People making moves

Weekly round-up of key appointments within the North East business community.

Construction group Northern Construction Solutions has appointed a new commercial manager as it looks to grow its national presence.

The Chester-le-Street firm has taken on Ian Wallis, of Darlington, to enhance and develop the business’s commercial operations in its building division, NCS Build.

Wallis worked with NCS’s director Sean Anderson at Birse Construction some 15 years previously and has since worked for a number of national companies including GB Building Solutions, Gleeson and Shepherd Construction.

Northumbria University has appointed Damon Kent as its new Director of Campus Services. He replaces Trevor Thurlow who retired last year.

Kent is a Northumbria graduate who joins the University from Virgin Money. His portfolio includes estates, sports and accommodation across sites in Newcastle and London including the RICS award-winning City Campus East development.

In his career he has managed the facilities and estates for Grainger PLC and Northern Rock where, amongst other things, he was responsible for the development of their major office campus schemes at Gosforth and Sunderland.

Newcastle Falcons has appointmented Mike Elliott as commercial director.

Elliott, currently the commercial director of Durham County Cricket Club will join the Falcons across the next few weeks to drive the Falcons interactions with the business community across the region and beyond.

Northgate Vehicle Hire, market leader in flexible vehicle hire and complete fleet management solutions, which has depots in Blaydon, Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees and Wallsend has appointed Neil Burroughs as head of regional sales for the UK and Ireland as part of a business growth strategy for 2013.

The North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC), a regional enterprise agency and business complex, is continuing to grow with the appointment of two new members of staff.

Carol Rogers, from High Barnes, has joined the BIC as receptionist. The newly renovated reception will see Carol welcoming clients and visitors through the main doors. Lynn McGrath, from Low Fell, also joins the BIC as a Telecom and IT administrator.