Tees Business #4 | Page 31

Serving the Teesside Business Community | 31 TEES Business appointments A round-up of the latest appointments on the Tees business scene... Bob Forster, The Nicholson Group The Nicholson Group – which comprises three transport and logistics companies based in Billingham – has appointed Bob Forster as its chairman. Mr Forster, who has worked in a nonexecutive and HR business partner role for the group for the past eight years, aims to bring greater independence to each business while sharing common values of staff development and excellent customer service. The group is made up of Nicholson’s Transport, lorry mounted crane company Nicholson’s Hi-ab and caravan and storage firm Box Clever. It is also nurturing a range of new enterprises with a view to eventually bringing them under the Nicholson umbrella. Russell Thompson, Thirteen Group Russell Thompson has joined the leadership team at Thirteen as group director of Property Services. The 52-year-old was welcomed into the Tees Valley-based group, which covers an area from North Tyneside to York, from his previous role as a consultant leading on a variety of projects across the country. In his new post, Russell has overall responsibility for Thirteen’s in-house repairs and maintenance function, as well as the programmes of major refurbishment and investment covering properties owned by the landlord partners in the group; Erimus Housing, Housing Hartlepool, Tees Valley Housing and Tristar Homes. “I felt I could really bring some value and the size and social purpose values of Thirteen really struck a chord,” said father-of-three Russell, who enjoys playing golf, watching football and coaching an under-12s football team. David Medd, Cygnet Law Redcar-based Cygnet Law has augmented its services with the appointment of in-house barrister David Medd. David studied for a graduate diploma in Law at Nottingham University and a Bar Vocational Course at the University of Northumbria at Newcastle. Called to the Bar in 2010 and completing his pupillage in 2012, he is a recipient of the Plowden Award for advocacy and an Inner Temple Award for Outstanding Student. David is an expert in all areas of family law and has been regularly instructed by local authorities, parents, children and other interested parties in a wide range of public law proceedings including cases of a complex nature such as serious injuries to children. Megan Carr, Omega Plastics Rapid tooling and plastic injection moulding manufacturer Omega Plastics has appointed Megan Carr to its marketing team. The Teesside University business management graduate will support marketing manager Jonathan Galloway, a fellow Teesside University alumni, to deliver the company’s advertising, PR and digital marketing activities for its sites in Blyth and Hartlepool. Omega Plastics has carved an enviable reputation as a UK market leader in rapid tooling and plastic injection moulding, providing product development and manufacturing services to the automotive, defence, medical, and personal care industries. Tait Walker Fourteen new recruits have joined the ranks at Tait Walker, adding to its 150-strong team which operates across Newcastle, Northumberland, Teesside and Cumbria. The chartered accountancy’s new recruits include Tom Puckrin and Sam Wilson, both 18 years old, who will work out of the Teesside office as trainees in the business services and tax teams. David Greensmith, Chemoxy Teesside-based Chemoxy, one of Europe’s largest independent contract manufacturers, has appointed David Greensmith as nonexecutive chairman following an investment by BGF (Business Growth Fund) in February 2015. Paula Tinkler was also recently appointed as the Chemoxy’s new commercial director. David has 30 years’ experience in the global chemicals industry including senior executive roles at ICI Group and Zeneca and as COO of Avecia Group, which was formed following a buy-out from Zeneca. After leading the sale of Avecia’s electronic materials portfolio to Fujifilm Japan, David went on to run the business, known as Fujifilm Imaging Colorants, and completed its integration into Fujifilm. Roy Merryweather, PD Ports PD Ports has welcomed on board a new general manager business development, Roy Merryweather, as part of its growth plans to generate further new business in the company’s bulk handling operations at its Teesport. Roy joins PD Ports from Peel Ports where he was employed for over four years as group business development manager. In his new role at Teesport, Roy is responsible for developing supply chain solutions for customers importing and exporting dry bulk cargo; bringing with him over 15 years’ experience specialising in steel and forest products sectors. Email us your new appointments, including a picture, to: [email protected] Some of the best recent tweets from Teesside’s business Twitterati “Real opportunities in #logistics on #Teesside with some 17,000 people employed in the sector – that’s the highest it’s been in 5 years!” @PDPorts on some local good news “There is a real skills gap in #logistics on #Teesside. Let’s hope these opportunities offer some hope to #SSI workers.” @evolutionllp hopes it creates new chances for former steelworkers “Gutted & Sad for the workers of SSI & their families. Over time Teesside can create new jobs” @preston_andy reacts to the closure of the Redcar steel plant “Who said we don’t make steel on Teesside any more? #menofsteel” @MichaelMcGeary aka @TheMemoirMan after Middlesbrough FC knocked Manchester United out of the Capital One Cup “Great that we have agreed Tees Valley devolution. Power, money and focus to drive our economy #NorthernPowerhouse” @jameswhartonuk Stockton South MP and Northern Powerhouse minister on the devolution of power to the Tees region “Tip: Don’t be entirely selfpromotional on Twitter. Mix up your content and interact with your followers.” @RAWDigi offer some advice for all of us “Professor Brian Cox opened the @mbrocollege #STEM Centre. Maybe it will produce a famous scientist of its own!