A FORMER record-breaking sales manager is occupying the managing director's hot seat.

Yorkshireman PETER WILCOCK, 43, has been appointed North-East boss for cable and Internet provider ntl.

Mr Wilcock, who in 1995 broke industry records for recruiting the largest number of Comcast customers, wants to see every home in ntl's range surfing the Net using the company's cable network.

He led the Comcast sales team who ensured 65 per cent of people on Teesside able to take cable services, do so.

Now in the md's chair at ntl in Stockton, he wants to repeat this success beyond Teesside and Darlington.

"I want to see our services in every home," said the man who instigated the launch of Boro TV, the first dedicated football club channel in the UK, of which he is now executive director.

He says technology is advancing at such a pace that affordable Internet access is no longer just a dream.

"Be it via the telephone, digital television or broadband, we can ensure that no-one misses out on the Internet revolution," he said.

* Newcastle marketing and communications industry Robson Brown has welcomed JEFF JAMISON to the North-East headquarters.

The 34-year-old has joined the firm as an account director, responsible for SCS, Trinity and Internet holiday firm latedeals.com. He joins the agency from Newcastle-based Cravens, where he was production director.

* Chartered accountant MALCOLM PARRY has been promoted to junior partner with Newcastle-based practice Grant Williamson.

His promotion coincides with the firm's decision to join a national network of specialist strategic planners offering a strategic planning toolkit to help small firms.

The 39-year-old has been with Grant Williamson for ten years, having previously worked in London.

LYNDA COALEY has been appointed operations manager at the Newcastle Marriott Gosforth Park Hotel. Lynda, 32, will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the 178 bedroom hotel. Originally from Portsmouth, Lynda spent part of her childhood in Whitley Bay.

KAY DOUGHTY has been appointed operations manager at the 82-bedroom, Sunderland Marriott Hotel. She previously worked at the Newcastle Marriott MetroCentre Hotel as executive housekeeper, before taking up the role of acting operations manager at the group's Edinburgh hotel for five months.

* COLIN GREGG, 59, a member of the family which founded the North-East-based bakery and retailer Greggs plc, is retiring from the firm after 35 years. A non-executive director since 1964, he helped to develop the business into the UK's leading retailer in its field, with more than 1,100 outlets.

A former administrator of The Children's Foundation which raised £12m for child health in Northern England, Mr Gregg plans to continue his charitable work.