THE East of England Co-operative Society has welcomed three new faces to its community facing management team, which raises awareness of health and wellbeing services across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

Making their way in their new roles are Christian Bone, Jenna Fountain and Nicola Adams, who join the society as community managers. Working together with local communities and businesses, the community managers will monitor feedback for ways to improve its current facilities and stores according to the needs of the people using Co-op services on a day-to-day basis.

In his new role, Christian actively attends community group meetings to ask for their input on what the society has to offer. He said: “We listen to what the people in our local communities want and try to meet their specific needs with products and services.

“As a responsible retailer we are always looking for ways to improve what we offer across our stores and by talking to groups in the local villages. I will be focusing on healthcare to get an idea of what our members and customers would like to see in their nearest stores or pharmacy branches, or items we could source on their behalf.”

Jenna and Nicola will concentrate on supporting the Society’s growing number of funeral branches across the region. Nicola’s role covers the Essex region, while Jenna focusses on Norfolk and Suffolk.

Jenna said: “The society cover all aspects of funeral arrangement, so to make sure we are offering the best possible service we are building relationships within local communities to make sure we are doing exactly what they want.

“We support our branches by visiting businesses like care homes and making sure we are as accommodating as we can possibly be, from the subtlety of our cars through to their preferred exit and entrance.”

The community management team will be based in the Wherstead office near Ipswich but will spend the majority of their time out and about in the region.

: : GROSS & Co has recruited another solicitor to its private client department.

Lindsey Rhodes qualified in July 2012 having completed her training in Hull. Her experience includes preparing lasting powers of attorney, drafting wills, the administration of estates and trusts, and personal and estate tax planning.

She joins a busy team of three qualified lawyers, based in the firm’s offices in Guildhall Street, Bury St Edmunds.

Outside working hours, Lindsey has a variety of interests including playing hockey, and involving herself in various charitable organisations including Women’s Aid.

: : RETAIL property asset management company Realm has appointed Nolan Headley as the new centre manager for Freeport Braintree Outlet Shopping Village.

Nolan brings a breadth of retail experience to the role, and is a former managing director at luggage and handbag retailer Bags ETC. He has also held a number of senior commercial roles at Debenhams, Greenwich Group and First Quench.

Asset management director Angus Fyfe said: “Nolan’s extensive retail experience will continue to grow and invigorate the centre. He will work closely with our retail partners and the local community to ensure that Freeport Braintree remains a prime shopping destination in the region.”

: : ESSEX law firm Birkett Long has strengthened its financial services arm, with one of its top advisers having gained Chartered Financial Planner accreditation.

Mike Cracknell, financial planning manager at Birkett Long, which has offices in Colchester, Chelmsford and Basildon, has been awarded the prestigious title by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) after meeting the rigorous criteria relating to professionalism and capability.

With 29 years’ experience in the finance industry, he specialises in wealth creation and preservation involving trusts, pensions, pre and post retirement planning, personal taxation and Inheritance Tax advice.

Mike said: “I am incredibly pleased to have been awarded Chartered Financial Planner status as it allows us to demonstrate to our clients that they will receive only the finest independent advice.”

In addition to his new accreditation, he has achieved associate membership of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB), Associate of the Personal Finance Society (APFS) and associate member of the Institute of Financial Planning (AIFP). He is also the financial services compliance officer for Birkett Long.

Managing partner Adrian Livesley said: “Mike’s achievement is very well deserved and is testament to his hard work since he joined us in 2000. Birkett Long is committed to the progression of all our team members and Mike is a wonderful example of what can be achieved.”

n ROYAL Bank of Scotland (RBS) has appointed Jonathan Barrow as regional director for the east of England Corporate & Institutional Banking (CIB) coverage team.

Jonathan joins from the RBS large corporate team in London where he was senior director in the technology, media and telecoms sector team. He will report to Andrew Harrison, regional managing director for Midlands and east of England.

An experienced banker, Jonathan joined RBS 17 years ago, and has a successful track record of building strong client relationships. During his time with the bank, he has worked in various regional corporate locations in the UK, including Scotland; he also has international experience, having helped establish RBS’s presence in New York.

Jonathan said: “I am greatly looking forward to working with our existing clients across the East of England and also prospective clients with a turnover in excess of £25million who are looking for a strong, experienced banking partner.

“I will be working very closely with my east of England colleagues and our team of specialists to provide expertise and solutions across the whole range of corporate finance, invoice finance, asset finance, trade finance and wealth management.

“I am delighted to join this well established and hugely talented team and I am looking forward to meeting and working with the corporate business introducers and professionals in the east of England region.”

Andrew Harrusib said: “Jonathan is an excellent addition to our Midlands team. We are keen to

explore all opportunities in the local market and to build on Royal Bank of Scotland’s ‘open for business’ policy which has continued despite the down turn. Jonathan will continue to build on the strong foundation that Steve Harris built in the east of England prior to his recent retirement from the group.”

: : IPSWICH-based international lighting distributor, MGC Lighting Group, has appointed experienced sales professional Matthew Turner in the role of LED sales support, a newly created role made necessary by the company’s growth in the LED sector.

Matthew’s main responsibilities will be to maintain and develop current and new prospects to help expand the company’s growth in the LED sector.

“I am delighted to have joined MGC and I have been made to feel really welcome by everyone here. Having spent over 10 years in the audio-visual industry, LED lighting represents a brand new challenge for me, and one that I am really looking forward to,” he said.

Prior to joining MGC Lighting Group, Matthew worked in sales for Midwich where he gained a solid understanding of the sales process and direct experience of electrical products.

: : THE Country Land and Business Association (CLA) in the East of England has appointed an additional regional surveyor to strengthen its presence in the region.

Tim Woodward of Stone Farm, Felsham, will assist members of the Newmarket-based land and business organisation with key rural economy issues.

Tim trained at the Royal Agricultural College (RAC), and has practised as a rural surveyor for more than 25 years, specialising in estate management and advising institutional, charitable and private landowners.

He was the rural surveyor for the National Trust in the East of England for eight years and has recently spent time on a consultancy basis as Interim chief surveyor for the CLA at its HQ in Belgrave Square, London.

Tim said: “The CLA is the only organisation that lobbies solely on behalf of rural landowners and businesses, providing them with a much-needed voice at regional and national level. During these testing economic times, the CLA’s role is more important now than ever.

“I am looking forward to the challenge of supporting and further strengthening CLA East so that the issues facing landowners from Lowestoft to Lincoln, and beyond - receive the attention they are due from Government.”

CLA East director Nicola Currie said: “Tim has significant knowledge and experience of the rural economy. He joins our existing Surveyor, Tim Isaac, as part of our regional and national membership advisory team. We are also currently recruiting for a Regional Adviser to further expand the team in this region.”

: : JAMES Romp has joined Woolpit-based Quality Equipment (QE) as sales representative for the whole of the UK.

Having graduated from Northampton University, James has had sales experience in a variety of jobs in land-based industries. He believes a combination of practical and marketing experience will be especially useful in relation to QE’s construction division.

This appointment follows the relocation of Michael Mattmüller to France where he will be responsible for strengthening the company’s interests in mainland Europe, particularly the new Sprintomat pig feeder, which was launched at the international EuroTier exhibition in Hannover.

His expertise will continue to be available to existing customers during regular monthly visits to the UK.

James, who lives at Elmswell, has joined the Young National Pig Association, enjoys keeping fit through activities such as running, cycling and swimming.

A keen rugby player, he also has rugby coaching qualifications.

: : STOWMARKET-based malt firm Muntons has appointed two new sales executives to look after its sales within the UK craft brewing market.

Sam Hoad will be responsible for craft brewery sales in the north of England and Scotland, while Stuart Robson will take responsibility for the southern brewers.

The UK Craft brewing sector has grown considerably over the course of the past few years, with many new breweries opening as demand for regional craft beers steadily grows. These new appointments recognise the importance of this growing market.

Sam Hoad is a former graduate management trainee at Muntons based at the Flamborough site in Bridlington, East Yorkshire. Sam has a BSc Hons in brewing and distilling from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, as well as experience working within the microbrewery industry sector.

Stuart Robson brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role at Muntons, having previously owned and operated his own craft brewing business in South Africa. As a result he brings both technical understanding and strong commercial awareness.