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This week’s North East appointments part 2

Our second installment of North East appointments news this week.

Dr Chris Cathey and Malcolm Holloway, Rivers Capital Partners

Former Goldman Sachs trader Dr Chris Cathey has returned to his Newcastle roots, joining regional venture capital fund managers, Rivers Capital Partners.

Chris joined Goldman Sachs as an equity trader in 1993 after graduating with a First class degree in Natural Sciences and PhD in Chemistry from Cambridge University. After working in London, New York and Frankfurt he then joined the Merrill Lynch Strategic Investments Group in 2006 as a proprietary trader.

Chris said: “The North East is a hotspot for entrepreneurship and enterprise. I’m looking forward to working alongside the team to support the growth and innovation of more regional businesses.”

Chris joins the board of Directors at Rivers alongside second new recruit Malcolm Holloway. A Chartered Accountant with over 30 years’ experience, Malcolm has held several key roles over the course of his career including Director of technology services in Bentley Jennison, Regional Director at Tenon Group PLC and prior to its acquisition, Equity Partner in Jennings Johnson.

Malcolm said, “Rivers have both investment expertise and entrepreneurial backgrounds, as business founders they know what it’s like to run a business.

“I’m looking forward to working with Rivers to help more regional businesses achieve their aspirations.”

Chris and Malcolm join the company as Directors working alongside founders Dr John White, Jonathan Gold and Peter Hiscocks.

Jill Dovey, Muckle LLP

Senior solicitor at FTSE 100 software business Sage, and a specialist in IT and data protection law, Jill Dovey has joined Muckle LLP.

Jill’s experience includes having in-depth knowledge of legal issues across a range of technology-focused areas after working for Sage in Newcastle, for seven years.

Jill, who is a member of the Cloud Legal Industry Forum, joins the commercial team at Muckle to further enhance the firm’s IT expertise after a year of strong growth in this sector.

She said: “At Sage, I advised the company on general commercial contracts, business outsourcing, data protection and the move away from perpetual licensing models to subscription.

“I drafted and negotiated software licence and IT equipment and service procurement agreements. I also advised on UK competition law, data protection, anti-money laundering requirements and consumer credit compliance.

“I was actively involved in product launches and marketing campaigns; helping the business protect its position in the marketplace. I’m delighted to be joining the team at Muckle and am looking forward to applying my expertise to advise their clients’ day to day operations.”

Brenda McLackland, Little Town

Tyneside clinical psychologist and MummyPages expert Brenda McLackland has joined the team at Little Town, a Newcastle-based child development centre, in a bid to develop its work with babies, children and their parents in the region.

Joining as a partner, Ms McLackland will act as an Early Years Consultant, as she hopes to to build on the success of her Happy Baby Shower classes throughout the North East and will host expert-led events with the centre.

Brenda said: “I thoroughly support the ethos of Little Town. I will be offering parents the opportunity to learn how to give their child the best start in life in my Happy Baby Showers. Preparing parents during pregnancy helps them to be ready to build on positive interactions from birth.

“The abilities of children begin to develop very early and their foundations start during pregnancy. The one to one interaction between parents and children at Little Town is so good for their social and emotional development and I’m looking forward to adding to that with my skills and experience.

“Children learn the give and take of social experiences here and also how to modulate their emotional responses. These skills are so important when a child gets to school.”

Paul Cameron and Graham Brown, Tait Walker

North East accountancy firm Tait Walker has welcomed two new management recruits to the Corporate Finance and Business Services departments.

Paul Cameron has joined as a business services manager, bringing with him 19 years of accountancy experience. His specialisms include accounts and audit, in addition to business tax and he deals predominantly with owner managed businesses.

Paul said: “I am looking forward to bringing my knowledge and experience to Tait Walker, working with existing clients as well as helping to grow the business in new areas.

“The firm is ambitious and the team provides a great service to local businesses. I’m really looking forward to being part of that and taking on a new challenge.”

Tait Walker has also welcomed Graham Brown to the team as corporate finance manager. With 17 years of experience working for RMT Accountants & Business Advisors in Newcastle, Graham developed his experience leading audits of owner-managed companies in a wide range of sectors and became an integral part of the corporate finance department.

His projects included company disposals, acquisitions, business plan development and accessing grants.

Graham said: “My new role at Tait Walker is a great opportunity for me to use and build on my existing experience to help our clients achieve their goals.

“It’s great to be part of a team with such an excellent reputation and I’m looking forward to seeing what the future will bring.”

Tania Vesty, intu Eldon Square

Tania Vesty has been appointed as Marketing Manager at intu Eldon Square, after leading the marketing team at the intu Derby shopping centre for almost two years.

Tania joined the intu group following ten years in a wide variety of marketing fields, gaining extensive skills including social media marketing, consumable education brands, public relations and online marketing projects; working for a range of high profile companies including Status Social, Findel Education, Mills & Boon and London South Bank University.

Tania is no stranger to the North East, having spent three years at Newcastle University , receiving a BA Hons in Marketing and Management.

In her spare time, Tania is a keen runner and in recent years took part in The Great North Run, raising over £3,000 for the Teenager Cancer Trust.

Tania said: “For the last ten years I’ve worked the length and breadth of the country, and I’m now thrilled to be back in the North East, especially as Newcastle has just been named as the happiest city in the UK!

“I was very happy here at university and I’m delighted to be returning to this great city. It’s a very exciting time to be joining the intu Eldon Square team with the Grey’s Quarter restaurant development due to open in the autumn and I feel very privileged to be a part of it.”

Robyn Peat, North East Council of CBI

Robyn Peat, Managing Partner at land, property and business consultancy George F. White, has been appointed to the North East Council of CBI, one of the UK’s leading independent lobbying organisations that provides a voice for employers at a national and international level.

Robyn has been appointed to help the organisation represent the thoughts and views of those working in the agricultural and farming industry across the North East. A big part of his role is to provide a voice for the region’s rural community - ensuring their concerns, opinions and ideas are promoted and shared.

He said: “I am delighted join CBI’s North East Council. It’s a prestigious role that I take very seriously. I am eager to engage fully with the Council and provide the rural sector with a platform to influence government leaders and policy on issues that are in the interests of rural businesses.”

Goldsmiths

High street jeweller Goldsmiths has announced new appointments in four of its Newcastle and Gateshead stores this month.

Blackett Street’s Northern Goldsmiths and Reid & Sons, intu Eldon Square and intu Metrocentre have all welcomed new managers.

Lindsay Chapman, from Annfield Plain in County Durham, has joined the Goldsmiths team at intu Metrocentre, located in the Green Mall just off Town Square, bringing with her 12 years of retail experience from the Arcadia Group and Zara, as well as her most recent role at JD Sports.

Lindsay said: “Goldsmiths is a completely different experience to that which I have had in my previous positions, but I felt ready for the challenge and I’m thoroughly enjoying it.

“Building a rapport with our customers is so important when they come in to store. Whether it’s to celebrate an engagement, anniversary or simply to buy a present for that special someone, being able to share such significant milestones with them is why I love working for the brand.”

With 28 years of experience working for Goldsmiths, Jason West is a well-known face at the company. He has returned to his original store to take up the general manager role at Reid & Sons, established in 1778, after five years at Northern Goldsmiths.

Jason, 43 from Newcastle, said: “I am thrilled to be back working with the team at Reid & Sons. I’ve got a passion for working in retail and this showroom in particular, which has such a long-standing heritage attached to it, so it’s a real pleasure.

“Our customer journey is of utmost importance and this is something that I will be developing closely with the staff to implement throughout store relations.”

Sharon Devlin is now heading up the team at Northern Goldsmiths after 20 years with the Goldsmiths brand. Originally from Glasgow, Sharon relocated to the North East two years ago to fulfil the role of branch manager at the intu Eldon Square store.

Sharon said: “The working environment at Goldsmiths is fast-paced but ultimately, hugely rewarding.

“I feel very privileged to be part of a company that has such strong vision and values, which always leaves me feeling motivated – something I want to continue to nurture in my new team.”

The final appointment completing the changes is Peter Britland from Whickham, who has moved from the intu Metrocentre branch to the recently-refurbished intu Eldon Square showroom.

Hazel Royle, Watson Burton

Newcastle-headquartered law firm Watson Burton has appointed a new associate solicitor to enhance its employment expertise.

Hazel Royle, who was brought up in East Boldon, joins Watson Burton from Burnetts Solicitors in Carlisle where she specialised in employment law and worked with clients in Cumbria, the North West and across the UK.

She has vast experience of the education sector, having worked extensively with colleges, schools and higher education institutions.

Following the completion of a Legal Practice Course at The College of Law in Chester, Hazel trained at Shakespeare Putsman in Birmingham, before joining Burnetts Solicitors in 2006.

Hazel is a regular commentator on employment law matters for the BBC and is a trustee for Young Cumbria, which provides support services to youth initiatives based in Cumbria and delivers youth work within disadvantaged communities.

Hazel said: “I’m delighted to be back in the North East and to have the opportunity to work for such a prestigious, forward-thinking law firm – one which boasts a quality client base from across many sectors.

“I’m looking forward to using my expertise in employment law to make a real impact for Watson Burton in this field - and adding my own experience to its nationally-renowned corporate team by providing employment expertise on corporate and commercial transactions.”

Join us next monday for the return of our regular roundup.