Member Article

This week’s North East appointments

Andrew Jackson, The Owen Pugh Group

Andrew Jackson has joined The Owen Pugh Group and brings almost three decades of industry experience to the role. He is responsible for providing strategic input into the company’s corporate growth plan and advising the executive board on a range of issues, including business development opportunities and improvements to internal processes and structures.

Andrew, who combines his duties at Owen Pugh with his day job as a director at construction and consultancy organisation Mace, said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Owen Pugh, which has delivered some exciting projects and is playing a major role in the regeneration of the North East. I hope to use my experience to help the firm win more work, gain access to new markets and expand further in the coming years.”

Katie Sully, Siglion

Siglion, the joint venture company behind the £100 million-plus regeneration of Sunderland has appointed Katie Sully as development director as work gets underway on the transformation of the city. Siglion was set up by Sunderland City Council and Carillion to improve five key sites and boost employment and economic opportunities.

Katie has moved to the North East after spending 12 years with ISIS Waterside Regeneration, in London, Leeds and Manchester. Her previous projects included the development of new homes in Brentford and Tottenham.

John Seager, the chief executive of Siglion, who leads the igloo team in Sunderland, said: “We are delighted that Katie has joined us. Her track record and expertise boosts the strength of our growing team. We’re moving quickly to put consultations in place and progress with the first steps towards creating major new developments in Sunderland. Katie is a key appointment in helping us shape the city.”

Craig Parrish, Dodds Brown

Dodds Brown, the largest independent commercial property consultancy headquartered on Teesside, has expanded its property management team with the appointment of a new Facilities Manager.

A fully qualified electrician and heating and ventilation engineer, Craig Parrish joins Dodds Brown in the newly created role from The Building Maintenance Company. He will work closely with Richard Wilson, Dodds Brown’s Senior Associate Partner and Head of Property Management on all the maintenance aspects of the £70 million property portfolio which Dodds Brown has under management.

Vanessa Robinson and James Dunbar, MHW

Newcastle-based PR firm MHW has recruited senior account manager Vanessa Robinson and account manager James Dunbar, to manage the consultancy’s list of business-to-business, specialist and trade and technical accounts.

Vanessa said: “It’s an exciting time to join the business as it celebrates its 15th anniversary. MHW is a highly respected agency and one of a few to weather the storm of the deep recession and retain many long-standing clients during those challenging times.”

James said: “Having recently returned to my native North East, I’m delighted to join the team at MHW as account manager. We have a fantastic portfolio of clients which is ever expanding. As I’m primarily working with our trade and technical clients such as CMR, ISO-Chemie, EnAppSys, IHMA and Cedrec, it allows me to build on my previous experience and capitalise on my research skills.”

Alistair Smith, Gordon Brown Law Firm

Gordon Brown Law Firm has appointed employment solicitor Alistair Smith to assist with the firm’s growing client base and to support employers with sound employment legal advice.

39-year-old Alistair, who is from Esh Village in County Durham, joins in a role which will see him liaise closely with employers to alleviate the pressures of people management and workplace issues, with particular emphasis on employee engagement and retention.

“I’m excited to be working for a company which is setting the trend for other law firms in the region. Gordon Brown is an ambitious but highly personal firm and somewhere I know I’ll fit in.”

David Smith, EY

EY has appointed Director David Smith to lead its Government and Public Sector (GPS) Financial Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS) practice across the North East and the wider UK. He joins EY from PWC, where he headed the National Government and Public Sector Finance and Accounting Services practice.

With 18 years’ experience providing accounting advice in the UK and international public sector, David’s areas of specialism include financial and management reporting, government accounting, treasury management, finance training and financial performance efficiency.

David Smith added: “It’s a great time to join EY and I look forward to working closely with colleagues in the North East and right across the UK to further grow our public sector practice. EY are committed to working with and supporting public sector organisations, which are facing many challenges as austerity continues.”

John Clarke, Crosbys Catering Equipment

Crosbys Catering Equipment, based in Brough Park Way, Newcastle, has appointed John Clarke to the company as a project and design manager.

John, who lives in Hexham, has 26 years of experience within the commercial kitchen design and catering equipment industry, having worked in sales, leadership, design and project management for a number of well established catering companies.

He also worked on the other side of the catering sector, as a head chef in the Lion of Corbridge Hotel, where he was responsible for the running of the entire back of house, menu planning, staff, purchasing, cost and stock control.

At Crosbys, John will be responsible for delivering quality commercial kitchen designs and specifications, developing new and existing business, negotiating terms with suppliers and sub-contractors, and delivering project-managed kitchen equipment installations.

John said: “I was particularly attracted to this role at Crosbys because of the ambition, drive and vision of the directors. The firm has achieved so much in its 25-year history and I’m very much looking forward to developing the project design aspect of Crosbys’ business.”

Caroline Bell, AlphaGraphics

North East-based design, print and marketing agency AlphaGraphics has welcomed Caroline Bell to the board as Client Services Director. Caroline will lead the Account Management team across its three UK sales offices: Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Nottingham.

It is a welcome return to AlphaGraphics for Caroline who previously spent 7 years with the company in Senior Account Management following 5 years in a Management role in the United States. She brings to the business an additional 3 years Customer Service experience from her role as a Team Leader for a large international multi-channel marketing organisation.

Caroline said: “I loved working at AG and it was a tough decision to leave the company the first time, I’m very happy to be back as it is like being part of a family here and in a way it feels like coming home.