Paul Lancaster has taken up a key role at North East’s tech network Dynamo.
Mr Lancaster joins as engagement manager, linking firms across the region to tech innovation, joining other managers Dawn Dunn, Laura Kemp and Phil Jackman.
Dynamo has expanded with more than 160 members, made up of IT and tech organisations and employers, non-tech corporates with tech functions, technology hubs, universities, colleges and local government, operating from the Tweed to the Tees.
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Mr Lancaster, founder of Plan Digital and organiser of Newcastle Startup Week festival since 2017, said: “My role will be to support Dynamo’s cluster managers and the exec team who are working to grow specific areas of the region’s tech economy, and to work with our membership to help grow their organisations.
“A big part of my role will be to encourage more collaboration and innovation across the region to develop new products and services – and what I’d particularly like to do is to get more of our larger firms working with SMEs and start-ups.”
Charlie Hoult, chair of Dynamo, said: “It’s a key appointment for us – Paul is an important influencer within the region’s tech sector, linking and connecting people and businesses on many different levels.
“He’s a great networker – winning Dynamo’s Collaborator of the Year award twice! So it’s a natural fit.”
Commercial law firm St James’ Square has appointed solicitor Adam Chaffer to strengthen its dispute resolution department.
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Mr Chaffer joins the firm after previously working in-house for a FTSE 250 construction company as well as other regional law firms.
He said: “I’m really excited to be joining the team at St James’ Square and I’m looking forward to being part of a firm that is going from strength to strength. The team are very welcoming here and it’s been a great start to the new year.”
He will be working on a wide range of cases including contractual disputes, property disputes and contentious insolvency matters for both claimants and defendants.
The new appointment comes at an exciting time for the firm who are experiencing increased demand for their services and have just recently announced six vacancies as a result.
Global paint manufacturer AkzoNobel has announced the appointment of Donna Armstrong as quality manager at its manufacturing unit in Ashington.
Ms Armstrong brings a wealth of expertise to the role, including more than six years with Almac, based near Edinburgh.
AkzoNobel is the world’s leading manufacturer of decorative paints and specialist coatings with brands including Dulux, Dulux Trade, Cuprinol and Hammerite
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She said: “I’m delighted to join the team at AkzoNobel. The role appealed to me because it combines my passion for science and my experience in product development, testing and process scale-up.
“It’s been a steep learning curve switching from clinical peptides to decorative paint production but the principles of problem solving, high-quality product development and manufacture are the same.”
AkzoNobel Ashington currently employs more than 160 staff and its nine fully automated production lines can produce 250 litres of paint per minute.
A North East energy consultancy has appointed Paul Lilley as its new group finance director.
The Green Energy Advice Bureau, based in South Shields, helps customers negotiate reductions on their business energy bills while making them more sustainable.
Mr Lilley joins as financial director after record figures of sales, customer numbers and staff headcount. His is the first of a number of senior executive roles which the group intends to recruit in the coming months.
Former finance director at The Noble Organization, Mr Lilley has worked for the likes of Burger & Lobster, Pink Boutique and Drake & Morgan and has lived and worked in Israel, Texas and California before spending the last 20 years’ in the hospitality and leisure industry.
He said: “I am really excited to be joining such a dynamic team in a period of growth and innovation. With my broad knowledge of accelerating young businesses and helping them develop financially, I am looking forward to building a sustainable finance department in a fast-paced, expanding environment.”
One of the 海角视频’s largest suppliers to the hospitality industry has strengthened its team with the appointment of a new sales manager.
Paul Millward has joined the North East-based IG Group, bringing with him 18 years of experience having previously worked for ER Clifford and for the last two years for commercial catering supplier, Zodiac.
Mr Millward has taken up the role of sales manager for IG Brands, working with the company’s strong distribution network to support existing customers and help build new relationships for the group, which has bases in Sunderland, Peterlee and London .
He said: “I absolutely love the great aims and ambitions of the company and I know that I am joining a really dynamic team.
“I have spent the last 18 years working in hospitality and it’s great to be part of an organisation which has made such a fantastic impact and is at the top of its game.”
Accountancy and business advisory firm Baldwins has taken on four new members of staff at its Wynyard office.
The firm has taken on three associates, Abigail Simpson, Eve Cuthbert and Jo Lamb, in its accounts and audit department, and apprentice Emma Courtley joins their accounts team.
Joanne Regan, partner for the Wynyard office, said: “Given our increased service lines, growing client base and internal promotions, we needed additional staff who were enthusiastic to develop their skills and careers. We’ve always been ahead of the curve when it comes to digital and cloud accounting and we needed to bolster our team with people who had experience in this area.
“The appointments will allow us to ensure that we continue to respond to clients’ needs effectively. New staff always bring fresh energy to the team and we hope they will bring with them innovative ideas and efficiencies.”