ENGINEERING firm The Tanfield Group yesterday announced the appointment of an independent non-executive director.

The Washington-based plc, which makes zero-emission vehicles, said Colin Billiet will play a central role in the next stage of the company's development.

Welcoming him to the board, Tanfield chief executive Darren Kell said: "He has a terrific track record managing sustained growth in a global manufacturing company.

"He will complement the skills we already have on the Tanfield board, and we look forward to his input into the next stage of development of the business."

Mr Billiet, 59, is the chief executive of Gateshead-based Nano-Porous Solutions Limited. He has many patents and technical papers to his name.

He spent 34 years at Domnick Hunter Group plc, latterly as group chief executive, and is also presently non-executive director of Lontra Limited.