*The Universal Building Society has strengthened its board with the appointment of a partner from a local accountancy firm. MAXINE POTT from Newcastle-based RMT is a chartered accountant. She is also treasurer of the North-East and Cumbria German British Chamber of Commerce.

*BRIAN GILLIES, 39, has been appointed as regional director of the Institute of Directors in Yorkshire. Mr Gillies will represent nearly 25,000 IoD members across the region. His role will be to continued to grow the IoD's influence and membership in Yorkshire. He was previously managing director of Cable & Utilities in Bishop Stortford.

*Business in the Community, an organisation that facilities and improves the impact of business on the community, has appointed two new staff to its growing ranks. LORNA lMACLAINE and PHIL NORTH have completed their induction programmes in London, and are already settling into their new roles in the North-East office.

*NICK COOPER has joined the management team at Barratt Newcastle as an area construction manager. He began his career in the building industry straight from school and served his apprenticeship as a joiner.

*Pulman Volkswagen, the highly successful Durham-based motor retailer, has strengthened its sales team with the appointment of a sales consultant, PETER HAMMEL. Peter, 38, lives in Durham and has spent 19 years in the motor trade. He is based at Pulman's Framwellgate Moor site and will be responsible for marketing the full Volkswagen range of new and used vehicles.

*Whittles, a top trades union law firm which also specialises in employment law and personal injury claims, has recruited PAULINE WALSH and CAROLE FRASER as legal secretaries for its newest regional office in Northumberland House, Princess Square. They are responsible for routine legal work for which their extensive experience in the field has equipped them.

*One of County Durham's most prestgious hotel and restaurants has appointed a new general manager. JOHN BIRNIE has taken the reigns at Darlington's New Grange Hotel, which incorporates Maxine's restaurant. He joins from Redworth Hall Hotel & Country Club, where he was the deputy general manager.

*PAUL FITCHETT, 51, from Witton Gilbert in Durham, has tranfserred from the Jennings Ford Neville's Cross branch in Durham to the Carrville branch in Durham. He is now a new business executive, after working perviously as a sales executive. He will work as a part of a six-member team.

*Tax expert TOM LANSLEY has joined Grant Thornton in Newcastle after spending the last two and a half years advising owner managers in London's vibrant Docklands. Tom, 31, has returned to his roots to take up a senior position in Grant Thornton's tax department. He comes from Westerhope and after more than six years with the Inland Revenue on Tynesicxde he headed off to London where he worked in Canary Wharf. He was attracted back to the region by Grant Thornton's growing portfolio of clients