This week’s North East appointments

This week’s round up of North East appointments includes North East Automotive Alliance, Samuel Knight International and George F White. Read on to find out more.

Mike Matthews MBE, North East Automotive Alliance

Co-founder and past vice president of the North East Automotive Alliance, (NEAA) Mike Matthews MBE, has been appointed as the chair of the new NEAA Digitalisation Working Group.

Formerly the managing director at Nifco UK, Mike (pictured right) has written a paper for Sunderland University on Advanced Manufacturing and subsequently engaged with Hitachi Vantara, one of the world’s leading digital solutions providers.

Over the past three years he has supported and led a series of major digitization and productivity improvement programmes to assist in the digitisation of manufacturing in the North East.

Mike commented: “I was delighted to be asked to Chair the NEAA Digitisation Working Group - something which I am very passionate about. They say you are never too old to learn and three years ago I became involved and led a series of programmes focussed on a foundation to achieve Industry 4.0 capable status.

“Having travelled locally, nationally and globally, I recognised the massive difference in results in digitally capable businesses compared with those who were not. It was obvious that companies embracing digital had moved on to next level standards of excellence in productivity.”

Jorel Bautista, Samuel Knight International

Global manpower provider, Samuel Knight International, has announced the appointment of Jorel Bautista as director. Jorel joins from Frank Recruitment Group and will head the newly created Samuel Knight Climate-Tech division, which is dedicated to recruitment throughout the USA, Canada and Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) region.

Samuel Knight Climate-Tech will support the energy, environment, and infrastructure sectors and share the collective vision to build a greener and more environmentally friendly world by working with its global community to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Steven Rawlingson, CEO and founder (pictured left), said: “This is a very exciting time for us as an organisation. We have worked hard for eight years to perfect our vision and strategy.

“Samuel Knight Climate-Tech will enhance our global community. There are very few recruiters who specialise in climate-tech. We saw a gap in the market to provide the best solution to our community and Jorel is primed with the experience and enthusiasm to take this forward.”

Jorel (pictured right) said: “I have known Steven and the team at Samuel Knight International for a number of years now. They had approached me previously to join the organisation but now felt like the right time.

“The company is going from strength-to-strength and I wanted to build a business unit and create a legacy. Climate change is happening and we all need to act quickly.”

(L - R): Caroline Horn and Sally Hart, George F White

Sally Hart has moved into the role of managing director at independent property consultancy George F White, leading the company through a major merger deal as one of her first projects. Her promotion makes her the first female MD in the company’s 43-year history, breaking the mould in the sector.

A second senior promotion sees Partner Caroline Horn appointed to Equity Partner. Caroline becomes the firm’s second female equity partner alongside Sally, helping to lead strategic direction for the business.

Sally commented: “We’re a business that backs our people and gives them opportunities. Since joining George F White my career has taken me in different directions and now into a new role that I am extremely proud to be doing. This is a value I’ll bring forward with me as we have a great bunch of people who we want to grow with us.

Caroline joined George F White in 2015 as a graduate rural surveyor and has been fundamental in driving forward growth, developing its land and property portfolio across Yorkshire and County Durham in recent years.

She specialises in acting for landowners and occupiers dealing with compulsory purchase orders, as well as dealing with landlord and tenant matters.

Caroline said: “Since joining George F White my hard work and ambition has always been recognised and this promotion follows swiftly on from my appointment to Partner last year. I am incredibly proud of the successes we have achieved for clients, and I look forward to having a voice in strategic decisions of George F White in further growing the rural offering.”

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