Category Archives: Appointments

AI, Appointments, News

Real-time moderation solution Bodyguard.ai appoints Roy Brockmann as first Chief Revenue Officer

  • Brockmann joins from multiple successful start-ups and scale-ups to drive Bodyguard.ai’s global expansion 
  • Appointment comes as real-time moderation solution extends its capabilities to  solve significant revenue shortfalls for its customers 

Real-time moderation solution provider Bodyguard.ai today announces the appointment of its first Chief Revenue Officer, Roy Brockmann, to drive global growth and help existing and new customers address significant revenue shortfalls caused by online toxicity.

Brockmann’s appointment follows Bodyguard.ai’s €9m raise last year and its goal to become the must-have solution for communication and revenue teams to protect their community experiences and their business. Roy brings 15 years of sales and marketing experience, building, aligning, and managing teams in multiple successful start-ups and scale-ups.

With Bodyguard.ai, organisations can protect their community space and their brand by removing toxic content. Its unique technology combines a contextual understanding with human accuracy to provide an in-depth classification and eliminate 90% of undesirable content (racism, homophobia, spam, scam, fraud, etc.).

Matthieu Boutard, President and co-founder, Bodyguard.ai said:

“We are just at the beginning of what Bodyguard.ai can do. Our one of a kind solution is capable of covering a wide range of use cases for each one of our clients. Our recent partnership with Team BDS in the gaming industry, leading sport licences and retail brands illustrate it perfectly. Roy’s deep expertise in shaping go-to-market strategies will help us speed up our expansion and be always closer to our clients to solve their needs.”

Roy Brockmann, Chief Revenue Officer, Bodyguard.ai added:

“Organisations understand that online toxicity is a significant contributor to their revenue shortfalls. For years, they’ve been looking for a solution that could prove the value they are securing. That’s where Bodyguard.ai comes in. I’m honoured to lead a strong team of talented specialists who understand our clients’ needs and go the extra-mile to satisfy them.

Appointments, Marketing, PR and SEO, News

Commvault appoints new Chief Marketing Officer to propel brand forwards

Commvault, an enterprise data protection leader for the complex and mission critical hybrid environments of today’s global businesses, is excited to announce Anna Griffin as its new Chief Marketing Officer.

Griffin comes to Commvault as both an award-winning brand builder and results-driven marketer who has driven visionary campaigns for high-growth SaaS companies like Smartsheet; emerging brands, like Intercom; and global brands that include Saturn, Apple, Sony, Juniper Networks, and CA Technologies (now Broadcom). She’s earned a slew of marketing awards for campaigns—including the Golden Effies for effectiveness in marketing and the Edgar R. Murrow award for excellence in social media.

“Commvault is an industry pioneer, and I believe we are unmatched in the category by every measure,” said Griffin. “Our technology continues to set the pace for innovation in data protection across any environment or application. I see it as my mandate to make sure the world knows it.”

“Anna’s experience building powerful brands and category leaders will help ensure that organizations fully understand the value Commvault brings to customers by protecting their most important asset—their data,” said Sanjay Mirchandani, Commvault President and CEO.

Appointments, News

Hawkshead Relish appoint new Managing Director

Almost 25 years after founding the business, husband and wife Mark and Maria Whitehead MBE have decided to entrust the running of their award-winning preserves company to a new generation.

The multi-award winning Hawkshead Relish brand has become synonymous with the Lake District over the years, tasted by many during a visit to England’s favourite national park. The couple behind the business have dedicated themselves to its success since selling their first jar of relish in 1999, and in recent years have been working to implement a succession plan to ensure the future of the company beyond themselves.

Current General Manager, Jonathan Robb has been appointed as the new Managing Director of The Hawkshead Relish Company. Jonathan will continue to work closely with both Mark and Maria alongside their daughter Izzy Whitehead, who is the Brand Manager and a fellow Director of the business.

Speaking about the transition, Maria Whitehead MBE said, “Since Jonathan joined the business eight years ago, he’s really embraced it and has become one of the family. He completely understands our vision and where we want the business to go.”

Jonathan’s step up was a natural progression and part of our longer-term plan, allowing Mark and I to step away from the day to day running of the business. Since the pandemic, both Jonathan and Izzy have taken on more responsibility and been heavily involved in strategic decision-making. Working as a team of four has proved to be a great success, and we decided the time was right to formalise our plans.”

Hawkshead Relish work closely with specialist family business advisors at The Family Business Community, and Co-Founder Sue Howorth commented, “The family have worked hard to put in place a robust succession plan for the business that not only gives them continuity as a family, but also helps to develop and support the new generation in the business.”

Hawkshead Relish currently produce a range of over 100 handmade products from their production premises near Esthwaite Water, including their classic Westmorland Chutney and their innovative, best-selling Black Garlic Ketchup. With over 80 Great Taste awards to their name, this family run business pride themselves on the quality of their products along with a helping of great customer service.

Maria added, “We’re really proud of the great team we have at Hawkshead Relish and with Jonathan at the helm, we know it’ll be in capable hands! We’d like to congratulate Jonathan and we look forward to watching him grow the business into the next generation.”

Appointments, Care, News

New Care expands team at Wilmslow Manor

Sarah Wild, who lives in Wilmslow, has been appointed by New Care as the wellbeing co-ordinator at Wilmslow Manor Care Centre on Handforth Road.

In her new role, Sarah is responsible for creating a weekly person-centred activity programme for residents at Wilmslow Manor, to include both one-to-one and group sessions. She is also tasked with developing community links and organising enjoyable events with family participation.

Sarah’s key objective the for next 12 months is to ensure Wilmslow Manor is very much integrated into the local community and that the care home is recognised for its varied and fulfilling activities programme.

Sarah says: “I was attracted to New Care as I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to work in a brand new care home setting, allowing me the chance to showcase my skills and abilities. Wilmslow Manor is a beautiful care home with stunning gardens so it is a pleasure to work in such an environment and I am very much committed to ensuring a wellbeing activities plan is in place for each and every resident, appealing to their interests and hobbies.

“I hope to develop my team, not only providing supervision but coaching also, so that together we create a truly community-focused, exciting wellbeing and activities calendar for the residents.”

Having worked in care homes previously, Sarah has vast experience. She is also a qualified mental health nurse and has gained a qualification in Namaste Care; a structured programme of sensory activities that aims to improve end-of-life care for people who have advanced dementia by giving them pleasure and helping them to connect with loved ones.

Passionate about care, Sarah adds: “I put my nursing career on hold to raise a family and found it difficult to find the right balance to return to nursing, but care has always been my passion, so I navigated a way back to the sector.

“I am delighted to have joined New Care and have made an immediate start at Wilmslow Manor with a busy events schedule planned for the next few months, several trips out with residents to Quarry Bank Mill and the Whitworth Art Gallery, plus an array of daily activities within the home.”

Chris McGoff, CEO at New Care concludes: “It is great to welcome Sarah to the team. Her past experience and local knowledge of Wilmslow and the surrounding areas will no doubt ensure she excels as wellbeing co-ordinator at Wilmslow Manor.”

Away from work, Sarah is a keen wild swimmer and mountain climber. She loves festivals and art galleries and enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Wilmslow Manor is a stunning state-of-the-art 63 bed purpose-built care facility offering outstanding residential, dementia, 24 hour nursing and respite care services. It features fully furnished bedrooms, each with a private en suite wet room, plus a selection of communal lounges and dining rooms. It also has a nail bar, hairdresser, landscaped gardens and outdoor terraces to the first floor.

Part of the McGoff Group, New Care is one of the UK’s leading care home providers. Its portfolio of purpose-built ‘new generation’ care centres is fast gaining an enviable reputation for outstanding care that is second to none.

Appointments, News

CoreGenic kick-starts ambitious 2023 with two key new hires

CoreGenic, a specialist health & safety consultancy based in Neath, which serves companies across the UK, has kick-started its plans for growth in 2023 with two key new hires.

The first is the appointment of Senior Health and Safety Consultant, William Griffiths, who will be responsible for maintaining the company’s clients’ health and safety management systems. The role will also see him implementing procedures and policies, sharing best practices and advice, and completing site inspections with fire risk, and health and safety risk assessments.

Griffiths has previously held positions as Health and Safety Coordinator and QSHE Manager at various companies and holds TechIOSH and PCQI qualifications. He has also been tasked with building a successful team to facilitate the growth the company plans for 2023.

Additionally, Griffiths’ appointment reinforces CoreGenic’s commitment to supporting the military community, with Griffiths having completed two tours of Iraq in a nine-year military career. This support for military veterans by CoreGenic has also recently included its Managing Director, Cherie Coughlan completing a trek across Wadi Rum, Jordan, to raise £1,820 in support of ABF The Soldier’s Charity.

The second appointment is CoreGenic’s new Business Support Coordinator, Sarah-Jayne MacDonald, who joins the company having previously worked within the care and retail sectors.

MacDonald will be responsible for office administration, including providing efficient and effective secretarial and administrative support, to include handling enquiries, word processing, record keeping and correspondence.

The new hires have been made necessary as a result of the growth the company has recently been experiencing, as more companies seek out professional advice around increasingly complex health & safety and environmental standards regulations.

Cherie Coughlan, Managing Director at CoreGenic, said:

“I am extremely glad to welcome William and Sarah-Jayne on board. We have ambitious plans for 2023 and are focusing on continually growing while ensuring we provide the very best service to our existing and prospective clients. It is an exciting time for the company and both William and Sarah-Jayne will play a pivotal part in our development moving forward.”

Appointments, Construction, Construction News

Timber group continues to grow team

Premier Forest Products, one of the UK’s leading timber groups has made a key new appointment in Wales as it continues to expand its product range.

Shaun Griffiths has been appointed as Premier Forest’s newest business development manager to support the expanding business and ensure that customer service remains at the core of its ongoing strategy.

Shaun’s wealth of experience will help the business continue to grow and develop its bespoke product offering as well as supporting new business opportunities.

Shaun has worked in the timber industry for 35 years, previously working for James Latham and Timbmet, specialising in manufacturing, cladding, decking and fire treatment and coatings.

In his new role, Shaun will be the first point of contact for customers seeking hardwoods, manufactured goods and cladding in particular, helping to develop new products and consolidate relationships with new suppliers.

 

On his appointment, Shaun said: “I was planning to relocate to West Wales with my family and when I spoke to the team at Premier, I knew that was where I wanted to be as they were so enthusiastic and the role sounded perfect for me.

“They have a clear strategy and being part of their next stage of development into hardwood and cladding offerings is very exciting. I love working in the timber trade, having started work in a joinery shop when I was 15 it’s all I know, and I’m looking forward to this new venture.”

 

Joe Walker, Managing Director at Premier Forest Products, said: “I am delighted to welcome Shaun to Premier. He brings with him a wealth of experience and will be a great addition to our ever-growing team and aid the development of our new product offering.

“At Premier it is of paramount importance that we employ people with not just expertise but enthusiasm in the sector, so that we can continually improve on the service we provide to our customers.”

 

Premier Forest Products is a vertically integrated timber operation engaged in the importation, sawmilling, processing, merchanting, and wholesale distribution of timber and timber products from its twelve sites in the UK.

 

Accountancy & Accounts, Appointments, Finance and Banking, News, Tax

New associate among series of new year promotions

Leading independent accountancy firm, Kilsby Williams, has announced a series of promotions within its tax and business services teams to start the new year.

Dafydd Ford, who has been with the firm for over 15 years, has been promoted to Tax Associate. Dafydd has experience advising clients across a broad range of sectors and has used that experience to identify key tax planning opportunities for many clients over the years. He has particular expertise in areas such as property tax, investment tax relief and research and development tax relief.

 

Dafydd said: “Since starting my tax career with Kilsby Williams in 2007, I have been impressed by the company’s attitude and support regarding professional development. I have been able to take opportunity after opportunity to thrive and hone my skills into key specialisms. I am excited to begin this year in my new role.”

 

Fellow colleagues Sandy Gaywood and Diane Nettleton have been promoted to Senior Tax Managers.

Sandy is a personal tax specialist who provides proactive advice and practical solutions for her clients. Diane’s focus is also personal and partnership tax compliance, with her expertise centring on tax planning for individuals who are coming, leaving or returning to the UK.

Other promotions for managerial roles were awarded to Kathryn Hof and Lucy Lloyd, while Ross Johnson has been promoted to Business Services Assistant.

 

Simon Tee, Managing Partner at Kilsby Williams, said: “Our staff are our most valuable asset and the relationship we have with our employees is of the utmost importance to us. As well as attracting the best talent from outside of the firm, we firmly believe in supporting the professional development of our employees and rewarding their progression in the company.

“We are therefore delighted to announce this series of promotions within the teams as we enter a new year.”

 

Established in 1991, Kilsby Williams works with clients from across South Wales, the Midlands and London, ranging from sole traders to companies in international quoted groups.

 

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Image caption: L-R – Kilsby Williams managing partner Simon Tee, tax associate Dafydd Ford and senior partner Stephen Williams

Appointments, News

Chris Dunning-Walton welcomed to Six Degrees’ advisory team

Six Degrees welcomes Chris Dunning-Walton to its advisory team, as the company strikes new ground in the cyber security landscape.

Six Degrees has appointed Chris Dunning-Walton to its advisory team. Chris joined the Six Degrees advisory team on 1st January 2023.

​​Chris is currently CEO and Managing Partner of Sentients, a boutique international executive search firm that focuses on placing Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and other cyber leaders with FTSE 250 enterprises. He is also CEO of InfoSec People Ltd, a multi-award-winning cyber security recruitment consultancy, and the founder and director of CyNam, the UK’s largest Cyber Cluster focused on cyber tech industry development, innovation, and inclusive talent enablement in Cheltenham and Gloucestershire.
Chris has worked with a number of premier brands including Admiral Insurance, Dixons, Carphone Warehouse, Aviva, The Economist, Vitality, BAE, BT Deloitte, and KPMG.

Chris said: “Cyber threats present as the world’s top business risk. It’s important that businesses develop strategies that not only seek to improve their cyber security postures, but also their cyber resilience: how technology and processes enable the business to respond when incidents arise. What drew me towards Six Degrees was their exceptional people and portfolio of services, fronted by expertise in hybrid cloud technology and with security at the core of everything they do. I am excited to be working closely with the leadership team of a great business which is committed to enabling its clients to not only survive – but to thrive in these complex times.”

Commenting on the appointment, Six Degrees CEO Simon Crawley-Trice said: “With the economic outlook we’re facing over the next few years, it’s more imperative than ever that companies transform their digital strategies to be reliable, resilient and cost-effective. Security must be at the heart of any transformation. Chris has years of experience working with top FTSE brands, helping them to better understand the challenges before them, to mature their cyber strategies, and to secure a return on their cyber security investments. Chris is the right person to work with us as we strive to connect our clients with the solutions needed to protect and grow their businesses.”

Six Degrees. Beyond Cloud.

We help customers enjoy all the game-changing potential of cloud. We create secure, flexible platforms that set organisations free to achieve and exceed their boldest aspirations, whatever those may be.
Our industry-leading security protects against today’s and tomorrow’s cyber threats, while our unrivalled technology stack means maximum productivity and efficiency, even with a remote workforce.
With a formal service agreement and the most flexible financial terms in the industry, we go above and beyond for every customer.

Appointments, News

Ciphr names Sion Lewis as new CEO

SaaS HR provider Ciphr has appointed Sion Lewis as its new CEO.

He joins the Marlow-based, ECI-backed group effective from 1 February, bringing with him considerable leadership and management experience in growing successful SaaS businesses.

Lewis succeeds Chris Berry, Ciphr’s founder, who has moved into a non-executive role on the board, after over 30 years as CEO.

Lewis most recently served as general manager of EMEA at GoTo, the all-in-one business communications and IT support specialists, where he helped inform international strategy and build and expand on the brand’s European presence. Prior to that, he was CEO of IRIS Software’s accountancy and education divisions, growing revenue by over 150%. He has also held senior roles with BMC and Salesforce.

Sion Lewis, CEO of Ciphr, says: “I’m really excited to join Ciphr and its leadership team at such a pivotal time. Ciphr is a successful and fast growth company, which provides business-critical people management solutions that support and empower the UK’s SMB sector – the bedrock and powerhouse of the nation’s economy. Having been intimately involved with UK PLC during my time at IRIS, the ability to do so again with Ciphr was simply compelling. People are an organisation’s greatest asset, and Ciphr’s impressive suite of workplace technologies are designed to enhance their employee experience and help them to do their best work. There are significant opportunities for the business to grow and to drive growth for its customers, and I look forward to leading the company in this dynamic and exciting market.”

Ken Hills, Ciphr’s chairman, says: “This is an important development for Ciphr, and we are delighted to be able to attract someone of Sion’s expertise and calibre to spearhead Ciphr’s future growth and take the company into the next stage of its development. The HCM market is changing in new and exciting directions, and I look forward to working with Sion during this next phase in the company’s evolution.

“On behalf of the board, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Chris for his incredible contribution over the years. Ciphr simply wouldn’t be where it is today without his strong leadership, vision, and dedication.”

Chris Berry, founder and former CEO of Ciphr, says: “It’s been a privilege to lead Ciphr over the last 30 years and I’m extremely proud of what we have achieved. The business is in a strong position, and it’s the right time for me to hand over the reins to a new leadership. I’m thrilled that we have secured someone of Sion’s credentials to continue to build on Ciphr’s success. He has a proven track record of growing SaaS enterprises, and I look forward to supporting him and the board in an advisory role.”

Stephen Roberts, partner at ECI, says: “Since our investment in 2020, Ciphr has continued to go from strength to strength. I’m delighted to be welcoming Sion into Ciphr. Given his skills and experience we are confident that he is the right leader to succeed Chris and drive Ciphr forward on its organic and acquisitive growth journey.”

Ciphr is a specialist provider of cloud-based HR, payroll, recruitment and learning software. More than 650 organisations use the group’s people management solutions – Ciphr, Digits LMS and Payroll Business Solutions – globally across the public, private and non-profit sectors.

For more information, please visit www.ciphr.com.

Appointments, News

Adlington Retirement Living bolsters operations team with four promotions

Adlington Retirement Living has announced four internal promotions and is actively recruiting for seven new roles as part of its ambitious growth plans.

Sharon Bossons, who has been promoted to Senior Operations Manager, said: “We set up Adlington Management Services in 2019 to bring the operations of our retirement communities in-house and provide a consistently outstanding service to our homeowners. I’ve been involved with that from day one.

“My team are responsible for the practical aspects of running a retirement community, such as maintaining the building, as well as the more emotional aspects that create a caring, supportive environment and positively contribute to the health, happiness and well-being of our homeowners. We ensure that every homeowner’s experience exceeds their expectations.”

Aimee Clayton has moved from General Manager at The Cottons in Ramsbottom to join the central team as Operations Manager and Donna Cowell has moved from General Manager at The Woodlands in Heaton Mersey to join the central team as Well-being and Hospitality Manager. In Sheffield, Nick Beedham has been promoted from Duty Manager to General Manager.

Sharon added: “Every member of our team has a genuine passion for what we do. To be able to make such a difference to people and to support homeowners enjoying their retirement to the full is so rewarding. Over the years, I’ve seen first-hand so many individual stories, where moving to a retirement living community has made a huge difference to the homeowners and to their family.”

The four promotions are part of a move to scale up the Adlington Retirement Living team as part of its growth strategy. Since 2009, the business has launched 15 Independent Retirement Communities across the North West, Yorkshire, Wales and the Midlands. Having already grown to three sites every year, the family owned and run business is now looking to achieve six new retirement community sites a year.

Dr Ed Gladman, CEO of Adlington Retirement Living, said: “We’re growing our team as part of our commitment to make that happen. In the past six years we have grown from 30 employees to a team of more than 150, with experts from land acquisition, planning, architectural and technical design, to procurement, construction, sales & marketing, legal and community operations. We’re now recruiting for a number of roles ranging from General Managers to architects, quantity surveyors, structural engineers and a Senior Interior Designer.”

Adlington Retirement Living is one of the top three companies that designs, builds and operates Integrated Retirement Communities in the UK and has more than 950 happy homeowners. A recent homeowner survey confirmed that 100% would recommend living in an Adlington Retirement Community to friends or family.

Dr Ed Gladman adds: “Our vision is to empower the older generation to live a long, happy and healthy life. We do this by creating quality retirement communities in safe and secure environments and providing our homeowners with a wide variety of activities, extensive communal facilities and beautiful private gardens.”

Four of Adlington’s communities have won Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards for the Best Retirement Development at the WhatHouse? Awards, the UK housebuilding’s most prestigious event. The Folds in Romiley and the Bridges in Macclesfield won the Silver Award in 2020 and 2019, Adlington House in Otley won the Gold Award in 2017 and Adlington House in Portishead won the Bronze Award in 2015.

Adlington Retirement Living was also crowned Seniors Housing Developer of the Year and its new retirement community in Heaton Mersey, Stockport, won Seniors Housing Scheme of the Year at the HealthInvestor Seniors Housing Awards 2022.

For more information on Adlington Retirement Living please visit www.adlington.co.uk.