The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire April/May Edition 2015 | Page 8

APPOINTED

Triple appointment at
Swindon & Wiltshire LEP

NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR
AT BEARD

The strategic organisation tasked with
driving economic growth to the area,
the Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise
Partnership (SWLEP) have recruited three
new members to their board.
The new recruits come from a range of
backgrounds and bring with them their own
specialisms. Acting Principal at Wiltshire
College Amanda Burnside brings with her
vast experience of the education and skills
sector. Before joining Wiltshire College, she
worked at Swindon College and previously
worked in educational marketing and
consultancy.
Shahina Johnson joins from Swindon
based Create Studios Digital Media, where
she has worked for a decade as CEO and
artistic director. Swindon’s Create Studios
provides transformational opportunities
for individuals and communities, using
digital arts as a tool for education, skills
development and connection with those in
danger of social exclusion or isolation.
Previously Shahina worked in national
digital cultural education initiatives for Arts
Council England.

Regional construction company Beard, which
has offices in Swindon, Guildford and Oxford,
has appointed Chartered Accountant Michael
McCabe, FCA, as finance director based at their
Swindon office.

John Mortimer is the third recruit and
he has worked for 13 years as South West
director of the Country Land & Business
Association (CLA). He previously worked for
25 years as technical and external affairs
director at Hanson Quarry Products Europe,
based in Chipping Sodbury.
Barry Dennington, Chair of SWLEP,
said: “Our new board members will help
to provide strategic insight and support
to the board and will contribute to the
development of one of the most successful
LEPs in the country.
“I’m very much looking forward to
working alongside them at an exciting time
for economic development in Swindon and
Wiltshire.”
An additional three new members to the
SWLEP team will be needed over the next
12 months to replace members whose terms
of appointment have expired, or will be
expiring shortly, and to broaden the scope of
experience and expertise on the board.
To find out more contact SWLEP visit:
www.swlep.biz/contact for full contact
details.

In his new role, Michael will have
management responsibility for finance,
business systems and procurement for
the £100 million turnover construction
group which operates across the South of
England.
Michael, joins Beard from a construction
background where he has held senior
management posts with building materials
group Grafton Merchanting GB . Michael
trained with Price Waterhouse Cooper.
“I am delighted that Michael has
joined us as finance director,” says Mark
Beard, managing director of Beard. “His
knowledge and wide range of experience
within the construction sector makes him
an excellent addition to our executive team
during a new phase of business growth
for Beard. We are all looking forward to
working with him.”

Other key posts Michael has held include
Market Information Committee Chairman
for the Construction Products Association
and membersh