Karen Roddie

Ms Roddie has more than seven years' experience working for professional firms and her responsibilities will include public relations and marketing for Crutes' offices, in Carlisle, Newcastle and on Teesside.

* NIK GREWER is the latest business expert to join the consulting team at Deloitte's Newcastle office.

His core business focus will be on business support services, strategic advice in the areas of enterprises and innovation, business planning, and specialist input on skills development.

Previously employed at Durham University's Business School, Mr Grewer has more than ten years' business experience, having also worked at Sedgefield Borough Business Service.

* Sunderland-based contact centre company 2Touch has appointed GUY SMITH as sales and marketing director.

The 44-year-old was formerly a director at marketing service provider Promotional Logistics Ltd (Prolog).

Mr Smith said: "My aim is to help take 2Touch to the next stage of its development. The business has come a very long way in a short space of time, and achieved some tremendous success.

"All the right ingredients are in place and it is now my role to plan and deliver a strong sales and marketing strategy that will take the business forward"

* Newcastle-based residential property agents King Sturge has boosted its sales team with the appointment of MELISSA GUINSBERG as sales negotiator.

The 23-year-old from Newcastle has more than four years' experience in property sales and specialist knowledge in city centre properties.

* JOHN TOTTY has been appointed operations director at Russell Construction, in Stamford Bridge, near York.

Mr Totty, former managing director of Bradford-based Totty Construction, spent 20 years with the Totty group.

He has also provided consultancy and market intelligence to construction companies throughout the UK on issues including sourcing land for residential and commercial developments.

* The Newcastle office of project managers and cost consultants Faithful & Gould has promoted MIKE FOGGON to regional director.

Formerly associate director for the office, Mr Foggon will be responsible for its continued development as well as supporting the corporate strategy of the company in the region as well as on a national level.

He is working on cost advice for schemes such as the London Olympics and the Newcastle and Gateshead Pathfinder Projects.

* North-East Construction Company the MMP Group has appointed a new commercial manager to help to drive the expansion of its Construction Division.

STEPHEN FORSTER, from Darlington, has worked in the construction industry for more than 25 years, and brings to MMP experience in the fields of design and build, healthcare construction and fabrication.

He joins MMP from his previous role as senior project surveyor with a major international contractor involved in PFI.

* Outdoor clothing specialist Berghaus, based in Sunderland, has appointed MARTIN JONES as head of footwear.

Mr Jones joins the company from Adidas, where he was advanced projects manager, in Nuremburg, Germany.

He joins the company with the specific remit of further developing the footwear category and his first task is to recruit further specialist footwear designers to strengthen the overall product team.

* Personal injury law firm Irwin Mitchell (IM), based on Grey Street, Newcastle, has strengthened its team with the appointment of three assistant solicitors.

Twenty-nine-year old PAUL BROWN joins the neuro-trauma team along with EMILY SUNDERLAND who brings more than nine years' experience in personal injury to the position.

Both will operate closely with managing partner John Davis.

Recent graduate LUCY HINDMARCH, from Durham, will specialise in work place injuries and industrial diseases, working alongside Irwin Mitchell partner Roger Maddocks.