This week's North East appointments: Featuring Azets, The Banks Group & Bellway North East

This week’s round up of North East appointments includes Azets, The Banks Group & Bellway North East. Read on to find out more.

Russ Hall, The Banks Group

North East employer The Banks Group has chosen experienced industry professional Russ Hall to lead the next stage of the development of its property businesses. Russ brings more than 20 years’ sector experience to the County Durham-headquartered firm and has taken on a dual executive role with the business.

He is now managing director of the family firm’s longstanding property development arm, Banks Property, and he has also taken on the same position with its new dedicated regional housebuilding company, Banks Homes, which operates across the North East and Yorkshire.

Russ, who is from Teesside, has fulfilled a range of senior property roles in both the public and private sectors across the North East and North Yorkshire. He was previously managing director of residential developer Taylor Wimpey plc’s North East business, having worked his way up through a number of different executive roles with the company over the last decade.

He is also a non-executive director of Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management, an NHS-owned business which provides high quality, safe and effective estates and facilities management services to Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Russ Hall says: “Banks’ strong position as a respected North East business, its ambitions to keep taking advantage of new opportunities through diversification and its longstanding focus on working positively with local communities made joining the company a very appealing option for me.”

Suzanne Layfield & James Sibbald, Azets

Azets, the Top Ten UK Accountancy firm, has announced a senior promotion and new appointment on the back of expansion of its audit team in Durham. This reflects the growth of the business across the region.

Suzanne Layfield has been promoted to audit associate director while James Sibbald has joined the firm as an audit manager. Suzanne joined the firm in May 2022 and has over 15 years of experience working with a varied portfolio of clients across a range of industries, advising on all aspects of audit and other assurance work.

Suzanne said: “Azets is a forward-thinking and people-driven organisation. My focus is firmly on delivering for my clients, working with them to provide a professional and robust audit service with a personal touch. My goal is to create long lasting client relationships and become their trusted advisor to help their business flourish.”

James has over 10 years’ experience working with a broad range of corporate clients, helping to facilitate the smooth functioning of the audit process whilst maintaining strong client relationships.

Paul Topham, office managing partner at Azets said: “I’d like to congratulate Suzanne on her promotion and welcome James to Azets. Suzanne is a key member of the audit team in Durham and brings invaluable experience to the role. Her promotion is a reflection of her hard work and dedication.”

Joward Martin, Bellway North East

Bellway North East’s new finance director plans to help the division go from strength to strength as it builds new homes across the region.

Based at the housebuilder’s regional head office in Gateshead, Joward Martin has been appointed to manage the financial decisions of the division as it seeks to expand its portfolio of new housing developments across Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.

The 43-year-old father-of-two, who lives in Newcastle, started as finance director for the North East division in October in 2022 after eight years with Bellway Group.

He said: “I will be responsible for managing the finances of the division which involves ensuring compliance with accounting standards and internal policies, cash management and the creation of a three-year business plan to help take us forward on a sound financial footing.”

Emma Chesterton, sales director at Bellway North East, said: “It is great to be able to welcome Joward on board with the team here at Gateshead. It is always gratifying to see an internal promotion such as this because it illustrates the career progression that is open to employees at Bellway and is just reward for Joward’s sterling work with the company so far.”

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