Category Archives: Appointments

Appointments, Creative News, Marketing, PR and SEO

Digital Out of Home marketplace has appointed industry veteran Gavin Wilson to accelerate its growth plans

VIOOH, the digital out of home (OOH) advertising marketplace has appointed Gavin Wilson as its Chief Revenue Officer (CRO).

Wilson brings with him a wealth of contacts and experience with a prestigious background in the advertising sector and will be responsible for the buy-side element of programmatic trading of digital OOH, working with DSP and agency partners. Gavin will be driving the broader engagement and growth strategy of the company as it looks to expand into new markets and territories. He will report into the CEO, Jean-Christophe Conti.

Prior to joining VIOOH, Wilson was Regional Managing Director at dunnhumby where he managed a large revenue and people portfolio for two years for both digital and non-digital products. This included the running of a full media department across multiple media channels using Tesco’s first-party data and dunnhumby Science. The business delivered better customer experiences of media communications from FMCG brands to consumers, working with top FMCGs like Unilever, Proctor & Gamble, Nestle and Coca Cola.

Before dunnhumby, he was the Chief Revenue Officer at German DSP Sociomantic Labs. He was responsible for growing the businesses globally and working with each region to drive client value and interactions. 

Commenting on the appointment, Wilson said, “I’m delighted to be making this move – VIOOH is on the cusp of an exciting period of growth. In spite of the current turbulence in the global economy, the fact is the OOH advertising sector is beginning to embrace programmatic. This is going to open up new opportunities for those innovative brands looking to take advantage of this and VIOOH is going to be both in a position, and a company, at the centre of it all.”

VIOOH is a marketplace that connects OOH and digital advertising to create brand experiences and meaningful outcomes for advertisers. Backed by JCDecaux – the number one advertising company worldwide, it combines access to premium OOH inventory with unrivalled connections to leading DSPs and key buyers making it easy to trade OOH, efficiently.

“This news is another step forward as we grow this business”, said Jean-Christophe Conti, chief executive officer, at VIOOH. “As we stand today, the revenues for OOH are being squeezed. But this is a short-term challenge. Despite current market conditions, we’re envisioning a big future as brands look to accelerate growth out of this current crisis and the adoption of programmatic for OOH becomes mainstream. This is exactly why we are bolstering our senior team with the appointment of  Gavin.”  

For more information on VIOOH, please visit, https://www.viooh.com/

Appointments

Voneus Strengthens Management Team with Three Strategic Hires

Voneus, the rural community broadband specialist, today announced three key appointments to its senior management team, accelerating the company’s ability to deliver Superfast and Ultrafast broadband services to the UK’s unconnected rural communities. Joining the company’s leadership team, all in newly created positions, are Sue Barnes, chief commercial officer (CCO), Mark Bennett, chief operations officer (COO), and Ilan Scorah, head of strategy.

Barnes joins Voneus with more than three decades of experience in the digital and traditional media industries, including at ESI Media – the company behind London Live TV – and at SCOOT (now Web.com) where she was instrumental in growing commercial operations ahead of its acquisition by ITV. At Voneus, she will be responsible for overseeing all commercial strategy and activities for business and residential projects including sales, marketing and customer experience.

Bennett will oversee the expansion of Voneus’ fixed wireless access (FWA) and fibre infrastructures, as well as head up the company’s entire network, service delivery and engineering operations. He joins the company from Virgin Media, where he was head of strategy and planning for its consumer division. Prior to that, he spent ten years in senior leadership positions at TalkTalk and Tiscali, where he was instrumental in the establishment of FibreNation and the rollout of fibre-to-the-home services.

As head of strategy, Scorah will be responsible for Voneus’ product roadmap and service innovation, as well as the company’s long-term market proposition. He will also help develop the company’s acquisition strategy, a key component of its future growth plans. He joins after a long stint at BT, where he held senior roles in the company’s consumer division and headed up the team responsible for regulatory affairs and commercial relationship with Openreach.

The expansion of Voneus’ senior leadership team is part of the company’s overall strategy to rapidly scale operations in order to deliver much-needed broadband services to remote communities. This follows a major investment in the company from Macquarie Capital, secured in August 2019.

“During the last six months, we’ve put into motion some truly ambitious plans to connect more communities, more quickly than ever before; having the right people on the team is essential if we are going to hit our goals,” said Steve Leighton, CEO, Voneus. “Sue, Mark and Ilan bring with them a diverse array of skills and experience in both the telecoms and media markets. They understand what it takes to deliver innovative, high-quality services at scale, so will all play central roles as we continue to ramp up our operations in order to bring an end to the current digital divide.”

Appointments, Law

Conexus Law appoints dispute resolution specalist to support companies during Covid-19 Pandemic

Conexus Law, the specialist advisory firm that provides legal and commercial advice to clients who work in sectors where the built environment, technology, engineering and people converge, has appointed a specialist dispute resolution and commercial litigation lawyer.

Ian Timlin brings with him nearly 30 years’ experience including acting for long standing technology clients in the following sectors: data centres, document management, telephony, car parking and young driver insurance. Career highlights include: leading and completing the successful settlement of complex multi-party multi-insurer construction claims including recovering £21m from a FTSE 100 construction company, architect and their insurers following mediation.

Ian Timlin said:

“I have been a CEDR Accredited Mediator since 2000 and feel strongly that discussion and negotiation are often the primary tool in resolving disputes and Court proceedings. This is particularly important during this pandemic where companies, businesses and individuals need to work together to get the best possible outcome and maintain good working relationships for when this is all over.”

Ed Cooke, Founder at Conexus Law, said:

“Ian’s clients comment that he is straight talking, tough (when necessary), practical, tenacious and ultimately very commercial in getting disputes resolved. He is a great asset to our growing team and will be invaluable in helping our clients both through these unprecedented times and after as we start the process of rebuilding.”

Ian was previously an equity partner at Maxwell Batley on Chancery Lane and at City law firm, Speechly Bircham, and the Group Legal Director for a large offshore property development, investment and construction group based in the Channel Islands. He is also an accomplished sports lawyer, with particular and significant experience in the world of motorsport, advising in respect of disputes and putting in place a myriad of commercial contracts in that sector.

Appointments

Yanmar Compact Equipment EMEA appoints new Managing Director

Yanmar Compact Equipment EMEA has announced the appointment of Damiano Violi as Managing Director. Joining the business from 1 April, Damiano’s appointment demonstrates Yanmar’s commitment to continued international growth and becoming a leader in the compact equipment market.

With significant experience spanning operations, project management and commercial roles across several international organisations, Damiano will play an instrumental part in the division’s global leadership team. Prior to joining Yanmar, he held the position of Industrial Control & Protection Operations Director at Eaton; and has also previously worked for companies including Honeywell and Case New Holland.

Damiano succeeds Giuliano Parodi, who returns to his role as CEO of Yanmar Compact Equipment Co. Ltd, following the successful development of the European branch. Over the coming months, Damiano will work closely with the leadership team to drive profitability, increase pan-European market share and further enhance brand awareness.

Commenting on his appointment, Damiano Violi said:

“Joining Yanmar Compact Equipment EMEA, a brand synonymous with quality, reliability and innovation, is a real honour. Over the past four years, the company has built a strong, talented team and developed a truly dynamic business.

“From the integration of Yanmar Compact Germany (with its historic brand Schaeff), to new organisational structures and the development of a globally-acclaimed product portfolio, this hard work has placed Yanmar in the perfect position to achieve international expansion ambitions, while maintaining its core company values. I’m looking forward to playing a driving role in this.”

Giuliano Parodi, CEO of Yanmar Compact Equipment EMEA, added:

“With the appointment of Damiano, I am confident that we have added a great new member to our growing family. This announcement is the next step in our strategic ambition to become a leader in the compact equipment market and I’m looking forward to seeing this happen.”

For more information about Yanmar Compact Equipment EMEA, or the company’s extensive product portfolio, visit https://www.yanmarconstruction.eu/.

Appointments, News

Econocom UK appoints Frances Weston as Managing Director

The UK division of the Econocom Group, a major European digital services provider with over 40 years’ experience, has appointed Frances Weston (nee Kinloch) as its new UK Managing Director. This appointment cements the strategic role of the group’s UK entity and will strengthen its position as a leading provider of financing and digital-as-a-service solutions to businesses (digital-as-a-service is a delivery model in which IT solutions (hardware, software and services) are bundled and provided on a subscription-basis).

Frances Weston brings with her 15 years’ experience in the banking industry, most recently in the position of Director – Head of UK & Offshore Corporate Investments at Barclays. Frances Weston joined Barclays in 2011, having previously spent time at Scotia Capital and Bloomberg Tradebook. Thanks to her extensive experience within the finance industry, Frances Weston is also the Head of EMEA Advisory Council to the Board of 100 Women in Finance.

In the role of Managing Director for Econocom UK, Frances Weston will focus on achieving UK’s growth ambitions, rolling out its strategic plan and delivering as-a-service solutions. Frances Weston’s experience also lends itself to further strengthening Econocom’s relationships with manufacturers and building partnerships within the banking sector. Frances Weston’s arrival comes as Chris Labrey leaves the Econocom Group after 22 years to pursue new adventures.

Frances Weston says: “I’m thrilled to have joined Econocom UK at such an important time for the company and aim to make Econocom the go-to digital transformation expert in the UK. Having spent the majority of my career in wealth management, investment and corporate banking, I was wanting to make a change and focus more on corporate technology yet still retain and use my banking expertise. Econocom was the perfect fit.”

Laurent Caparros, Country Manager Northern and Eastern Europe, North America, adds: “We are delighted to have Frances onboard to manage our UK entity. Frances is very commercially astute and has a very successful track record of building senior-level relationships in the c-suite including in finance and treasury. With our solid relationships with funders, tech innovators, brokers and banks, we have a lot to offer and Frances will be integral to expanding our current customer reach and deploying as-a-service solutions, as the UK plays an increasingly integral strategic role in Econocom’s operations.”

For more information about Econocom, please visit the website: https://www.econocom.co.uk/

Appointments, News

Greenbone Networks appoints Elmar Geese as Chief Operating Officer

Vulnerability management specialist, Greenbone Networks, today announced it has appointed Elmar Geese to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer (COO). Geese, who joins the company’s senior management team, will play a key role in Greenbone’s future growth, overseeing the company’s expanding operations.

Geese will take responsibility for Greenbone’s overall corporate strategy as well as process optimisation within the company. He will also focus on adding value to Greenbone’s range of products by, for example, making its vulnerability management solution available as a managed service, so it is more accessible to companies that do not have the in-house capabilities or resources to deploy and manage their own hardware.

“With its solutions for intelligent vulnerability management, Greenbone has the potential to develop from a European market leader to a global player,” said Geese.

“The security of information systems is fundamental for companies and our modern society, demonstrated by the many security incidents we now witness every day. Greenbone plays a decisive role in making our world safer and I look forward to taking a major part in this.”

Geese has over three decades of experience within the IT sector, working as founder, manager and consultant. Most recently, he was CIO at the Berlin health start-up machtfit, where he was responsible for the company’s SaaS platform for occupational health management. As head of product development and operations, he also contributed to the long-term acquisition of customers such as Bayer AG, Deutsche Bahn, Lufthansa, Edeka and Lanxess.

“We are thrilled to welcome Elmar onto the Greenbone team,” said Jan-Oliver Wagner, Greenbone founder and CEO.

“As we continue to grow, it’s essential that we have someone to support us at management level with a capable head for business and a strong entrepreneurial background. Elmar offers just that, and we are very much looking forward to working with him and are confident that with him on board, we will easily master the tasks that accompany rapid company growth.”

Appointments, News

Uberall appoints Fabrice Lévy as CFO & EVP Operations

Uberall, the ‘Near Me’ Brand Experience expert, today announced that Fabrice Lévy has joined the company as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President Operations.

In the role, Lévy will be responsible for all aspects of finance, operations, and delivering on Uberall’s customer success strategy. In order to better understand and fulfil customer needs, Lévy will lead with a proactive, data-driven approach while also working on the tools and systems that will push scalability forward at the company and make Uberall best in class.

“Lévy’s track record as a leader in the financial and client management space makes him the ideal person to join the team at Uberall as we continue to scale and expand our customer base,” said Florian Huebner, Uberall’s CEO and Co-Founder.

“His understanding of what makes a business run smoothly and what makes customers tick will be a true asset to our company and his addition to Uberall’s executive team will ensure our continued growth.”

Lévy has over 20 years in leading financial- and client-based roles within the fintech and SaaS industries, and joins Uberall from US headquartered cloud treasury and finance solution company Kyriba, where he was CFO and EVP Operations. He was previously Chief Client Officer and CFO at the company and throughout his 12 years there, spearheaded Kyriba’s business transformation and growth, and was a crucial contributor to the company’s unicorn-status achievement in 2019.

“At Uberall, enhancing data-driven decision-making through business intelligence and automation will be key for me in driving both scalable operations, unlocking growth opportunities, and helping customers achieve their goals,” said Lévy.

“Since the company has such a wide-ranging catalogue of customers, it’s particularly important to me that we take a strategic approach to engaging with them. I’m delighted to be joining the team and look forward to helping Uberall build strong customer experiences as well as grow as an internationally recognised business,” added Lévy.

Appointments, News

Event hire marketplace expands with appointment of dynamic business development manager

The Hire Street, an event hire company and online rental marketplace based in Buckinghamshire, is expanding its operation by hiring a business development manager to take the firm to the next level.

Caroline Baldry brings with her more than 20 years’ experience in community engagement, recruitment and marketing. She has held a variety of roles that have developed her relationship-building skills, making her an ideal advocate for the business, which is looking to create new ties with suppliers and clients.

The website, thehirestreet.co.uk, which has been trading since December 2013, allows clients arranging events to use its online platform to contact multiple suppliers in order to hire the equipment they need to make their event run smoothly. It allows users to manage all their orders online in one place.

Experienced software engineer Syed Asghar established the company to bring the event hire industry up to date technologically by offering clients and suppliers a full online hire order and inventory management solution.

It currently has more than 350 hire companies signed up to offer hire goods on the website.

Caroline Baldry said: “The hire service industry is becoming more prevalent as events are a big part of corporate strategy and finding cost-effective solutions are key to businesses, which we offer. For other customers, an event such as a wedding or a big party could be a big undertaking, but we allow customers to communicate with multiple suppliers at the same time. thehirestreet.co.uk gives them the option to find and arrange everything they need without having to scour multiple sites.

“It’s a really exciting time to have joined the company as, although event and catering hire is something completely new to me, growing a business through building relationships is my forte. We’re looking at increasing the number of suppliers we work with and I know from experience I’ll be able to support this.

“We have also just launched a full inventory management feature, which allows us and our suppliers to track all their inventory availability with auditing for free. This helps us keep our clients informed as efficiently as possible, which helps make my job – getting people on board – much easier.

“I’m looking forward to working with the team and helping our clients bring their amazing events to life.”

Syed Asghar said: “I’m delighted to welcome Caroline to the team and I’m excited to see how the business will move forward with her support thanks to her knowledge, experience and skills. It will help us to continue to source difficult to find products for our clients by forging ever stronger links with suppliers.”

“It was key for us to have someone from outside the event hire industry as we want to be innovative and do things differently. Working with people like Caroline is essential to achieve this and we’re glad to have her on board.”

Appointments, London News, North of England

North West law firm makes trio of new hires

Leading Manchester, Cheshire and London-based law firm, Primas has made three new hires as part of its ambitious growth plans for the north west.

Specialising in commercial, corporate and real estate law, Primas has welcomed solicitors Katie Hitchen and Katy Williamson to its real estate team, and paralegal, Dammy Osemwenkhae into its litigation department.

Katie Hitchen joins the team from SAS Daniels in Stockport where she trained and qualified as a solicitor in 2018, with experience in development work, landlord and tenant matters, property finance and other general commercial property.

Katy Williamson joins Primas from Cambridge firm Ashtons Legal, where she advised on complex conditional contracts, development schemes, property finance and general commercial real estate work for developers, housing associations and private landowners. Katy qualified as a solicitor in New Zealand in 2016.

Joining the litigation arm of the firm is paralegal, Dammy Osemwenkhae. Dammy joins with experience in the finance litigation sector, assisting on volume debt recovery matters for the UK’s leading banks and financial institutions.

Commenting on the two new additions to his team, Simon Baxter, Partner and Head of Real Estate, said: “We’re really pleased to welcome both Katy and Katie to the real estate team. They both add enthusiasm and talent to our already strong offering. We’ve got ambitious plans and the new hires help support the exciting client growth that we are experiencing.”

Daniel Thomas, Partner and Head of Litigation at Primas added: “Following our recent merger at the end of last year, we really want to see Primas go from strength to strength so, adding the right members to our team is a huge part of that. Dammy has already proven to be a great support to the litigation team and we’re really pleased to have her join us.”

The rapidly growing law firm, which has offices in Cheshire, Manchester and London, merged with Manchester-based law firm, Freeman Fisher last year and has big plans for further growth and expansion. This latest raft of recruits takes their team to 36.

Appointments, Logistics

Arrow XL appoints Peter Lowden as COO

ArrowXL, the UK’s leading two-person home delivery expert, has appointed a highly experienced professional to its main Board to support the next stage of the company’s operational transformation and growth. Peter Louden is joining the business as COO with overall responsibility for the ArrowXL day-to-day operational performance and a remit to further develop the company’s successful business proposition.

Peter has extensive board-level operational experience in the sector which spans two-person delivery, home delivery, transport and warehousing. He joins from Clipper Logistics where he was Business Solutions Director. Previous roles include Managing Director at Nightfreight and senior positions within Amazon and Doddle.

Peter Louden COO at ArrowXL, said:

“I am excited to be taking up this role to support Charlie and the team in continuing to provide a range of excellent services to customers and growing the scope and profitability of the organisation. This is a challenging and fast-growing sector and ArrowXL is in a strong position to maximise these opportunities.”

Commenting on the appointment Charlie Shiels, CEO at ArrowXL said:

“Operational excellence is absolutely key to our success – both in terms of service and financial performance. Peter has over 30 years experience in the sector and a strong proven track record so is exactly what we need to help support our ambitious plans for change and growth.”