Tag Archives: Appointments

Appointments, News, South East England News, Wellbeing, Wellbeing News

Bridge Health & Wellbeing Boosts Clinical Team with New Sports Massage Therapist

Family-run clinic Bridge Health & Wellbeing in Christchurch, Dorset, is delighted to welcome another experienced sports massage therapist to its growing clinical team.

Alice Loveridge (SM, MA, CPT) is a Level 3 Sport Massage Therapist, trained in Deep Tissue, Pregnancy and Post Natal Massage and a Medical Acupuncturist. She qualified in 2017 and completed her acupuncture training in 2018. She is also a Certified Personal Trainer.

Alice has worked with numerous sporting teams, including the Netherlands cricket team, helping to manage injuries and providing deep tissue relaxation treatments. She relocated to the New Forest from the Channel Islands in 2023 after working in a busy Sports Clinic in St Peter Port and setting up her own Sports Massage and Medical Acupuncture clinic.

A keen sportswoman herself, Alice is an active member of Lymington Cross Fit + Hyrox and will compete in the European circuit later this year. An accomplished table tennis player, Alice represented Great Britain at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics and Guernsey at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Paul O’Connell, co-founder and lead physiotherapist at Bridge Health & Wellbeing, said, “We are delighted to welcome Alice to our team. With three massage therapists, we are able to offer a variety of sports massage and remedial massage services, as well as specialist services in pregnancy massage, post-natal massage and acupuncture. Discomfort, aches and pains are warning signs that something is not quite right in our bodies. Massage therapy can unlock soft tissue, decrease muscle tightness and provide welcome relief.”

Bridge Health & Wellbeing is a friendly, family-run clinic in the heart of Christchurch in Dorset, with high quality physiotherapy, chiropractic treatment, sports massage and rehabilitation services,  expert Pilates, yoga classes and other wellbeing classes, and state-of-the-art gym facilities all under one roof.

Whether you need help with pain or an injury or just want to stay fit and healthy, come and join them for the journey. Book your appointment now at www.bridgehw.com or call 01202 473800 to speak to their friendly team of wellbeing experts.

Accountancy, Appointments, Business, Investment, Newport, South Wales

Kilsby Williams continues to grow with new appointments

Tax and accountancy specialist Kilsby Williams has strengthened its business services and tax teams as the Newport-based firm continues to grow.

Ken Vargis has been appointed as a manager in Kilsby Williams’ business services team. An assurance professional, Ken will be applying his significant auditing expertise to support the firm’s varied client portfolio.

Ken said: “I am elated to be joining Kilsby Williams at such a pivotal point in its growth. I am looking forward to working with new clients, and adding value to their business by providing robust services.”

Joining Ken in the business services team is Hannah Griffiths, a Swansea University accounting and finance graduate.

In her role as business services assistant, Hannah will be involved in the preparation of accounts for a number of clients and assisting with audits, while working towards the ACA qualification to become a chartered accountant and progress further in the firm.

In the tax team, Cardiff University graduate Luis McCarthy has been appointed as a trainee. He will support the team with the preparation of corporation and personal tax returns and will study towards the ATT and CTA exams to become a chartered tax advisor.

Ataf Salim, partner at Kilsby Williams, said: “We are focused on attracting the best accountancy and tax talent at every stage of their careers and are pleased to share the news of our latest appointments ranging from trainee to managerial level.

“As the largest independent firm in the region, it is exciting to grow even further and we know that Ken, Hannah and Luis’ work will strengthen our services.”

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.

Appointments, Logistics, News

Kinaxia Logistics strengthens senior team with key appointments

Kinaxia Logistics has strengthened its senior team as part of a management restructure which will see it focus on further developing its customer proposition, driving operational efficiencies and unlocking the potential within the business.

Simon Nelson has been appointed to the new position of chief operating officer and Mark Tabor has joined Kinaxia as commercial director.

Chief executive Michael Conroy said the duo have vast experience at board level and possess great commercial acumen.

He said the appointments form part of Kinaxia’s strategy to work more closely with its customers and deliver high-quality services which are more tailored to their needs.

Simon joined Kinaxia and became managing director of its contract distribution operations after the company acquired Nelson Distribution from KNP Logistics Group last September.

Mark has over 35 years’ experience in UK and European logistics, working with a number of leading businesses including FedEx, Palletforce and Online MBT.

As Palletforce’s European development director, he oversaw the expansion of its cross-border pallet network from 11 to 30 countries and quadrupled turnover.

Michael said: “The new position of COO has been created to ensure our services more closely match our customers’ requirements. This will enable us to get closer to them, better understand their needs and deliver a service which reflects this.

“In addition, Simon will also drive efficiency across the business using technology-enabled solutions that will boost productivity while further enhancing sustainability, allowing us to generate additional value for our customers.

“Mark will play a major role as we continue to align our commercial proposition to best serve the needs of our customers with the agility to flex to quickly meet the demands of a changing marketplace.

“His appointment further reinforces our strategy to be completely aligned with our customers to deliver a stand-out experience to them and ensure we operate in a manner which drives long-term success for the business.

“With some of the highest-quality warehousing facilities in the UK, a depth of regional transport expertise and heritage that is unmatched, skilled and motivated people and a powerful palletised freight offering, we have a full end-to-end solution that can quickly adapt to our customers’ needs.”

Kinaxia, which has its headquarters in Macclesfield, Cheshire, employs more than 1,700 staff nationwide with a fleet of 800 vehicles transporting goods for the retail, leisure, food and drink and manufacturing sectors.

It has 2.7 million sq ft of strategic national warehousing facilities offering contract packing, e-fulfilment, returns management, storage services and a complete distribution service.

Appointments, Automotive, Business, Cardiff, Careers, Economy & Jobs News, HR, Jobs

Industrial electronic repair firm Kontroltek Ltd welcomes new Director of Commercial and HR

One of the UK’s leading providers of industrial electronic repairs has announced the appointment of Catherine Demaid as its new Director of Commercial and HR.

Kontroltek, being the largest independent firm of its type in the UK, covers the whole of the UK, specialising in Industrial Electronic Repairs, working with all sectors of manufacturing and servicing businesses across the UK and globally.

With her extensive experience and expertise, Cath will play a pivotal role in driving the company’s strategic growth initiatives and fostering a culture of excellence.

Cath brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to her new role, having served in various senior leadership positions in the fields of acquisitions, HR and transformational change.

With a proven track record of developing and implementing effective organisational development and growth strategies, Cath is poised to lead Kontroltek’s plans for major expansion in the UK and Europe. Her experience in driving business growth is set to be instrumental in nurturing talent pipelines and fostering a culture of innovation and advancement within the industrial electronics sector.

Commenting on her appointment, Cath said: “I am thrilled to be part of the Kontroltek team and am committed to leveraging my experience to drive the company’s strategic objectives forward.

“I believe in fostering a culture of inclusivity, innovation, and talent development and engagement, and I look forward to collaborating with the talented team at Kontroltek to achieve our goals.”

Andrew Follant, Managing Director, Kontroltek Ltd, added: “We are delighted to welcome Cath to the Kontroltek family as our Director of Commercial and HR. With her extensive background in strategic change, performance initiatives and organisational development, she will play a pivotal role in driving our company’s growth and success.

“Her passion for excellence and commitment to fostering a positive work culture and impressive talent pipelines align perfectly with Kontroltek’s vision. We look forward to her transformational leadership as we continue to expand and innovate in the industrial electronic repair industry.”

Appointments, News

New CEO for 125-year-old British brand Duckhams Oils

Duckhams, the original British motor oil since 1899, is pleased to welcome Mike Bewsey as its new CEO. With many years of experience managing multi-national lubricant brands, Mike has been appointed to lead the company through its next stage of global operations.

As Duckhams enters its 125th year, Mike will direct the iconic engine oil brand during a pivotal period in its development. “Duckhams is a great brand with a rich heritage, well-loved by mechanics and motorists,” Mike said. “Since its successful relaunch in 2018, Duckhams has received strong support from distributors and partners across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The brand is now available in twenty-seven countries, having doubled its global network over the past twelve months. The 125th anniversary is an incredible milestone, giving us a fantastic platform to celebrate everything Duckhams has achieved in 125 years of winning with drivers, workshops and distributors. It is an exciting time to be joining the Duckhams family.”

Mike began his automotive career at Unipart before becoming Sales & Marketing Director at Comma Oil and Business Unit Director at Moove Europe. Keen to support the broader lubricants industry, Mike served as Chairman of the UK lubricants organisation, the Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS), from 2021 to 2023. He is currently President of the United Kingdom Lubricants Association (UKLA), leading their work to represent the lubricants industry in the UK and abroad, actively engaging with other trade associations and the UK and European Governments on matters impacting the lubricants industry.

Duckhams has a long history dating back to 1899 when Alexander Duckham first established his own oil company. His entrepreneurial, pioneering spirit has been at the company’s heart since then. Duckhams was responsible for the development of revolutionary new process oils that controlled the build-up of carbon deposits in the 1920s and launched the first synchromesh gear oil in the 1930s. In 1951, Duckhams introduced Europe’s first multigrade oil, an innovation which transformed lubrication technology forever.

Mike’s appointment comes after Rajat Moitra joined the business as Global Chief Marketing Officer, and Chris Clarkson became Global Technical and Procurement Officer at the end of 2023. These senior-level engagements have created a new leadership team with decades of experience leading multi-national lubricants brands.

With a motorsports legacy spanning over fifty years, Duckhams has sponsored winners in motorcycle racing, Formula 1, Formula 3, Formula Ford and the Porsche Carrera Cup. Duckhams-sponsored Jackie Ickx won the F1 Race of Champions at Brands Hatch in 1974, and in 1975, James Hunt won the Dutch Grand Prix in a Surtees. In 1981, Ari Vatanen became the World Rally Champion. Duckhams’ involvement with the Porsche Carrera GB Cup began in 2021 with a first victory by Duckhams driver Dan Cammish, followed by Adam Smalley’s victory in 2023. Duckhams are also OR BRIC Superbike 2023 champions in Thailand, solidifying their motorsports legacy.

Duckhams delivers high-performance engine oils formulated to keep engines of all ages moving. Their passenger and commercial vehicle lubricants are available in twenty-seven countries across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

News

SentinelOne announces executive appointments and promotions amidst rapid growth

SentinelOne, an autonomous cybersecurity platform company, has announced key executive appointments and promotions that will fuel the growth of its best-in-class cybersecurity platform and scale forward its go-to-market operations. Mitra Mahdavian has been appointed to SVP, Business Transformation; Bryan Gale has been appointed to VP, Product Marketing; Rajiv Taori has been appointed to GM, Dataset; Eric Tinker has been appointed to VP, Renewals; and Joni Tsumas has been appointed to VP, Global Accounts & Programs.

In addition, Jared Phipps has been promoted to SVP, Americas Sales and Solution Engineering and Daniel Kollberg has been promoted to SVP, EMEA Sales and Solutions Engineering. The appointments and promotions are a testament to the company’s commitment to deliver best-in-class XDR protection built for the new cyber security paradigm.

“At SentinelOne, we are on a mission to deliver real-time, autonomous cyber security at scale,” said Tomer Weingarten, CEO, SentinelOne. “The recent appointments and promotions will play an important role in enabling us to continue to stand out from the crowd and deliver cutting edge protection and innovation to our global customers as we deliver the most advanced enterprise security platform with trust and integrity. Their talent and relentless drive will enable us to do what no other company has done before in record time – give enterprises the advantage over tomorrow.”

Mrs. Mahdavian is a seasoned business leader with a proven track record of driving strategic growth. Mahdavian joins SentinelOne after over a decade at McKinsey & Co., where she was a partner and a leader in McKinsey’s Technology, Marketing and Sales practices, with clients including $50B+ software and hardware providers, global technology infrastructure organisations and multiple growth stage SaaS companies. As SVP of Business Transformation, Mahdavian will drive strategic initiatives, business intelligence and monetisation strategies.
Mr. Gale has over 20 years of experience driving product innovation across the cyber security industry in both marketing and product leadership roles. Prior to SentinelOne, Gale was the Global VP of Product Marketing at CrowdStrike, where he hired and built a marketing organisation spanning product, technical and competitive marketing as well as analyst relations. Before CrowdStrike, Gale was Chief Product Officer at Automox and Chief Product Officer at CyberGRX. As VP of Product Marketing, Gale will lead the go-to-market strategy for the Singularity platform.

Mr. Taori is a proven business leader with a 20-year track record of building businesses, establishing market leadership positions and creating successful products. Taori joins SentinelOne from Amazon Web Services, where he was Product Leader responsible for OpenSearch analytics, search, observability and security offerings. As GM of DataSet, Taori will be responsible for defining the strategic vision, operations and go-to-market execution for SentinelOne DataSet.

Mr. Tinker has more than 25 years of experience leading renewals and driving customer success across technology organisations. Prior to SentinelOne, Tinker was SVP of Global Renewal Sales and Operations, Acceleration Sales GTM at Riverbed Technology, where he led a global team responsible for over 55% of Riverbed’s total revenue. As VP of Global Renewals, Tinker will scale the global renewals organisation leveraging a standard enablement approach to increase bookings, net revenue retention and maximise gross revenue retention.

Mrs. Tsumas brings over 20 years of experience leading sales and strategic growth across high-tech companies. Tsumas joins SentinelOne from Cohesity, where she was VP of Sales, US Strategic & Enterprise. Prior to Cohesity, Tsumas held positions at VMware, NetApp and Cisco. As VP of Global Accounts & Programs, Tsumas will be responsible for leading and developing strategies that enhance customer experience across SentinelOne’s largest customers and prospects.

News

Weduc makes key strategic appointments to drive growth strategy

Rob Pointen appointed as CEO and ParentMail founder, Paul Hughes, appointed as Non-Executive Chairman to grow the next-generation parental engagement software solution

Loughborough-based school software provider, Weduc has announced two key senior appointments to drive its next-phase growth strategy.

Rob Pointen has been appointed as CEO after joining the company as Chief Finance Officer last year. Pointen has a proven track record in planning and facilitating strategic change in high growth companies across multiple sectors. Since joining the board, Pointen has been instrumental in forging a strong, dynamic, standalone business after the demerger from the Accrosoft group last year.

Seasoned Education software entrepreneur and business leader, Paul Hughes has been appointed as Non-Executive Chairman. Hughes brings with him a wealth of education sector experience, previously as founder and CEO of ParentMail.

The pair will work closely together, implementing a strategy that builds on the success Weduc is seeing with its next-generation parental engagement software solution, which is proving a valued school upgrade to legacy systems.

“We’ve got a really exciting future ahead,” said Pointen. “Our mission is to bring genuine service back into Edtech, which many schools today sadly find missing, especially from our larger corporate rivals. Many of our staff are ex-education professionals, who truly understand the problems facing schools and genuinely want to make a difference in children’s educational outcomes. With our relentless focus on reaching parents and our passion to deliver meaningful results for schools through our market-leading software and levels of service, we are well placed to be very disruptive in the communications market.”

Hughes said: “Weduc is probably the most comprehensive parental engagement solution currently available to schools. It has been carefully developed – utilising more channels than any other product which ultimately means, it reaches more people including that small minority of parents that most schools find hardest to reach.”

About Weduc
Founded in 2017, Weduc quickly established itself as the expert in stakeholder engagement in the school communications market and continues to grow strongly. Its software platform allows users to utilise more channels simultaneously than anyone else including in-app messaging, emails, SMS, social media channels, and their multi-media parent news feed and can even update a school’s website pages at the same time.

This gives schools the best chance of their messages getting home, even to the most hard-to-reach parents, resulting in better outcomes for pupils. Weduc is the only company to provide dedicated telephone support to parents. For more information, please visit www.weduc.com

Weduc’s growth journey has been supported with equity funding from Foresight Group, the leading listed Private Equity and Infrastructure Investment Manager.

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

APDO Announces Duo of New Board Appointments

APDO, the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers, has appointed two new directors to its Board to continue building its training and professional development opportunities, and to manage the association’s growing membership body.

Joining the Board after almost two years as Professional Development Administrator for APDO, Jaime Frow of Buckinghamshire-based Thoughtfully Organised Homes is now stepping into the role of Professional Development Director and will lead the team providing education, training and support to help members start and grow their businesses. The role will see Jaime overseeing the expansion of APDO’s training portfolio over the coming year, offering further opportunities for established professional organisers as well as those who are new to the industry and seeking a career change.

Amanda Biggs, who runs her business Professionally Organised from Lancashire, has been named as APDO’s new Membership Director and will be supporting APDO’s members, representing their views and fostering increased collaboration amongst peers to drive the industry forward. Amanda will also be working with the Board to grow the association’s membership and raise awareness of decluttering and organising as a profession.

Siân Pelleschi, President of APDO, commented: “These two new appointments reflect our continuing commitment to the professional development and growth of each of our individual members, our expanding association and our wider international community.”

Siân continued: “The Board and I are delighted to welcome Jaime and Amanda, who we are confident will be instrumental in furthering our aims and objectives as an association.”

APDO, the UK’s membership association for decluttering and organising professionals, sets standards, provides professional development and supports the growth of the industry. Founded in 2004, APDO is a non-profit organisation and belongs to a global community of professional organising associations which foster collaboration to advance the industry through sharing information and ideas.

Law, Midlands News, News

Talbots Law’s recruitment campaign gathers pace with ten new trainees

Talbots Law has marked the next stage of its 150-strong recruitment campaign in 2022 by setting ten members of the team on their pathways to becoming qualified solicitors.

Adeela Ali, Cindy La, Denielle Chatta-Sandhu, Dominic Bowen, Emma McIntosh, Sharon Garcha, Shaye McInnis and Zara Rafiq became Trainee Solicitors earlier this month, each undertaking a Training Contract which will see them specialise in their chosen area of law, with the end goal of qualifying and joining the national roll of solicitors.

This is the second intake this year at the employee-owned Midlands law firm and brings the total number of current Trainee Solicitors to seventeen, with a commitment to offering a further twenty positions to other colleagues in 2023 and 2024.

The new Trainees are joined by Abbie Danks and Ethan Davis, who both started their highly sought-after Solicitor Apprenticeships. This will see them progress through a work-based degree pathway whilst working at Talbots, earning the qualifications and experience required to become solicitors.

“We are really pleased to have so many colleagues starting their Training Contracts and Solicitor Apprenticeships. This is testament to the commitment, quality and ability of the amazing people that are part of our employee-owned business,” explained Rachel Pardoe, HR Director at Talbots Law.

“Investment in staff is so important to our business; we want to support and encourage them to be the best they can be, and our track-record of career development and high retention rates speak for themselves.”

She continued: “Our new Trainees and Solicitor Apprentices should all be incredibly proud of themselves, and we hope they’re enjoying the well-deserved celebrations that mark the start of the next chapter of their exciting journey.”

Back in 2018, Talbots pioneered a new SRA-approved approach to Training Contracts which allowed Trainees to undertake thorough training in their chosen area of specialism pre-qualification.

The company, which invested £400,000 into a new HQ at The Waterfront earlier this year, builds its approach to career development uniquely focused on the individual; professional qualifications such as Training Contracts, SQE, Apprenticeships, CILEx, CLC are factored into career progression plans for existing employees alongside workplace learning and what the firm refers to as ‘role-related progression’.

In addition to professional qualifications, it has celebrated role-related promotions for over 150 of their 375 staff in 2022 alone.

The philosophy underlines part of Talbot’s ‘train to retain’ approach, ensuring Trainees are specialised and experienced enough to take on a NQ Solicitor role on their qualification and to move forward on the next step of their career progression journey.

Denielle Chatta-Sandhu, a new Trainee Solicitor with Talbots, said: “It has long been my dream to become a Solicitor and I feel incredibly grateful to Talbots for giving me an opportunity to achieve it.

“Through my legal work today, I have found a real passion for residential conveyancing and knowing I’ll now have the opportunity to specialise, build experience and, ultimately, qualify in this field has given me so much motivation to crack on and make my career everything I believe it can be.”

Abbie Danks, an Apprentice Solicitor with Talbots, added her support: “I got good A-levels, but the traditional university lifestyle and pathway just never appealed to me, despite the fact I knew I wanted to be a lawyer and that going to university was the widely accepted route to achieving that.

“At Talbots, I’ve been told since day one that I can make my career what I want it to be, and it feels incredible to have that promise fulfilled, enabling me to earn my degree and qualify as a solicitor in a way that feels so much better for me as a person. I’ve been given a unique opportunity and I’m so grateful for it.”

Going forward, Talbots will continue to recruit aspiring solicitors into permanent Legal Assistant and Paralegal roles with a view to them undertaking their Training Contracts or SQE qualifications.

The company is also actively recruiting for new positions in four of their eight offices, with opportunities becoming available throughout the year.

Rachel concluded: “A lot has happened in 2022 and this includes the launch of the prestigious new Talbots Training Academy, offering aspiring property lawyers the opportunity to join an initial intensive six-week work-based training programme before joining our National Conveyancing Department in a Legal Assistant role.”