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This week’s North East appointments

Your weekly roundup of the latest appointment news from across the North East.

Jacqui Kell, Arch

Arch, the Northumberland Development Company, has announced that Jacqui Kell has succeeded Peter McIntyre as chief executive.

Jacqui joined Arch in May 2013 with an agenda to support the delivery of the organisation’s corporate strategy with specific responsibility for business development and inward investment, as well as corporate activities such as programme management, marketing and communications and human resources.

Prior to joining Arch, Jacqui worked for 10 years at Newcastle City Council in several high profile roles including management of the European team.

Jacqui commented: “I am proud and excited to take on the role of chief executive and lead an outstanding team to deliver economic growth and prosperity on behalf of Northumberland.”

Steven Mason, chief executive of Northumberland County Council, added: “Jacqui Kell’s appointment ensures the continuity that is so important to our economy.

“Arch has delivered outstanding value to Northumberland and I am very grateful for the significant contribution made by Peter McIntyre during his five years at the helm.

“Moving forward under Jacqui’s leadership, Arch is forecast to provide £25 million to the county council over the next three years, enabling us to protect the provision of essential services such as schools, roads and social care. I wish Jacqui great success in her new role.”

Tim Mallon, Leathers

Tim Mallon has joined chartered accountancy firm Leathers as its development director.

Tim, who moves to Leathers from his previous role as Head of Tax at Evolution, has known Michael Leather, founder and managing partner of Leathers, since they worked together at pwc almost 30 years ago.

Having declined Michael’s offer to join him in his own newly-established start-up business back in 1990, Tim has now decided to move to join his former colleague three decades later.

Tim said: “This is a move I am very glad to have made. There is huge potential for Leathers. Over the past 27 years, Michael and the team have built up a strong reputation and very enviable client base, which gives us great foundations for developing the business from here.

“Michael has built up a great management team within the business. I had met some of them previously working on transactions and already held them in very high regard. Our initial discussions have already identified a wide range of new opportunities to grow our business and we will pursue these with relish.”

David Chisholm, High Force Research

University of Durham Postgraduate David Chisholm has joined chemical research and development company High Force Research.

Founded nearly three decades ago, the company is one of the UK’s longest established chemical research businesses.

David, who recently completed his Biological Chemistry PhD, has spent the last four years studying synthetic retinoids and their potential uses for treating Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

His postgraduate research, undertaken with Ph.D. supervisor Professor Andrew Whiting from Durham University’s School of Chemistry, was sponsored by High Force.

From his new base at High Force Research’s Wilton Centre laboratory in Teesside, David will continue his post-doctoral research which is being co-funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and High Force Research.

David said: “Having the opportunity to continue my postgraduate research thanks to the joint funding from the BBSRC and High Force Research is really exciting – and I’m thrilled to be joining the team at the Wilton Centre.

“It’s a privilege to be part of a research project that could have such a profound impact on how we treat neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.”

Lucy Robson, Neil Hindley and Richard Urron, RSM

Audit, tax and consulting firm RSM is promoting Lucy Robson, Neil Hindley and Richard Urron to partner enhancing the audit, accounting and business advisory and tax practices in the North East.

Lucy is a Chartered Accountant and joined RSM as a trainee in 2005. With over 10 years’ experience, she will bring extensive audit expertise working with not for profit clients and owner managed businesses in the region. Lucy will lead the not for profit offering in the North East, advising a range of charities, academies and further education colleges across the region.

Neil heads up the accounting and business advisory practice for the North East advising SMEs, owner-managed businesses and large corporates on a range of financial reporting, forecasting, strategic planning and accounting issues. With over 16 years’ experience, he specialises in supporting entrepreneurial and middle market businesses particularly within the leisure and hospitality, real estate and healthcare sectors.

Richard, a Chartered Tax Adviser, has been with the business since 2000 following training with a big 4 firm. He has extensive experience in working with entrepreneurial businesses to maximise R&D tax relief and capital allowances, together with advising on corporate restructuring, share schemes and incorporations. In addition, he has key expertise within leisure and hospitality, TMT, healthcare and real estate sectors.

Steve Railton, RSM’s office managing partner for Newcastle, said: “I’d like to congratulate Lucy, Neil and Richard on their partner promotions, which is a real achievement and testimony to their expertise, dedication to clients and hard work.

“As a firm, we are committed to investing in and developing talent and it’s fantastic that all three will join our partner team. With 11 partners and over 150 staff, RSM will continue to strengthen its position in the region and play a significant role in helping our ambitious clients grow their businesses profitably, both in the UK and internationally.”

Matt Phillips, Scott Logic

Bespoke software development consultancy Scott Logic has appointed Matt Phillips as its new Head of Delivery.

Matt joins the firm to lead the delivery teams across all four of its city centre locations, and drive further expansion of the business, which has seen its headcount grow to more than 210 since it was founded in 2005.

Cambridge graduate Matt has a career spanning more than 20 years in the IT industry in a variety of technology and delivery leadership roles, most recently as Client Executive at Avanade, where he ran the UK business’s largest client account.

Matt said: “This is an incredibly exciting time to be joining Scott Logic. I’ve been very impressed by the calibre of both the client base and our people, the company’s confident and inclusive culture, and the bold vision for the future of the business.”

Mandy Postle and Gary Dixon, St Martins Care

St Martins Care is continuing to develop its commitment to person-centred care with the appointments of senior care specialists Mandy Postle and Gary Dixon as Directors

The pair, who both have over 30 years’ experience in the care industry, share a passion for delivering care specifically tailored to the individual resident.

Director of Care, Mandy said: “I became involved with the care sector for personal reasons and, having cared for relatives at home and in a care home, I am determined that the residents of St Martins Care receive the same high level of care that my family received.

“We realise that we are privileged when someone chooses St Martins Care to look after their loved ones and we need to ensure we deliver exceptional care that not only meets, but exceeds, their expectations.”

“One of the key aspects is the importance of the individual. We recognise that no matter what a person’s age or disability that they will still have hopes and wishes for the future.

“The care industry has become very much ‘task-orientated’ with a person’s individuality being stripped away. We are determined that this will not be the case at St Martins Care and are working closely with our staff to provide the care our residents deserve.”

Gary, the Director of Quality and Operational Compliance, added: “Mandy and I are really ‘rolling up our sleeves’ and working alongside our carers to ensure that we are motivating our staff and helping them to provide the highest levels of personalised care to our residents.”

St Martins operates six care homes from as far as Park View, Newcastle, to Guisborough Manor in the south.

Join us next monday for more North East appointment news.