Partner Article

This week’s North East appointments

We bring you a roundup of appointments from across the region this week.

Colin Newbury, Stagecoach

Colin Newbury, 51, from Selby in North Yorkshire, has taken up the new position based at Stagecoach North East’s headquarters in Sunderland, following his switch from rival bus operator bus operator, Arriva Yorkshire.

In his previous role as operations director with Arriva, Colin supervised the operations for five depots across Yorkshire, where he was responsible for over 850 employees, a fleet of over 320 buses and managed a budget of over £50m.

As operations director, Colin will draw on his expertise, skills and knowledge to manage a team of over 1600 staff across the company’s six depots throughout the north east. In his new role, Colin will oversee the everyday operations of the company, leading a team of operations managers at the depots in Newcastle, South Shields, Sunderland, Stockton and Hartlepool.

Colin began his career in the UK bus industry with Arriva Yorkshire in 1987 as a PCV driver and has worked his way up the corporate ladder, progressing from operations supervisor to depot manager before taking up the roles of assistant area manager, commercial development manager and general manager at various depots in Yorkshire.

With ambitions for senior management, promotion to area manager was a natural step in 2010 and by 2011, Colin was head of operations.

Colin said: “Having come from an operational background and a diverse field of management, when the opportunity arose at Stagecoach North East I had no hesitation in taking it. Stagecoach North East is a larger company; with almost double the number of staff to oversee in my previous role, so it presents an exciting opportunity.

“I’m very much looking forward to the challenges ahead, to experiencing the new approach with a different company and demonstrating the value and experience that I can bring to the role.”

Dave Tansley, Synergi IT

Gateshead-based tech firm Synergi IT has recruited SharePoint consultant Dave Tansley as part of its national development programme.

He joins the team with fifteen years of IT experience including SharePoint and the wider Microsoft product range, specialising in intranets and internet facing websites.

Dave, who is 41 and from Gosforth, Newcastle, said: “I am looking forward to developing my career with a successful and growing company which shares the same outlook as I do on technology and its importance to businesses in the North East.

“The Microsoft cloud and Office365 offer fantastic advantages to companies; providing reliability, security and meeting a range of business needs.”

Sonia Hunter, Thorp Parker Newtons

North East commercial property solicitor Sonia Hunter has joined Thorp Parker Newtons,

Sonia will be working alongside partner Richard Parker and solicitor Martin Donnelly taking the the headcount of Newtons Solicitors commercial property team to eight.

She joins Thorp Parker Newtons after 18 years at BHP Solicitors, Darlington, latterly as commercial property team leader. She previously worked with Booth & Co, Leeds, and trained in London where she qualified in 1992.

Her specialist areas include supporting development work, including site assembly, pre-let arrangements and ancillary construction; the purchase and sale of investment property, advising on commercial landlord and tenant matters, the acquisition and sale of agricultural land, including option and promotion agreements; and renewables projects such as solar pv farms and wind farms.

Sonia, who lives in Great Ayton, is the third BHP partner to join Newtons Solicitors, following David Birks who works in litigation and David Lucas in the commercial team.

Graham Hickson, DevAcademy

With no formal IT qualifications but a passion and natural flair for programming, Graham Hickson was delighted to land a lead developer position for an up and coming North East software company.

It was after completing an intensive top up training course with DevAcademy last summer, a Newcastle based IT training and resource provider, that he was given an opportunity to impress with his programming skills and knowledge.

“I’ve always had an interest in software and technology from a young age. I tried to do a few training courses when I was in my teens, but there weren’t many software courses or the same opportunities for people starting out without A-levels or a degree” said Graham of Cramlington.

After seeing an advert on Facebook for the courses offered by DevAcademy, Graham got in contact for more details.

“I knew the course was for people wanting to kick start their careers in the tech sector and I was really interested. To be given the essential skills and knowledge I’d need for a role and then to have a guaranteed interview at the end, sounded like a fantastic opportunity.”

Danielle Gray, Reid & Sons

Silversmiths Reid & Sons, part of the Goldsmiths estate, has announced the appointment of a new deputy manager.

With over seven years of retail customer service experience, Danielle Gray, 28 from Gateshead, was head-hunted by the regional manager for Goldsmiths and offered her position at Reid & Sons, where she now works as part of a team of eight.

Danielle has joined the company from Kurt Geiger in Eldon Square, where she was assistant manager. Previous to this, she spent six years as assistant manager at Office both in the Metro Centre and Eldon Square.

Danielle said: “I was looking for a new challenge in my career and when I was offered the job, it was too good an opportunity to miss. I feel very proud to work for such a highly thought of company that plays such an important role in Newcastle’s retail history.”

David Horn, Net-Defence

David Horn has joined the Board of specialist data security business, Net-Defence, as Commercial Director.

Net-Defence headquartered in Stirling, have a large office on the Team Valley in Gateshead. David will be working from and managing this office.

The newly created role is part of a strategic plan for continued expansion of the business in the UK and abroad in 2016. It is the second senior strategic appointment following Paul Boam’s arrival as Technical Director last year.

Net-Defence provides technical security services for a select international client base, working closely with corporations and governments, protecting them from the threats of the digital age.

In his new role David will be taking strategic, commercial responsibility for Net-Defence and working closely with the directors to further develop the Net-Defence brand as a recognised, leading player within the technical security industry.

Net-Defence provides technical security services for a select international client base, working closely with corporations and governments, protecting them from the threats of the digital age.

The company also provides digital security for a number of celebrities, including Sir Paul McCartney and Julian Lennon. Net-Defence also successfully tracked down a cyber stalker for Billy Joel’s daughter in 2013, leading to apprehension by US law enforcement.

Alan Greig, Managing Director, Net-Defence Limited, said: “David brings extensive experience within the data security sector and will play a key role in the delivery of client services across our portfolio, helping organisations to secure their data.”

Jordan McHugh, Ruth Penrose, Kate Hall and Laura Taylor, CDI AndersElite

CDI AndersElite, the technical recruitment providers to the built environment, has strengthened its Newcastle office with the addition of four recruitment professionals.

The firm said that the appointments of Jordan McHugh, Ruth Penrose, Kate Hall and Laura Taylor reinforces its position in the North East market together with sector specialisms for White Collar Production, Mechanical & Electrical Trades, and Social Housing recruitment services.

Furthermore, due to the expansion of the team, the company has relocated to larger recently refurbished offices situated in the heart of the City Centre.

John Hobbs, Divisional manager, said: “This is a very exciting time for AndersElite Newcastle and the move into larger office space coupled with the addition of new consultants will enable us to further develop our recruitment capability in the North East.”

Tim Payne, Charles Clinkard

Tim Payne has been appointed to the newly created role of Trading Director at family-owned footwear retailer Charles Clinkard.

The new role will see Tim – who was shortlisted in the 2015 Institute of Directors’ (IoD) Young Director of the Year Award – oversee the buying, merchandising and online trading areas of the growing North East-based business, which has 33 stores across the UK and is about to move into a new £3m head office and warehouse in Middlesbrough.

It was Tim’s rise through the ranks at Charles Clinkard which led to him being shortlisted for the IoD award, which recognises young directors, aged 42 and under, who are seen to be making substantial contributions to the North East region.

Previously in charge of the merchandise team and the company’s warehouse at Thornaby, Tim’s responsibilities grew and he was given the role of Merchandise Controller, which meant managing the company’s team of buyers.

He was promoted once again, to Merchandise Director, a role which incorporated buying, merchandising and supply chain management.

Now 38, Tim left Brunel University with a degree in English Literature and embarked upon a career in retail after landing a graduate job with The Disney Store.

After several years in London he and his family moved North and in December 2008 he took the job of Merchandise Manager at Charles Clinkard.

Tim said: “It’s a rare thing to find a family firm that’s continued to grow for the last 90 years while maintaining high levels of quality and exceptional customer care and I’m proud to be playing a part in that growth.”

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