People on the move: key North East appointments and promotions

Tedco Business Support has promoted Judith Wheatley to contracts and performance manager.

Ms Wheatley has spent 20 years at the organisation as a business advisor. Working with clients from unemployed to serial entrepreneurs across the pre-start, start-up and scale-up phases of business, she will work to help the business support agency boost its services across the North East .

She said: “I’ve been proud to work at Tedco in my previous role for over 20 years. It’s always been a fantastic place to work and I’m excited to take on the challenge of this new role. As contracts and performance manager, my responsibility lies in continually improving the client experience and ensuring that our experienced team are supported to deliver the most effective and impactful programmes to business professionals across the region.”

Chief executive James Craft added: “It’s never been more important for the business support sector to work strategically and move with the times as the needs of aspiring entrepreneurs, early-stage businesses and growing enterprises change. Judith is perfectly placed to help drive our progress over the coming years.”

RMT Accountants & Business Advisors has appointed Monisa Shahzad and James Broomhead to its specialist healthcare division. Originally from Northern Ireland, Ms Shahzad studied for an accounting degree at Ulster University in Derry before joining the Belfast office of global accounting firm PwC. She moved to the North East four years ago and has five years’ industry experience.

Mr Broomhead, who is from Middlesbrough, completed an accounting and finance degree at Newcastle University before moving into practice with a regional firm four years ago, and he has since completed his ACA professional qualifications.

Maxine Pott, director at RMT Healthcare, said: “Demand for our specialist healthcare services continues to grow substantially so we’re continuing to build our team to help us meet the very specific requirements of new and existing clients. Monisa and James are very impressive finance professionals and they’ve both made an excellent start in their careers with RMT.”

Durham City law firm Swinburne Maddison LLP has announced seven promotions. Charlotte Excell and Lewis Brown have both been made managing associates – Ms Excell within the commercial property team and Mr Brown within dispute resolution.

Five solicitors have also been promoted to associate level. Matt Ray has been promoted within the corporate team; Diane Hall has been promoted within the commercial property team; Phoebe Gogarty has been made associate in the employment team, and Jenna Keir-Kendrew and James Curran have been promoted within the dispute resolution team.

Managing partner Jonathan Moreland, said: “Each of these seven members of the team has worked hard for their promotion, which in all cases, is well-deserved and will assure the future resilience of the firm. Our management team is always considering succession planning and we expect to make several new external appointments during the coming financial year. We want our people to do well – we will never stifle talent.”

Adam Lawson has been promoted to assistant surveyor at Avison Young’s Newcastle office. Mr Lawson joined the office as a graduate surveyor in September 2022, after completing a master’s in real estate at Northumbria University.

He works across the office and industrial agency departments dealing with city centre and out of town office lettings and acquisitions as well as industrial schemes across the North East.

Gordon Hewling, principal and MD of the Newcastle office said: “Adam’s promotion is so well deserved, as he has hit the ground running across the office and industrial agency markets in which he works.”

Water analysis technology pioneer Palintest has welcomed three new senior staff members. The Gateshead firm has appointed James Lester as business development manager, Jessica McKenna as product manager recreational water and Amy Eland as sales executive lead.

Palintest manufactures and supplies a wide range of solutions for water testing in the recreational water sector and the team will spearhead the company’s sales and customer support in the UK and Europe.

Georgina Perkins, managing director at Palintest, said: “We aren’t resting on our laurels, which is why we have strengthened our recreational water team with the appointments of James, Amy and Jess. They all bring real energy, passion and technical expertise to their roles, and will help to grow our recreational water market share further, while supporting our existing customer base.”

Clive Owen LLP accountants and business advisers has appointed Michael Cantwell as a new partner in its corporate finance team.

Mr Cantwell has more than 20 years of merger and acquisition expertise and, in his new role, he will focus on supporting owner-managed businesses with their growth plans, from early stage through to a potential exit.

He said: “I am thrilled to join Clive Owen LLP, a firm renowned for its proactive and client-focused approach. I have known of the firm and its reputation for many years and am really looking forward to contributing to our clients’ success and working with the fantastic teams across the firm’s offices.”

Gary Ellis, managing partner, said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Michael to the partnership. His extensive experience and dedication to client service are invaluable. Michael’s expertise will undoubtedly enhance our capabilities and reinforce our commitment to serving the business community.”