TELECOMS company Executel has appointed a project installation engineer.

TONY ROBSON, 24, from Sunniside, Newcastle, will be installing Voice Over Internet Protocol telephones in the region.

Having started his career in the family business, The Robson Group, Tony went on to work for IT solutions firm Synergiq, in the Team Valley, and has a great deal of network installation experience.

He said: "I look forward to the host of challenges ahead of me and hope to be able to use my knowledge of data networks to aid Executel's existing installation team in both meeting and expanding on its goals."

Executel service manager Tony Logan said: "Voice over Internet Protocol is considered the latest advance in telecoms technology and, one by one, North-East businesses are realising its benefits and migrating from traditional systems to full IP.

"Consequently, we need to recruit first-class engineers who can hit the ground running. Tony has a sound knowledge of network installation from his previous employment and I am in no doubt that he will be an asset to the Executel team."

Established in 1997, Executel, in Gateshead, has more than 1,500 clients.

* ESTATE agency Homes and Finance, in Yarm, near Stockton, has recruited KAREN MUNGIN to oversee the lettings department, which has seen an increase in the past year.

Jackie Bassett, co-owner and independent financial advisor at Homes and Finance, said: "We decided that we needed to appoint somebody who was solely responsible for our lettings, as the market has grown quite rapidly since we opened."

l SECURITY camera specialist Cyberlyne has appointed an after-sales manager at its base in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

MARK ANDERTON will have responsibility for the company's service and parts operations.

Mr Anderton has an extensive background in the bus industry, which began with an apprenticeship with Leyland in 1972.

More recently, he has managed projects with Evobus and Look CCTV.

Managing director Stephen Quigley said: "Mark's appointment reflects the importance of service in winning and retaining business in the CCTV industry. He brings a wealth of experience to our team and will help us improve our performance across all areas of the business.

"I feel sure that customers will see a real difference very quickly."

l BUSINESS research consultancy Acritas has appointed ANDREA MALT as research manager at its office in Jesmond, Newcastle.

The company, which was established in 2002 by Lisa Hart, employs 20 people, but has recently held a recruitment drive to cope with a growing number of new clients and expansion in the UK and US.

Ms Malt will be responsible for quality assurance and ensuring research completed by the team complies with industry codes of conduct.

She has more than ten years' experience in research, having worked for bakery chain Greggs and Swift Research.

l LOCAL search company Infoserve has appointed a telesales manager to lead its sales operations expansion in Stockton and Leeds.

Infoserve, a market leader in the UK local search market, has appointed DEBRA THORNTON, from Stokesley, North Yorkshire, as telesales general manager. For the past five years, she has been senior sales manager at Sage Software, in Newcastle.

Infoserve, established in 1999, specialises in connecting buyers with sellers through local search marketing.

l THE company behind the future of housing in Sunderland has appointed three independent board members.

Sunderland Housing Group (SHG) has welcomed MARIAN HARRISON, JOHN MORALEE and ALLAN BERTRAM to its board.

Mr Moralee is the chief executive of the Northern Housing Consortium, which is a membership body of more than 150 social landlords in the North.

Ms Harrison was the regional director of a Government-funded charity responsible for a number of environmental campaigns for more than 20 years.

Mr Bertram worked for Newcastle City Council for 40 years.

The group board is made up of 15 representatives and the five local area boards have a total of more than 65 members.