, promoted the board of partners to include a 50 per cent female partnership and invested heavily in new premises in Weymouth, Weston-super-Mare and the firm’s headquarters in Taunton.

Richard will continue to stay on at Albert Goodman as a partner with a particular focus on the firm’s corporate finance offering.

As part of the succession planning, the partnership board has elected Iain McVicar, a partner in the farming estates team, to replace Richard. Iain will honour the firm’s five-year commitment to grow the business and continue to meet Albert Goodman’s sustainability goal of becoming net zero by 2030.

This will complement their work with large corporates across the region, especially next generation business leaders, who are looking to drive their own businesses forward in a sustainable way.

Iain McVicar, partner in the farm estates team at Albert Goodman, added: “I know I’ve got big shoes to fill as Richard is well respected in the region for so many reasons and he’s done a sterling job of putting Albert Goodman on the map.

“The business is in great shape to take over the reins and it feels like the right time for me personally to move into the managing partner position and utilise all my experience.

“Helping South West businesses is my number one priority, and I am grateful that I have an amazing team behind me to support all of their accountancy needs. From apprenticeship level to partners within the firm, I’m fortunate to work with a team that have so much experience and a real passion to continue Richard’s legacy.”

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