Member Article

This month’s London appointments

Georgina Roberts, Saracen Interiors

Workplace developers Saracen Interiors, which counts the likes of Coca Cola, Pizza Hut and Tata Communications as clients, has brought Georgina Roberts on board as Small Works Project Coordinator, assisting the Small Works Project Manager with small works projects.

Focusing on alterations to existing space, re-decorations, modifications and other smaller jobs, the small works team has doubled its turnover, year on year, since it was launched three years ago.

As Small Work Project Coordinator, Georgina will help Saracen monitor and manage the performance of its subcontractors and take responsibility for the efficient delivery of projects.

She brings experience in customer service, having worked as a hot desk operator at outsourcing firm Mitie, where she worked with a number of high street clients including Primark.

Georgina commented: “Saracen is a company which has a strong reputation for nurturing and investing in its team and I know that this is a perfect opportunity for me to progress. I will be fully supported and encouraged to grow in this role and I am relishing the challenges that working on some of the busier projects will present.

“The division was founded on the business of Saracen’s existing clients and my priority will be to understand the clients and their businesses so that I can ensure that all their needs are met during project delivery.”

Joint-Managing Director, Michael Page added: “Georgina is a highly-skilled, accomplished worker who is adept at resolving situations before they become problematic and ensuring that all runs smoothly.

“She is a welcome addition who I expect will sit well with the existing team and be a good ambassador to the brand. It’s important that we have the right team in place to manage Saracen Small Works continued growth and help us to maintain the high standards that our clients have come to expect.”

Fiona Challen, Napier PR

In the first of two appointments at the PR firm, Napier PR has announced the appoint of Fiona Challen as Marketing Specialist at its Chichester office.

The B2B technology marketing agency hope to make use of Fiona’s educational background in film and photography, utilising what they describe as ‘her creativity and analytical mind’ as the new recruit hopes to develop a career in marketing.

Commenting on her appointment, Fiona said: I’m very excited about starting at Napier and moving into a career in Marketing and PR. This is new territory for me but I am looking forward to putting my creative talents to good use for Napier’s Clients.“

Kate Thomsen, Napier PR

Also joining Napier PR this month is Kate Thomsen who joins the PR firm as Executive Assistant.

With over 20 years’ experience at creative digital and media agencies in the capital, such as Lowe & Partners Worldwide, Publicis and Omnicom, Napier are hoping to capitalise on Kate’s events management, hospitality and logistics experience, supporting the directors and the rest of the team.

Napier Managing Director, Mike Maynard said: “We are in excellent hands with Kate as she has extensive experience in coordinating busy schedules as well as assisting with HR and aspects of Marketing. Our growth has demanded that we need some extra organization and we are thrilled to have Kate on board.”

Andrew Eagles, Brick Development Association

The Brick Development Association has announced that Andrew Eagles will be joining the group as its new Chief Executive from June.

He will be joining the group, which represents the UK and Ireland’s clay brick and paver industries, from housing consultancy and research body Sustainable Homes where he is currently Managing Director.

Andrew has a number of years’ experience in the sector, having held a number of roles with the Housing Corporation and acted as a consultant on strategic housing policy at the London Borough of Bromley.

Andrew said: “As the sector looks to dramatically increase housing numbers it is essential that quality is maintained. The Brick Development Association plays a vital role in providing advice, strategic insight and case studies of exemplar buildings. I am excited to be joining the Association at this vital time.”

Chairman of the Brick Development Association, Michael Ankers, added: “We are delighted to have found someone with the background and experience of Andrew to lead the Association at this important time.

“The brick industry has recovered strongly from the recession and bricks are back in demand. The industry has a critical role to play in ensuring the ambitious targets for new housing that the government has set are achieved, and in other parts of construction, architects are increasingly turning to brick as a material that will deliver sustainable building solutions.”

Heidi Allen, Neyber

In the first of another double whammy of appointments, London-based provider of financial employee benefits, Neyber, has appointed Heidi Allen to its newly created Head of Insights and Engagement role.

Joining from Barclays where she was Vice President, Proposition Manager, Heidi brings over 23 years’ of financial services experience, with a large proportion of that spent focusing on developing employee benefits packages and financial wellbeing.

Commenting on the new appointment, Neyber Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Monica Kalia, said: “We recognise the crippling effect of financial stress in the workplace and the impact it has on productivity. Using Heidi’s expertise and insight we will help arm employers and employees with the tools to learn healthy financial behaviours and build financial resilience.

“To build a productive engaged workforce, we need to help indebted employees break the needless spiral of anxiety and stress. We are confident that by strengthening our senior team with Heidi, an expert in the field of financial wellbeing, we can reach and educate as many of those in need as possible.”

Heidi added: “I am really pleased to be joining Neyber, I am passionate about delivering well thought out propositions based on high quality insights and I am very excited about the Neyber offering and the positive impact this will have on the financial wellbeing of the UK workforce.”

Paul Martin, Neyber

Also joining Neyber this month is Paul Martin, who has been appointed as Head of Credit Risk, another newly created role at the FinTech firm.

Paul has previously held roles at big financial players such as Santander, American Express and Zopa, and brings 25 years’ experience and expertise in credit risk management.

Sitting on Neyber’s senior management team he will focus on the credit risk aspects of product creation, platform development and the company’s underwriting process.

Neyber Chief Executive Officer, Martin Ijaha, said: “Neyber will greatly benefit from Paul’s expertise and understanding of the consumer credit sector.

“Paul brings unparalleled experience in one of the fastest growing segments of Fintech, having already driven a leading P2P provider towards achieving its first billion pounds in lending.

“He joins Neyber at a key point in its development and will underpin our growth strategy with an expert focus on risk management. Our senior management team will be enhanced by Paul’s arrival and we all look forward to the contribution that he will be bring to the company’s development over the coming months.”

Paul commented: “I’m excited to be joining Neyber. I believe that it will irrevocably change the UK’s consumer credit landscape as a result of its revolutionary approach to credit risk management.

“This is borne out of a business model that focuses on lending to people in work and taking repayments through salary deduction. As a result of this Neyber can deliver loans at lower rates of interest, counter the punitive credit costs faced by families across the UK and boost financial inclusion.”

Ben Munn, The Instant Group

Global property firm The Instant Group have appointed Ben Munn as Managing Director of Consultancy Services, who joins from Regus where he was Managing Director of Corporate Services.

Ben has extensive experience in consulting, workplace strategy and the flexible office market having previously held senior roles in Regus, CBRE and Jones Lang LaSalle and delivering projects across the UK, EMEA, US and APAC.

Commenting on the new appointment, Tim Rodber, Chief Executive Officer at the Instant Group said: “We are increasingly being asked by our clients to use ourdata and understanding of the global flexible workplace market to re-engineer client property portfolios, building solutions that deliver long term value.

“In order to add to our ability to meet client demands for flexible solutions, we have created a new role within the Instant team, which Ben is the perfect candidate to fill. His understanding of workplace strategy and the flexible market will ensure that our clients receive market leading advice that meets their requirements for agile solutions.”

Ben also commented: “The market is changing as occupiers seek alternative solutions to their property procurement needs. Having worked across the sector for more than 15 years, I have seen this evolution in workplace strategy and Instant, with its global view and access to industry-leading data, is very well placed to capitalise on this shift in occupier demand.”

Rick Denton, London Central Portfolio Limited

Property fund and asset management firm, London Central Portfolio (LCP), have appointed of Rick Denton as non-executive board director for its holding company LCP Corp.

Rick has enjoyed a thirty year career leading a range of global institutions including Coutts Group, Bank of Bermuda, Fortis and Barclays, having originally qualified as a banker, trustee and investment professional.

MBA-educated, he brings specialist experience in international jurisdictions, private equity and institutional investment solutions, and most recently held the position of Chief Executive Officer of investment firm Triangle Holdings.

Naomi Heaton, Chief Executive Officer at LCP, said: “Rick has had a longstanding relationship with LCP for over 15 years in his management roles across a variety of global institutions. He has a deep knowledge of LCP’s business proposition and played a pivotal role in bringing LCP’s first fund to market as a director of Fortis in Guernsey.

“We are, therefore, particularly delighted to be able to welcome him onto LCP’s board of directors. As we continue to pioneer residential investment solutions in the private rented sector for both UK and international investors, Rick has the depth of experience, knowledge base and reach to support LCP during this next exciting period of our expansion.”

Rick Denton, non-executive director of LCP Corp commented: “Having worked closely in the UK’s property fund space as Chief Executive Officer of Triangle Group and with detailed knowledge of the residential market, I have always found LCP to be a leader in the sector and a superior provider of residential services for international investors.

“I am delighted to be building an even closer relationship with the company to help deliver its strategy for growth. LCP has positioned itself at the forefront of the private rented sector and I look forward to developing the institutional investment model and further expanding the company’s reach.”