Helen Wilson and James Dale

Member Article

This week’s North East appointments

Kickstart your week with a roundup of the latest appointments from across the region.

James Dale and Helen Wilson, Anderson Barrowcliff

A North East accountancy firm has elevated two members of staff to partner status, in a move to secure the firm’s future.

Stockton-based Anderson Barrowcliff has appointed associates James Dale and Helen Wilson to the role, hot on the heels of the announcement that former apprentice Andrew Dewing was made partner.

Helen, who recently had her first child, joined the firm in 2004 after being awarded a first class honours degree in mathematics and became a fully qualified accountant in 2007.

After starting in the business services department, Helen moved to the audit department and was soon after made associate in 2010. Her duties involve dealing with a wide range of clients including the education sector and UK subsidiaries of EU companies.

On the promotion, Helen said: “I think the secret to success in this industry is getting to know your clients and providing excellent service. I have been lucky, because many of my clients have been with us for many years, so I have been able to develop strong relationships with them as well as a great knowledge of their business and team.

“Anderson Barrowcliff is a firm that always strives to give our clients the very best advice and representation. I am delighted to have been part of the team for the last 12 years and look forward to developing the firm even more in my new role as partner as we plan for a long future.”

Like Helen, James has been an associate at Anderson Barrowcliff since 2010. He has a degree in Consumer Law and was also awarded a first class honours degree in Applied Accountancy, which contributed to him winning the New Accountant of the Year award at the North East Accountancy Awards in 2009.

James works on corporate finance projects such as structuring finance deals, detailed cash flow modelling, preparing companies for sale, grant finance and due diligence.

On his promotion, James said: “It feels great to become partner in an award winning firm that has real integrity, drive, and a genuine presence in the communities in which we work, which is really important to me. The management team at Anderson Barrowcliff has always given me the support I needed throughout my career, and now I hope to pass that on to the next generation of young accountants and associates.”

Tony Sagar, Newcastle Racecourse

Newcastle Racecourse has invested in a new lead for its catering team with the appointment of a Head of Food and Beverage.

With over 30 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, Tony Sagar joins the Gosforth Park team in the newly created role where he will have responsibility for a team of 15, rising to 500 during Ladies Day – one of Newcastle Racecourse’s most popular racedays.

The appointment comes at a time of significant investment at the racecourse, following a £120k refurbishment of the racecourse’s on-site gastro-pub Border Minstrel, an increased race fixtures plan and the introduction of a new all-weather track alongside the existing turf jump track.

Tony, from Gosforth, began his career in the hotel and restaurant industries with Swallow Hotels and S&N, and moved into entertainment venues with SMG Europe, most recently working at senior executive level across arenas at Manchester, Leeds, Belfast and Newcastle

Tony said: “I’m delighted to join the racecourse at a pivotal time when significant investment is taking place. It’s fantastic to see the transformation of Gosforth Park take shape and I’m looking forward to applying my experience and knowledge to help raise the bar and deliver a quality customer experience for all race goers.

“With a bright future ahead this substantial investment will embrace the racecourse’s heritage, creating a world class sporting venue for all horsemen, racegoers and visitors who come to Newcastle Racecourse for years to come.”

Malcolm Cooper, SLR Consulting

Environmental firm SLR Consulting has appointed Malcolm Cooper as Technical Director, Archaeology & Heritage, based in the Newcastle office. This move further strengthens SLR’s profile and experience in heritage management.

Malcolm brings over thirty years’ experience in the heritage sector, holding senior posts for the Government statutory heritage advisors English Heritage and Historic Scotland, and more recently directing his own heritage consultancy. Malcolm is tasked with expanding SLR’s heritage-management projects and activities, drawing on his detailed knowledge and experience of heritage legislation, policy and best-practice.

Malcolm has a track-record of managing and releasing the potential of historic buildings, archaeological sites and historic landscapes. He has worked closely with developers, architects and design teams on major infrastructure schemes, housing development, area-based regeneration schemes and building adaptation and repair across the UK.

Commenting on his new role with SLR, Malcolm said “I particularly enjoy unlocking difficult cases where heritage has become a seemingly insurmountable problem. SLR has a very strong reputation in terms of its experience and problem-solving abilities and I am greatly looking forward to working in this stimulating environment.”

Craig Lazenby, Ringtons

Ringtons’ food services arm Ringtons Beverages has already boosted its sales team thanks to the appointment of Craig Lazenby as Business Development Manager. Craig has been brought on board to reach new clients and support existing business across hospitality, leisure, retail, public sector and business markets within the north east and north Yorkshire.

Craig joins the 108 year old family business from Belgian coffee company Pelican Rouge where, as Representative for the Northern Region, he was responsible for catering and hospitality coffee sales. Having started his career as a Territory Sales Representative with butchers George Adams and Sons Ltd and later Coke, Craig also worked for the food services division of bakery experts Delice de France (now Coup de pates).

Speaking of his appointment Craig Lazenby said: “Even from the first time I came across Ringtons it was clear to me it was an interesting business with great quality products and an enviable heritage and ethos.

“Although arguably best known as a tea merchant, Ringtons’ coffee is of equally high quality and there are some very exciting plans underway to grow the coffee business. The fact all Ringtons coffee and tea is made at the company’s own factory in the UK means it’s the freshest on the market which alongside such a strong brand name is a great opener for a Business Development Manager like me.”

Chris McManus, Able Group

A North East business figure with experience in the energy, marine and engineering industries has joined the senior management team at the Teesside-based Able Group.

Chris McManus has been appointed as Group Finance Director of Able, which specialises in the demolition and marine decommissioning fields, a major land developer and operates major port facilities on the Tees and the Humber.

After serving as an accountant in the Army for over nine years, Mr McManus held finance posts with housing and leisure companies before joining the major ship repair, conversion and marine services group A&P in 2007, firstly as Finance Director of its Tees operations and then holding Managing Director roles for its North East businesses. Before joining Able he served as Managing Director with Hertel’s Offshore Operations in both Teesside and Aberdeen.

Chairman Peter Stephenson said: “We’re delighted that Chris has joined our team. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the business activities in which we are involved and will make a major contribution in driving forward our ambitious plans for Able Seaton Port and our other operations on the Tees, as well as, of course, the development of Able Humber Port and the Able Marine Energy Park.”

Mark Percival, Langley Castle

A former North East Chef of the Year winner, Mark Percival, has been appointed head chef at 14th century luxury hotel and restaurant, Langley Castle, in Langley-on-Tyne, Northumberland.

Mark has a true passion for food and his innovative dishes helped him sweep to victory in the North East Chef of the Year contest in 2011, when one of the judges was Michelin star chef, Nigel Haworth.

His favourite ingredients are seafood and shellfish, whilst he prefers a great cheese, particularly Northumberland Cheese, to a dessert. His culinary hero is Gordon Ramsay and his favourite restaurant is The Kitchin in Edinburgh, owned by chef Tom Kitchin.

He said: “I am delighted to be back at Langley and am relishing the opportunity to put my own stamp on the dining and wedding experience. These are exciting times for Langley Castle, with 2016 being an important year for the Castle, so it is exciting to play a part in a place that already has over 600 years of history to shout about.”

Nick Livadas, Physiotherapy Matters

North East-based physiotherapy firm, Physiotherapy Matters, has embarked on further expansion with the addition of clinical manager Nick Livadas to its team.

Nick’s role will include clinical delivery of musculoskeletal physiotherapy and he will also take a lead in the operational management and development of the business, including training, clinical governance and project implementation. His key skills include delivering pioneering physiotherapy treatments such as Ostenil injections for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Nick Livadas said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Physiotherapy Matters team as clinical manager. As the business moves forward into its tenth year, I’m looking forward to ensuring it continues to uphold its core values of high quality customer service and patient care whilst maintaining best practice clinical standards. As clinical manager, I will also be continually enhancing my own experience through learning new techniques and continuous professional development.”

Join us next week for more regional job news. Email Jamie at jamie.hardesty@bdaily.co.uk to submit an appointment.

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