A regular BUSINESSiQ round-up of some key appointments at companies across the North East - who’s in and who’s out

 

Professor Cathy Cassell has been appointed to the position of Executive Dean of Durham University Business School.

Cathy joins Durham from Birmingham Business School at the University of Birmingham. Since 2017 she has led the school to a successful strategic positioning around responsible business, achievement of maximum triple accreditation for the first time in the School’s history.

She is a Professor of Organisational Psychology and holds Fellowships of the Academy of Social Sciences, the British Academy of Management and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Professor Karen O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor of Durham University, said: “She has an impressive vision and passion for building on the substantial successes of the Durham University Business School, and we look forward to welcoming her.”

Professor Cassell said: “I am excited by the global ambition of the University, the excellence of staff and students, and the opportunity to lead a high-profile Business School located in one of the UK’s most beautiful and historic cities. The collegiate nature of the Business School’s community is particularly inspiring, as well as its world-leading research, its educational offer and the important role it plays in Durham City and the wider North East region.”

 

One of Teesside’s largest firms of chartered accountants has welcomed 23-year-old Victoria Mason from Stockton to join its growing practice.

Victoria joins Baines Jewitt as a trainee chartered accountant and is one of a number of recent recruits selected by the Stockton-based firm, which has a long history of developing its own talent.

“I was thrilled to be offered the job at Baines Jewitt, especially as the role provides lots of relevant first-hand experience, whilst being given the opportunity to gain further qualifications. Before starting here, I completed an Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualification, so I am now working towards becoming a chartered accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW), as part of my professional training programme.

Baines Jewitt director Don Adams said: “I also joined the firm as a trainee and qualified as a chartered accountant in 1993, before being made a partner in 2002. I therefore understand the significance of employer-supported professional training programmes.

“Victoria is one of a number of trainee chartered accountants who have joined our firm over the last few years. Together they will help take our company forward.”

 

Three new directors have been appointed to strengthen the management team at Alnwick-based telecommunications company Alncom.

Mike Surrey (MD of Railsite telecom) - Mike started his career as a Chartered Accountant before joining the global telecoms company Marconi in 1992.

Rory Wilson (CEO of Northumberland Estates) - A Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and a Graduate in Land Economy from the University of Aberdeen. Rory has been with the Estate since 1990 and has been responsible for the overall business since 1994.

Dr Andrew Parry (MD of Project Advisors International) - A Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

 

A head of financial planning has been appointed at North East financial advisory firm, Lowes Financial Management, as the company continues to build a strong senior team to enable its ambitious growth strategy.
Gershom Chan, 37, originally from Edinburgh, has been appointed to the newly created role at a time of wider restructure and ongoing expansion of the practice and service proposition.
As a multi-award-winning independent financial advice firm, Lowes, which last year celebrated 50 years of servicing clients, recently appointed its first associate director, Andy Gardiner, and opened a new office in Teesside to  develop its national and regional profile.
In his role as head of financial planning, Gershom Chan will be involved in better defining and expanding the client proposition whilst also taking the lead on the training and development of the next generation of financial planners.
He said: “I am delighted to be taking on this role at Lowes during such an exciting period of growth and progress. Lowes has built its reputation on providing personal service to clients, and I appreciate that Lowes is a family business - we are families looking after families.”

 

Carolyn Nicoll, former Head of Communications at Welcome to Yorkshire, has joined the team at Wolfstar as Communications Director and will spearhead a growth strategy with immediate effect.
The Leeds-based agency’s chairman, Tim Sinclair, maintains that “Carolyn’s previous role at Welcome to Yorkshire speaks for itself and I believe that she will add an exciting dimension to the Wolfstar offering.
Her experience in PR, media, comms, tourism, and TV production is remarkable. As the head of communications at Welcome to Yorkshire, the host/producer of the Talkshire podcast and the editor of This Is Y magazine, she perfectly encapsulates Wolfstar’s creative content communication approach. Companies are seeking more inventiveness and dynamism from their communications agency and we’re ready for that challenge.”
Carolyn said, “I’m really looking forward to working with the wonderful Wolfstar team, promoting brilliant businesses. It’s been a tricky couple of years for many organisations and now is an ideal time to be creating exciting PR, communications and media opportunities to maximise brand awareness on a regional, national and international stage.”