Teesside based Social Allies has appointed Sophie Milliken as non-executive director to support the company’s strong growth plans.
Founded by Jess Facchini-Tucker in 2019, Social Allies is a strategic marketing agency working with brands including Morrison Water Services, Dominos and Wilton Engineering. Ms Milliken holds a number of roles including CEO at Moja Group and chair at Smart Works Newcastle. Having scaled and sold her first business, she is well-placed to support Social Allies as it moves on its scale up journey.
Ms Facchini-Tucker said: “I am delighted that we have appointed Sophie to join the Social Allies team as non-exec director. Sophie brings so much to the table with her background knowledge, personality and overall enthusiasm about the major growth plans Social Allies has set for 2024. I look forward to working closely together she will be a great asset to the board.”
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Ms Milliken said: “When I met Jess, I was seriously impressed with her enthusiasm and ambition. Together, we have put plans in place for her to achieve her ambitions for Social Allies. I’m really looking forward to supporting Jess and the team on their journey and watching them smash their goals.”
Newcastle data analytics and testing consultancy Seriös Group has created a further 11 jobs.
Emma Leigh Miller has been appointed as HR & talent manager, while finance will be brought in-house under the leadership of finance manager Liane Duffy, who will be supported by finance administrator Rachel Milnes. The group has also recruited Dan Reed and Lorraine Rorison as product owners, Andrew Collins and Tatiana Soares da Silva as senior consultants, Christine Huntley, Marcus Trinder, and Michael Young as consultants, and Miikael Puusepp as a junior consultant on the apprenticeship programme.
Paul Davison, managing director of Seriös Group, said: “It’s a measure of the success of this business that we have brought key functions previously outsourced inhouse. Bringing HR in-house allows us to align and streamline the whole recruitment and onboarding process whilst adapting strategies that both communicate and demonstrate that we are an employer of choice.
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“The demand for strategic, data-driven decision-making is driving growth as more and more businesses recognise the ability to optimise performance and efficiency – a trend that is forecast to increase.”
The Gentoo Group board has appointed Emily Cox as the successor to retiring chair Keith Loraine.
Mr Loraine, who joined Gentoo in 2017, is stepping down in September, as chair of Gentoo Group and a member of the group board as he nears the end of his maximum six years of service. He has overseen Gentoo through a period of significant challenge and change and steps away from Gentoo following more than 40 years of service working in the housing sector, having retired as chief executive of Isos Housing Group (now Karbon Homes) in 2016.
Ms Cox has been a Gentoo Group board member for three years and is the Chair of the people committee. She is the ambassador for the North of England and group head of colleague relations and policy for Lloyds Banking Group. She is also currently the deputy chair of the CBI North East Regional Council and a board member of Sage Gateshead.
She said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as the new chair of Gentoo Group. In the three years I have been a Gentoo Group board member, Keith has done an excellent job in leading the board and steering the organisation through a challenging time. I am looking forward to leading the organisation, driving forward further positive change, making sure that Gentoo stays true to its social purpose, delivers for tenants in Sunderland, and builds on the fantastic legacy that Keith leaves behind.”
North East innovation centre The Catalyst has appointed a new centre manager.
Amelia Findlay has taken on the role following three successful years as centre manager at The Core, which is also located on Newcastle Helix just a stone’s throw away from The Catalyst.
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Bringing with her over 25 years of operations and visitor experience in both the public and private sectors, Amelia will be a figurehead for the centre and lead on its operational performance to enhance its reputation for excellence.
She said: “I am delighted to join The Catalyst and the wider Oxford Innovation team. Both the National Innovation Centre for Ageing and Data, alongside the dynamic community of businesses that call The Catalyst home, play a key role in the healthy ageing and data sectors not only across the North East region, but globally.
“I’m looking forward to bringing my knowledge and experience to support the growth and awareness of this exceptional building and the brilliant work that takes place within it.”
Wates Construction has appointed Dave Saville as regional managing director for the North, as the business continues to grow across the region.
Reporting to Wates Construction MD Mark Tant, Mr Saville will lead the business’ strategic plans across the North East, North West and Yorkshire. He joined Wates Construction in 2019 as regional director for the North West, having previously worked at John Sisk & Sons and at Laing O’Rourke. He has overseen key projects for Wates including The Sands Centre in Cumbria and the AstraZeneca Macclesfield Campus.
He said: “As an industry, we have an incredible opportunity to support the Government’s levelling up agenda, so I’m excited to take the helm and deliver on Wates Construction’s growth plans across the North of England, bringing our North West, Yorkshire and North East teams closer together. With a number of major projects in progress, we are not only in a position to boost jobs, skills and training, but also to regenerate communities and services, creating a lasting legacy for years to come.”
360 Growth Partners has welcomed Debbie Barber as project administration manager.
Ms Barber has over 20 years of experience in administrative support, human resources and as an executive assistant, having previously worked at Hays Plc and national animal feed company Skretting. She joins 360 on a part-time basis, allowing her to continue to develop her other passion, as a wellness and fitness coach.
In her new role, she will be responsible for implementing and managing new operational systems. She said: “I have worked with Andrew and other members of the 360 team before and the opportunity to do so again was one I simply couldn’t turn down. 360 Growth Partners is a very natural fit for me and I have a great deal of respect for Andrew and the team. We work with some fantastic people and businesses and I am excited to be supporting those partnerships.
“I’m looking forward to not only implementing our new project management system but more importantly, ensuring everything we do is focused on improving the client experience. My focus is on supporting the 360 associates from an operational perspective, so they can concentrate on delivering projects - and crucially, continued growth for our partners.”
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