Luxury homeware brand Rowen Homes has recruited a new head of marketing and a new visual merchandising as it hear up for growth.
New head of marketing Sarah Napier joins from clothing brand Barbour where she spent seven years, working her way up to global consumer marketing manager. She brings e-commerce and marketing experience and will be focussed on driving further growth for the business.
Claire Hornby joins as visual merchandising manager and store planner, bringing homeware industry knowledge and experience, working across many roles including her previous role as head of creative at Barker & Stonehouse. She will lead the planning for Rowen Homes’ first flagship store, launching in Spring.
Rowen Homes was founded in 2020 by Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur Alice Hall and her husband Andrew. She said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome these two new very talented people to Rowen as we prepare for further growth. We are so excited to learn from Sarah & Claire and can’t wait to see where the next year takes the business.”
Specialist bank GB Bank has appointed a new board chair and recruited two new board members.
The Middlesbrough-based bank has appointed SME lending expert Mike Kirsopp as chair with property and banking industry figures Andrew Telfer and Ian Henderson joining as non-executive cirector and investor director respectively.
Mr Kirsopp has over 40 years of experience in SME lending. He was CEO at Cambridge & Counties Bank Ltd from 2014 to 2021, where he was part of the team recruited to mobilise the bank and gain its full banking licence, also taking the bank through break-even and to profitability.
Meanwhile, Mr Telfer joins after a career spanning over 30 years in the construction and property development sector, including senior roles at Wilmott Dixon and Robertsons. Mr Henderson has over 30 years of executive experience within financial services in the UK, having worked in senior positions at RBS, Barclays and Shawbrook Bank during his career. He is the current chair of the risk committee at challenger bank Metro.
Stephen Lancaster, co-founder and CEO of GB Bank, said: “These appointments represent a real step-change in GB Bank’s development and complete a formidable boardroom team. Their experience and know-how at senior levels in the finance, property and development sectors will prove invaluable as GB Bank expands in our North East heartland and across the country.”
Property group Bradley Hall has taken on eight new members of staff to support the firm’s residential agency, accounts, valuation and lease advisory, and administration services across the company’s nine offices.
The property firm, operating in the North for over 30 years, is extending its reach across the North East, Yorkshire, and Teesside, and plans to double its workforce to 120 employees.
New starters include Ciaran Butterworth, assistant property executive; Graeme Scott, senior accounts assistant; Jemma Dickson, administrator; Emma Owens, valuation surveyor; Isobel Buttigieg-Cook, purchase ledger clerk; Ria Welsh, property executive; Lauren Usher, office administrator and Richard Johnson, senior property executive.
Richard Rafique managing director - commercial at Bradley Hall said: “I am delighted to be able to welcome our new starters to the team, and to be investing in the future of the property industry, while also taking great steps in the growth of Bradley Hall. This is a hugely exciting time for everyone associated with Bradley Hall and I expect the business to continue to expand through an organic, and sustainable manner, as it has with the newest additions to the team. We are employing across all levels within the business and are keen to provide training, support, and the opportunity for a great deal of career progression to get more ambitious members of staff to join our teams.”
North Tyneside wholesaler Kitwave Group plc has appointed Lucie Milburn as the new divisional operations director of its frozen and chilled division.
Ms Milburn brings over 17 years of experience within supply chain operations and finance at FTSE 100 Diageo, having held director level positions in both operations and finance. She will report directly to Ben Maxted, Kitwave’s chief operating officer and work closely with senior management. The department has two divisions Eden Farm Limited and Central Supplies (Brierley Hill) Limited. Together they cover nine strategic UK depot locations and employ over 550 staff.
Mr Maxted said: “We are delighted to welcome Lucie. Her extensive experience within supply chain operations, procurement and finance will add considerable value to the Frozen & Chilled division as we continue to drive organic growth. As the Group pursues further acquisitions, Lucie’s role will also be pivotal in the successful integration of new businesses and the delivery of operational efficiencies. The whole team looks forward to working with her.”
Commercial property consultancy Naylors Gavin Black has made four new appointments to support increased workloads.
The firm has welcomed Sharon Morley, Deborah Connor, Lynne Russell and Laura Mills, saying expansion has been needed after seeing a surge of growth within its property management department, as landlords seek to cut costs in the face of inflation.
Katy Clark, partner within property management at Naylors Gavin Black, said: “The growth of our property management department is testimony to the excellent work and exceptional value for money we deliver to our clients and their tenants. This is evidenced by the number of landlords approaching us to support their properties based on the recommendation of existing clients.”
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