NORTH-East investment management firm Wise Speke, which employs more than 300 people in its Newcastle and Teeside offices, has promoted MARGARET NESBITT to divisional director.

Investment expert Ms Nesbitt, 32, joined Wise Speke as an investment advisor in July 1997, having been introduced to the company on a 12-month work placement while studying at university.

She said: "Working at Wise Speke during my university course sparked an initial ambition to succeed in the investment management industry, but it is the support and encouragement I have received since then that has enabled me to progress to this level within the company."