Here is our regular round-up of appointments and promotions at some of the biggest businesses from around Wales:
RWG
RWG, Wales' first mobile network, has announced that US-based businessman Bill Crank is the company's new chairman.
Mr Crank is chief executive of Clearspan Cloud, which offers cloud communication solutions to service providers and large global organisations.
He brings experience in guiding strategy for growth in the unified communications and wireless telecommunications sector, including taking companies from public to private and private to public ownership structures.
Mr Crank said: "I couldn’t be more pleased to be joining the RWG Team at this time as from an industry perspective we are at a critical crossroads in Service Providers providing new and exciting customised Digital Health solutions that become more robust by combining them with communications platform solutions and leveraging the delivery via secure wireless technologies."
The appointment comes as RWG looks to expand their health platform as a service (HPaaS) offering, iCare, which enables caring organisations to collaborate remotely with the cared-for and their families, providing support while monitoring health and well-being.
Founder of RWG Andrew Davies said: "We’re delighted that Bill is with us for the next stage of RWG’s journey. Bill has a brilliant track record in growing businesses like ours with big ambitions. Care is our core value and we are looking forward to taking our network, bandwidth and platform to the world from Wales."
Principality Building Society
Principality Building Society has appointed Iain Mansfield as chief financial officer.
A qualified chartered accountant, Mr Mansfield has almost 20 years experience in senior leadership roles across financial services.
He initially joined Principality in 2015 as finance director of Nemo Personal Finance and became a board member in 2019.
In addition to overseeing the finance department, Iain will have responsibility for the commercial lending, Nemo Personal Finance, strategy and architecture teams within Principality Building Society.
He succeeds Tom Denman, who is leaving the business after 13 years.
Chief executive Julie-Ann Haines said: “I’m pleased Iain has agreed to accept the newly expanded chief financial officer role. Iain has become a valuable member of the executive team and board during the past seven years and has been instrumental in overseeing transformation initiatives, while ensuring we continue to provide fantastic service to our customers and members.
“It is an important time for the business as we refresh our strategy and purpose to make sure we are relevant for current and future members of Principality.”
Mr Mansfield said: “I am looking forward to continue to work with our board, executive team and colleagues to progress our purpose-led strategy. Our plans will continue to make a positive difference by helping first time buyers get on the housing ladder, offer savers a more secure future, and the work we do with our commercial partners will create more sustainable and affordable homes for the communities we serve.”
Welsh ICE
Llinos Neale has been named the new chief executive of Welsh ICE.
Formerly community manager for Wales' largest coworking space, Ms Neale first joined ICE in 2017 as receptionist.
She will now be running the business alongside the board of directors and her management team.
Ms Neale said: "I’m delighted to take on this new role and am excited to start working with our partners and wider stakeholders. Having started at the grassroots of ICE, I’ve followed the journey of so many of its members, sharing the highs and lows as they start and grow.
"The working environment has changed over the past two to three years, and there are more challenges to overcome. Demand for small office space is growing, but many workers are still adjusting to the changes and weighing up the balance of going back to the office or working from home."
She added: "Coworking remains more than just a place to work, however. 77% of our member businesses have a survival rate of three years or more - higher than the UK average of 61%. When you consider that three-quarters of our businesses have formal agreements with each other - that tells a story.
"My role now is to ensure that ICE continues to be the place where people choose to start, grow and build their businesses and careers. That job will be made easier thanks to the fantastic support of my team and the board, and I look forward to building the strategy that can take the company and community forward."
Global Centre of Rail Excellence
The Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) has appointed Kelly Warburton as chief commercial officer.
Previously managing director of UK and Europe for Unipart Rail, Ms Warburton began her rail industry career with Alstom in 2001. She is also a board member of the Rail Industry Association (RIA) and judge of the Everywoman in Transport programme.
Ms Warburton joins GCRE with a remit to develop and deliver the commercial strategy for GCRE, a £200m infrastructure project that will transform the site of the former Nant Helen Opencast Mine and Onllwyn Washery at the head of the Dulais and Tawe Valleys in South Wales into a global hub for rolling stock and infrastructure testing, innovation, storage and maintenance.
GCRE was established by the Welsh Government as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in 2021 with an initial commitment of £50 million. The UK Government is expected to confirm a further £10 million for research and development along with capital funding of £20 million.
An investment prospectus to attract private funding for the project is also in development ready for launch in the autumn of 2022.
Simon Jones, GCRE chief executive, said: "We’re building a highly skilled and experienced senior team to develop and deliver GCRE with the aim of becoming the ‘one stop shop’ for railway innovation, from research and development, through testing, verification and certification, to applied innovation on mainline passenger and freight railways."
He added: “Kelly is a well-regarded and experienced director with an excellent track record in the rail manufacturing, logistics and supply chain Industry. We’re delighted to welcome her to our growing team.”
Ms Warburton said: "GCRE is a brilliant and much-needed project that will transform the local area and benefit the rail industry with purpose-built dynamic testing facilities for the UK and international market.
“I completely endorse and support the vision of GCRE being a catalyst for the creation of a rail technology hub in Wales; providing a flexible, open-market platform for leading R&D activity that drives and accelerates innovation on the journey to net-zero."
Avison Young
Avison Young has expanded its Cardiff team with the appointment of Rhys Davies as associate.
Mr Davies is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and joins Avison Young’s Building Consultancy team.
He studied Building Surveying at the University of the West of England, and has worked with Eon Energy, Roger North Long & Partners, and most recently with Cooke & Arkwright.
Richard Frost, director at Avison Young, said: “We’re really pleased to welcome Rhys to our Cardiff team as we continue to grow and expand our range of specialist real estate services here in the city through investing in experienced and dynamic people.”
Peter Constantine, principal and managing director at Avison Young, said: “This is a further signal of our intent to continue building our full-service real estate consultancy business from our Cardiff office.”
SA1 Solutions
Swansea-based IT and communications firm SA1 Solutions has appointed Owen Price as sales manager.
Mr Price joins the firm following 10 years working within sales and recruitment for the education sector.
The company said it has seen great demand for its services post-pandemic, especially in areas of IT security and remote working, and Mr Price will work to facilitate this growth and push SA1's offering to a wider audience.
He said: "It has been a steep learning curve, but that is exactly what I was looking for. I wanted a new challenge, something that would excite me and push my capabilities. I already can see what a great service SA1 provides many organisations and just how much they have to offer any company in any sector. Their ability to cover all areas of IT is impressive and I look forward to participating to the growth of this great organisation."
He added: “Even after only a short few months within the company, I can see that SA1 has so much to offer an organisation. SA1 is very much a group that represents a one-stop shop for any organisation as it provides IT, communications, web and digital marketing. This message is something I believe I can drive more, drive to new businesses and further drive to our existing customer base.”
Managing director Simon Ahearne said: "At SA1 we believe more about a candidate being a right fit than their IT knowledge, we can teach someone the tech, but we need their personality to fit in well with our team first. Owen has the fundamental sales drive and ambition we were looking for in a candidate. I am looking forward to working closely with Owen, to build something special and take SA1 to the next level.”
Capital Law
Capital Law has appointed five new lawyers to its commercial disputes team.
The Cardiff-headquartered firm's commercial disputes lawyers taker on diverse work, from high-profile and cross-border claims to investigations, crisis management and debt recovery.
The 48-strong team specialises in the financial services, healthcare, education and sports sectors, as well as intellectual property, public law, and regulatory practice.
The appointments include David Hudson, who joins as partner and Panagiota Ketsetzi as associate, while Annabel Morgan, Connor Massey and Holly Mehigan all join as solicitors.
Stephen Meade, who leads Capital Law's commercial disputes team, said: "As the number and calibre of the cases we work on continue to increase, we need the very best people joining us.
“David’s impressive track record in resolving complex, high-value disputes and Panagiota’s expertise in financial services litigation will undoubtedly boost our team and help raise our profile nationally and internationally.”
He added: “Annabel, Connor, and Holly will also play a key role in supporting the growth of our team, as they continue to build their career. All share our drive and commitment to deliver the best possible outcome for our clients, and we’re really excited to have them on board.”
The team also welcomed four more support staff, including one paralegal and three legal secretaries. The firm now has 190 employees and is still recruiting for a wide range of legal roles.
Edenstone
Edenstone has made a number of senior promotions as it expands its presence across South Wales and the South West of England.
The independent housebuilding group has promoted Richard Vine to technical director and Richard Price to head of commercial at its head office in Magor, while Stephanie Rogers has been promoted to group financial controller within the Group Services team.
In the Portishead office, James Morgan has been promoted to southern land director with solicitor and legal director Helen Thomas now the group legal director.
Katie Peters is the new strategic and southern planning director, while Bill Hughes becomes head of design (homes). James Kathrens has been promoted to head of sustainability and Steve Barely to development director (partnerships).
Group chairman Martin Taylor said: "We have enjoyed excellent growth in the last few years. Despite the pandemic, favourable market conditions have prevailed but we have been delighted with the performance of our team and this latest round of promotions recognises the individual and collective commitment and capability shown."
He added: "We continue to have an ambitious growth trajectory and this round of promotions highlights our readiness to back the genuine talent that exists within the business."
Edenstone achieved turnover of £57million in the year ending April 2021 and plans to increase turnover to more than £100 million by 2023.
