Masonry products manufacturer Lignacite has appointed Allan Eastwood as managing director with immediate effect.

Allan joined Lignacite after leaving the army, where he was a staff sergeant and gunnery instructor, in 1996. He started as a fork lift truck driver, but was quickly promoted to yard foreman and then works manager at one of Lignacite’s manufacturing plants after only six months. He then progressed to become operations director in 2004 before this latest promotion.

He will oversee the company’s team of 65 people across its two factories in Brandon in Suffolk and Nazeing in Essex.

After a challenging period during the economic downturn, Lignacite has experienced a significant upswing in the company fortunes in the past year, and Allan is positive he can build on this development and increase turnover by 20% plus in the next year while maintaining existing cost levels.

“I am delighted with this promotion and have a great team here at Lignacite. My army background comes in handy when it comes to motivating the team, and despite my new-found responsibilities I will still be very hands-on and practical when required,” he said.

Allan will report to the Lignacite board and Lignacite’s owner and executive chairman, Giles de Lotbiniere, who was the previous managing director.

Giles said that Allan has shown enormous loyalty as well as grit and determination in seeing Lignacite through the recession.

“When he wrote to me from the army, little did I know that he would be such an asset to the company. I am confident Allan will help to strengthen our position in the market and maximise the opportunities associated with the solid growth we are currently experiencing, and we very much look forward to benefiting further from his collaborative and innovative approach.”

Allan lives in Roydon in Essex with his partner and two children, and finds that his regular hobby, skydiving, provides the best form of relaxation.

: : APC Solutions has appointed its first marketing manager to the team.

Eleanor Cheek, who has been working with the communications technology firm, based in Kelvedon in Essex, on a freelance basis, will be responsible for all aspects of the company’s UK and international marketing including the company’s website, promotional material and media relations.

Group sales director David Bell said: “Eleanor has been working with us for the past three years and I’m delighted she will now be joining us as marketing manager.”

Nigel Cappleman, who joined the firm as business development manager in September 2012, has been promoted to sales manager.

Reporting to group sales director David Bell, he has generated new business across new and existing sectors, as well as maintaining existing contacts.

He joined the team from Complete Imaging Limited (CIL) where he held the position of head of corporate accounts. CIL has worked with APC in the past on various new business proposals and solutions. Nigel has also gained valuable experience in the technology sector from working for the Danwood Group and Pitney Bowes.

David: “We are incredibly proud of what Nigel has achieved in this short space of time. He hit the ground running, has integrated himself into the team both in the UK and internationally, and has delivered the objectives set.

“His tenacity, passion and drive have all contributed to Nigel bringing in fantastic sales and clients to the businesses. I feel confident Nigel will continue to succeed and drive APC forward.”

: : ESTATE agents Savills Ipswich has taken on a new recruit in its rural team.

James Pearson, a qualified land agent, joins as an associate and will focus on private client, estate management and professional work with Michael Horton, head of Savills’ East Anglian rural business.

“We are delighted to welcome James on board. His appointment increases our strength in depth in the Ipswich office,” said Michael.

: : COLCHESTER and Clacton-based law firm Thompson Smith and Puxon (TSP) are pleased to announce two new additions to their residential property team.

In Colchester the team has been boosted by the addition of Emma Town. Emma has lived in the North Essex area all of her life, attending St Benedicts School in Colchester before studying for her A-levels at the Colchester Sixth Form College. She joined TSP as a trainee solicitor in 2008 having studied law with Spanish law and language at the University of Essex. During that time she spent a year studying at the University of Madrid in Spain. She then went on to complete her legal practice course at the City Law School, qualifying as a solicitor in 2010.

In Clacton the team has been boosted by the arrival of residential property solicitor Carly Callaghan. Carly, like Emma, has lived in the area all her life, attending Manningtree High School before going on to study for her A-levels at Colchester Sixth Form College.

Carly qualified as a solicitor in 2007 after gaining her law degree at the University of Essex and passing her legal practice course with distinction. She has worked as a residential property solicitor since her qualification and advises clients on all areas of residential conveyancing.

Laura Finnigan added: “I would very much like to welcome both Emma and Carly to the team. The TSP residential property team has, over the past few years, bucked the downturn in the housing market and now, with the addition of two new solicitors to the team, is exceptionally well-placed to be able to continue to offer our clients a property service tailored to their individual needs as the property market starts to show the first signs of recovery.”

: : AN estate agent with more than 25 years’ experience in the housing industry has joined an East Anglian lettings agency to launch its new sales arm.

John Bosley has been appointed as sales manager at Linnet Property Management, which is based on Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds. He will take responsibility for valuations, placing properties on the market and negotiations, with support provided by Linnet’s wider team.

John has worked in the industry since the early 1980s. He brings with him a breadth of experience at both corporate and independent agencies, as well as six years spent running his own business.

“I am delighted to join Linnet at what is an incredibly exciting time for the company, and am sure my experience of starting my own successful business from scratch will prove helpful as we grow and develop our sales service,” said John.

“We will be offering a full service to anyone looking to sell their home. Our focus will be on building relationships with our clients and maintaining a really high level of personal service so that we quickly become the agency which people want to do business with.

“I am really looking forward to our official launch which takes place next month.”

Linnet was established in 2000 and currently provides rental homes in Cambridge, Norfolk and Suffolk. A subsidiary company of Suffolk Housing, any profit it makes is paid to Suffolk Housing and used to provide more affordable housing in the region.”

Property business manager Patrick Lawrence said: “We are delighted to welcome John to our team to launch this exciting new venture for Linnet.

“He brings with him a wealth of experience which will prove invaluable in helping us to establish our sales service. His strong focus on providing excellent customer service also promises to bring huge benefits to all of our future clients.”

: : A SITE manager with leading regional builder Persimmon Homes Essex has scooped a top industry award for the second time.

Simon Gronland has been awarded an NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Award for his work overseeing the company’s stunning Nightingale Gardens development of two, three and four bedroom houses in Colchester.

The award recognises the highest standards of excellence, with National House-Building Council inspectors judging winners on meticulous and consistent attention to detail, quality of workmanship, excellent leadership, technical expertise and commitment to the highest health and safety standards.

“This was a goal we had in mind when we set the site up and everyone involved has done a terrific job to make sure we achieved our aim,” he said.

“I originally won the award for a development at The Poppies in Felsted when I first worked for Persimmon.

“I returned to the company last year and am delighted to win another one for Nightingale Gardens.”