IoD – Sarah Waddington, North chair
The Institute of Directors (IoD) has appointed Sarah Waddington CBE to lead its North East (North) branch.
The IoD supports members to become better directors. Sarah will work alongside a team of branch ambassadors to provide connections, professional development opportunities and an influential lobbying voice in the Newcastle, Tyneside and Northumberland area.
Sarah is managing director of Newcastle-based management consultancy Astute.Work. She is an experienced PR and management consultant who helps organisations to articulate their purpose and optimise performance.
Sarah was awarded a CBE in June 2021 for services to public relations and the voluntary sectors. She has built a reputation as a champion of ethics, diversity and inclusivity, and is a strong advocate of accountable leadership and women in business.
Sarah was a trustee of the Sunshine Fund for four years, which supports children with disabilities. She is also a non-executive director for technology marketing and PR agency Resonance.
Sarah said: “I am passionate about helping individuals to become the best they can be, regardless of their background. These values align with those of the IoD, which exists to create better directors, a better economy and a better world. I’m honoured to take on the role of branch chair and can’t wait to help members to develop and prosper.
Delroy Beverley, chair of IoD Yorkshire and North East, added: “Sarah is an outstanding individual and we’re delighted that she is joining us. She will be the standard bearer for local directors, providing support and inspiration that will help them to develop professionally, forge fresh connections and influence the business agenda.”
Bannatyne Group – Sue Stockdale, North East regional manager
Sue Stockdale has been appointed as North East regional manager for the Bannatyne Group.
Sue joined the company in November 1997 as receptionist at the newly opened Bannatyne Health Club & Spa in Ingleby Barwick.
She has worked in most of the North East health clubs, progressing to reception manager, assistant general manager and general manager.
Now based back at the Ingleby Barwick health club, Sue will oversee the five north east health clubs; Chester-le-Street, Darlington, Durham, Ingleby Barwick and Coulby Newham.
Her portfolio also includes the Carlisle health club and Bannatyne hotels in Darlington and Durham.
Sue Stockdale said: “I am proud to have been given the opportunity to work with these health clubs as the company moves forward following the last challenging 18 months.
“My career path has ensured I am well-versed in all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the clubs, and I am looking forward to watching my region continue to excel, attracting new members and ensuring member satisfaction is always our number one priority.
“I hope my experience encourages others to look at a career at the Bannatyne Group and understand the opportunities for training and progression.”
Duncan Bannatyne said: “Sue has been a committed and loyal member of the Bannatyne family for many years and it has been a pleasure to see her career flourish. I am sure she will make an excellent regional manager. Well done, Sue!”
Bradley Hall – Daniel Duce, head of Building Surveying
An award-winning property firm has appointed an experienced chartered surveyor as head of Building Surveying to drive its strategic growth plan across the North.
Bradley Hall Chartered Surveyors and Estate Agents welcomes Daniel Duce as head of its Building Surveying team, which offers specialist services including design and construction, project management, building surveys, professional services, planned maintenance, repair, refurbishment, and restoration of proposed and existing buildings.
Daniel is a chartered building surveyor and joins the team following an established career in the industry with over 15 years of experience. As head of the department, Daniel aims to strengthen the team and grow the presence of the Building Surveying department across the North West and Yorkshire following the team’s success in the North East.
With the firm’s recent strategic expansion across the North West and Yorkshire there are further plans to grow its building surveying services from the Manchester and Yorkshire offices with Daniel’s leadership. Following over 30 years in the North East, Bradley Hall has grown to a team of over 50 with a branch network of nine offices, allowing the firm to meet growing demand for its services.
Daniel said: “Bradley Hall already has an established Building Surveying department in the North East, and I am very much looking forward to expanding that across the North West and Yorkshire. I am looking forward to bringing my extensive experience in educational buildings, contract administration, project management and professional services and I am excited to lead an already experienced team. Heading the team as the department grows and develops is something I am particularly enthusiastic about, and I feel very positive about my future at Bradley Hall alongside the Building Surveying department.”
“I am delighted to be joining a firm that offers a wide range of building surveying services across different sectors and look forward to working with the team.
Beau’s Gelato – Simon Wallwork, overseer of sales and marketing strategy on the board of directors, Mary Lynch, commercial director and Ben McCabe, marketing director
As well as confirming former Onist Food founder Mary Lynch as Commercial Director and bringing marketing and design consultant Ben McCabe in-house to serve as Marketing Director, Beau’s Gelato is delighted to welcome Simon Wallwork, Whitbread’s Head of Strategy, Brand and Proposition, to our board of directors in a role overseeing sales and marketing strategy.
Simon Wallwork joins the Beau’s board as a non-Exec Director to provide insight and guidance on the business’ sales and marketing strategy. Having led sales and marketing teams in both large, multi-national organisations such as Subway and Virgin and more entrepreneurial challenger brands such as Booja-Booja, Simon brings a unique ability to create laser-sharp business strategies that translate into clear, executional plans to drive market share and profitability – skills and perspective that will be invaluable to Beau’s in its growth plans.
Simon said: “I’m thrilled to join the Beau’s team in such an exciting time for the sector. There will be challenges but with the vision, passion and quality of the whole team – and, of course, a world-class multi-award-winning product at its heart – Beau’s is set for success”.
Mary Lynch has been appointed as Commercial Director, where she will be responsible for the execution of all commercial aspects of the company, ensuring that its business strategy is sustainable, successful and aligns with Beau’s core missions. Mary has spent more than ten years in FMCG, working for Jamie Oliver as Senior Nutritionist before founding Onist Food and taking the company from kitchen concept to supermarkets and export.
“I am extremely excited to be a part of such a stellar team,” states Mary. “I am confident that this, combined with the outstanding quality of this product, is going to deliver impressive growth. More importantly, I believe we’re in a position to be able to shake up the ice cream industry for good.”
Newly appointed Marketing Director Ben McCabe brings a wealth of practical marketing skills to the table, encompassing journalism, marketing, design and brand development. He has extensive experience of the plant-based food and drink space, having previously worked with companies including Dalston’s, Kinda Co, Honestly Tasty, Plant Academy and We Are Tea.
Ben joins the team full-time having worked with Beau’s since 2018, initially having being brought in to overhaul the business’ brand identity. His new role sees him overseeing all marketing, PR and creative activities within the business.
“I’ve been involved with Beau’s in one capacity or another for the majority of their journey so far, so I was delighted when Amber and Joseph asked me to join them on a full-time basis,” explains Ben. “I really admire the sustainable and ethical foundations upon which this company has been built – it makes it easy to sing the praises of a business when it does so many things the way they should (and often aren’t) done!”
