Movers & Shakers: Geoffrey Wood named as new dean at Essex Business School

Professor Geoffrey Wood, who is currently Professor of International Business at Warwick, will join the University of Essex on April 1. It follows the departure of Dr Gwyn Jones, the school’s former director, in December.

Professor Wood has previously held positions at the University of Sheffield, Middlesex University Business School, and Rhodes University in South Africa. He is currently honorary professor of the University of the Witwatersrand, and visiting professor at Nelson Mandela University, both in South Africa, as well as Adjunct Professor at Griffith University, Australia.

He is editor-in-chief of the British Journal of Management and editor of the European Academic Journal Guide (Association of Business Schools List).

Professor Wood’s research interests focus on the relationship between national institutional setting, corporate governance, firm finance, and firm level work and employment relations. He regularly presents keynote speeches and seminars at academic conferences and leading universities worldwide.

He has authored, co-authored or edited 16 books, and more than 120 articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Prof Wood said: “I am honoured to serve as dean of Essex Business School.

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with colleagues at Essex in ensuring the business school realises its fullest potential, building on its historic strengths in finance, accounting, business economics and critical management studies, its growing expertise in other areas of management, its strong tradition of promoting ethical management and social responsibility, and deepening links with business through the Knowledge Gateway and beyond.”

Professor Neil Kellard is interim director of Essex Business School until April.

: : Gavin Wood has joined Beckett Financial Services as senior consultant to advise their private clients with financial planning and wealth management.

He is a fellow of the Personal Finance Society and a Chartered Financial Planner with more than 17 years’ experience. In 2014, he scooped the Prize Committee Award for Excellence from the Chartered Insurance Institute of Ipswich, Suffolk and North Essex.

“We are delighted that a consultant of Gavin’s calibre is joining our company,” said managing director Ian White. “He has an outstanding track record for client satisfaction so we know he will fit in very well here.”

Gavin’s career began at Cook Sheppard Pinhey in Ipswich as a trainee independent financial adviser (IFA) and he was mentored by two colleagues who taught him the importance of holistic financial advice. After 15 years at the firm, he worked at other companies in East Anglia, and went on to specialise in self invested pensions and small self-administered company schemes.

“Most of Gavin’s clients have been with him for over 10 years and so we knew he had a proven ability to give the best financial advice,” said Ian.

: : Milsom Hotels and Restaurants has appointed Aaron Skerritt as the new restaurant head chef at milsoms Kesgrave Hall, Ipswich.

Aaron, who was a senior sous chef with Milsom Catering, started in his new post at the beginning of February. He has worked in the kitchens at Le Talbooth and Kesgrave Hall, but this will be his first head chef position.

His predecessor, Stuart Oliver, who was head chef at Kesgrave for seven years, has taken up a new position as executive chef at Kesgrave Hall. This post has been created due to the recent on-site development of The Hangar as a party, event and wedding venue.

Managing director Paul Milsom said: “We were delighted to appoint Aaron as head chef. It’s always a pleasure to promote within our own group. Aaron went through a series of interviews and cook-offs to secure the position and we wish him all the very best with his new challenge. Stuart Oliver’s promotion to executive chef is well deserved and we know with Stuart at the helm The Hangar will continue to go from strength to strength.”

: : Mark Westall, commercial manager at Tendring District Council, has been appointed to the board of the Telecare Services Association (TSA). TSA is a national membership organisation for telecare and telehealth providers and suppliers, and the largest industry specific network in Europe. As part of Mark’s role at Tendring District Council he manages the Careline operation which monitors more than 7,000 service users. His appointment to the TSA board will bring a commercial view and energy to push the organisation forward.

: : The Ipswich office of financial and business advisers Grant Thornton has welcomed a new associate director to further strengthen its advisory team.

Joanne Price joins Grant Thornton from another national firm where she spent 10 years, based in East Anglia, working in advisory with a focus on helping UK businesses through the process of recovery and restructuring.

In her new role with Grant Thornton, Joanne will draw on her extensive expertise and local knowledge to support companies across the county and the wider region. Her remit will also expand to helping ambitious, growing firms achieve their potential through mergers and acquisition (M&A) activity.

Joanne said: “I was drawn to Grant Thornton by its strong regional focus, combining national expertise with sound local intelligence to create a real understanding of what our region’s businesses need.

“I am delighted to join one of the strongest advisory teams in the East of England, not just by size but because it offers all advisory services, from M&A and due diligence to restructuring, from a single source to provide a joined up approach for clients. I hope my contribution will help to further grow the business over the coming months.”

Grant Thornton partner Darren Bear, who leads the region’s advisory team, said: “We have invested heavily in our advisory team and their exceptional expertise is reflected in the results we are achieving for our clients. Joanne’s appointment will undoubtedly add further depth to the unrivalled service we offer.”

: : East Anglian builders’ merchant Collier & Catchpole has recruited Tony Atlee as the new branch manager of the Colchester yard. Tony joins the team having spent the last eight-and-a-half years with independent merchant N & C in Chadwell Heath. Managing director Tim Rowbottom said he was delighted to welcome Tony to the firm.

“As an independent family-owned business, we particularly recognise the importance of recruiting the right people – not just people that can do the job but also those who will embrace the established values and culture of the company and have the promise to be part of Collier & Catchpole’s future. We believe that Tony, with his experience, energy and enthusiasm is a perfect addition to the team,” he said.

Tony said: “I was attracted to the role for a number of reasons. I knew I wanted to be part of a family-run business with traditional values. I like how Collier & Catchpole value its customer base and service levels; it is a business going through a period of growth and diversification and I know I will enjoy being part of the team making it all happen.”

London-born Tony, who has lived in Halstead for the past 20 years, started at Collier & Catchpole at the beginning of January.

: : A motor dealer has boosted its expertise in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds with the appointment of a new senior manager.

Shaun Barlow, from Bury St Edmunds, is the new sales manager at both Wolsey Van Centre in Ipswich and Volkswagen Van Centre in Bury St Edmunds, bringing with him more than 15 years’ of automotive experience.

The 36-year-old will be the Volkswagen commercial vehicles van centres’ first dedicated sales manager.

Having worked for a range of car brands Shaun has held managerial roles for the past four years.

He joined the Marriot Group, which owns the two commercial vehicle sites, nine years ago and is aiming to deploy his expertise to enhance the businesses by helping to forging new customer relationships and strengthen the existing customer base.

Shaun said: “This is an exciting challenge to introduce my retail experience to the commercial vehicle market.

“My emphasis is on working in partnership with van owners to establish their business and lifestyle needs. Whether it’s a sole trader, a fleet manager, or simply the need for a wheelchair-adapted vehicle, we will be introducing new procedures to ensure we can find our customers the right solution.”

David Nichols, head of business at Wolsey Van Centre and Volkswagen Van Centre (Bury St Edmunds), said: “We are delighted to welcome Shaun to the team. Our business has significantly grown over the past year and, to ensure our ongoing success, it was vital that we introduced a dedicated sales manager.”