Azets has promoted Angela Ingham to audit director in its Wynyard office.
Ms Ingham supports the head of audit for the North East region, having joined the firm in 2000 as a trainee. She is also part of Azets’ innovative Ascend: Future Partner programme, a new initiative which provides training, mentoring and practical experience to support the development of current and future partners through their journey to becoming advisory specialists.
Andrew Rowe, office managing partner at Azets in Wynyard said: “I’m delighted to congratulate Angela on her promotion to director. She brings a wealth of experience to the role and her promotion is testament to her hard work and dedication. It also demonstrates the success of our Ascend: Future Partner programme which is committed to the ongoing development of our current and future partners with the potential to achieve success for themselves and for our clients.”
Jenn Neill has joined the Alnwick office of rural land and property specialist GSC Grays.
Ms Neill, a qualified chartered rural surveyor, has provided professional advice to clients in the North East and Scottish Borders for more than 10 years, and brings experience in utility, infrastructure and renewable energy projects to the rural land and business team.
The Alnwick office, which opened in April 2017 and is led by Ali Gray, has a team of six farm business consultants and three land agents providing farm and property management advice to clients in the region.
David Gray, chairman at GSC Grays said: “These are exciting and challenging times and our ambitious expansion plans are designed to deliver our expertise to an ever increasing number of clients. GSC Grays is all about offering a radically different and fresh approach. We now employ over 120 members of staff in 12 offices across the North of England, but we believe it is our local approach which adds real value and long lasting relationships as we continue to grow and expand our team of experts.”
Teesside based Cleveland Containers has appointed Andrew Thompson as the new CEO after founder Johnathan Bulmer stepped down after more than a decade at the helm.
The Stockton firm – the current North East company of the year - was set up by husband and wife Johnathan and Jane Bulmer in 2011 and has grown into one of the UK’s largest shipping container sales companies. Following Mr Bulmer’s decision to step down current chief operating officer Mr Thompson will take over as CEO.
Mr Bulmer said: “After launching the Cleveland Group last year, it has always been our wish to strengthen the management team to enable the business to grow and flourish without the direct day-to-day involvement of myself and Jane. We appointed Andrew as chief operating officer in May 2022 knowing we had the right candidate, meaning that the cultural fit was right for him and the senior team to take the business forward.”
Mr Thompson, who was previously managing director and senior vice president of Mobile Mini UK, has more than 20 years management and leadership experience, in both the public and private sector. He said: “While we’ll all miss Johnathan’s day-to-day involvement, I’m extremely excited about what the future holds. It is a privilege to lead Cleveland and I’m particularly looking forward to unlocking the potential of all the talented people that we have in the business, coupled with the incredible ambition that we have, which is reflected in the scale of the investment that we are making.”
Sunderland’s Building Design Northern (BDN) has launched an interior design department run by new appointment Kate Blower.
Ms Blower has joined the firm, which offers architectural, structural and civil engineering services, to launch the new department after spending 15 years in the sector, working in London and Sweden for the likes of major retailers Urban Outfitters and H&M.
She will work closely with the lead architect on the Sheepfolds project to develop interior design concepts. She is also the co-owner of Resinn, a multi-concept space offering freshly brewed tea and coffee, home and gardenware, which will open at Sheepfolds this year.
She said: “I’m thrilled to join BDN at a time of growth and opportunity. To be part of a historic and creative development, such as Sheepfolds, is incredibly exciting on both a personal level and in terms of the impact it will have on the local community.“
Economic regeneration company Advance Northumberland has appointed Jeff Reid as chair of its board of directors.
Mr Reid is the longest serving of Advance Northumberland’s directors, having joined the board when the company was formed in 2018. He is also the leader of the Liberal Democrat Group at Northumberland County Council and represents the Plessey ward in Blyth. He led the Liberal Democrat administration as leader of the County Council from 2009 to 2013.
Group executive director Robin Earl said: “Jeff has earned his place as chair of our board of directors, and we are delighted to recognise his knowledge and experience, incredible commitment, and growing influence on the success of our business and that of Northumberland. His expertise will be vital to our future development and the strategic direction as a group working alongside our shareholder.”
Mr Reid said: “Advance Northumberland has a superb and committed team of talented staff, and I’m very much looking forward to developing and supporting them further; using my experience to ensure we deliver for the businesses, residents and the community of Northumberland.”
Knight Frank has welcomed two new commercial property professionals to its 76-strong Newcastle team.
Adam Harley has joined as partner to head up its valuation department, following the departure of Kevin Scully. He joins at the same time as graduate surveyor, Emily Horriben, who is working in the property asset management team.
Mr Harley, who joins from BNP Paribas Real Estate, has over 20 years’ experience and started his career at DTZ prior to moving to GVA (now Avison Young). He said: “I’m excited to build the team and strengthen our services and really see where we can take it. We are extremely busy and one of my first priorities is recruiting another senior surveying member to the team.”
Ms Horriben achieved a first class honours in Real Estate from Northumbria University and previously worked at a residential park operator, as an assistant land manager. She is working alongside Jason Wall and will be helping manage over 20m square feet of commercial space in the North East. She added: “It is a great opportunity for me to be working alongside the PAM team here in Newcastle after graduating from Northumbria University last year. I have already been able to massively improve my knowledge from shadowing Jason and learning from his expertise in the short time that I have been here at Knight Frank.”
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