Ipswich-based business electricity supplier Haven Power has appointed Jonathan Kini to the new role of chief operating officer. He will be responsible for overseeing Haven’s business operations.

He brings a wealth of experience from both the corporate and small and medium-sized business sectors and will be responsible for managing all of Haven’s core business units including customer operations, sales and marketing and power purchasing.

Jonathan joins Haven Power from Vodafone, where he successfully led the strategy and management of all SME business sales functions in the UK.

His extensive knowledge on delivering innovative and tailored products will be invaluable to Haven. Prior to holding this post, Kini managed all marketing and commercial functions at Vodafone, which followed a five year period running the customer service division of Virgin Media after heading Virgin Mobile.

“I am delighted to be taking on this role at Haven and to join the energised team already in place,” he said.

“Haven is well established within the energy market and I believe it’s the importance placed on customer service that has cemented this company as a key industry player.

“Providing a reliable and transparent offering to customers is fundamental to business growth and I look forward to improving this still further. The personal approach Haven takes to delivering exceptional customer service is what sets us apart from other retailers in the market – for example, all of our customers have a named individual who manages their account.”

Jonathan added: “I am a great believer in the role biomass technology plays as an energy source for the UK. We all have a part to play when it comes to protecting the environment and being able to offer reliable, renewable energy at Haven is a huge advantage for our customers.”

Jonathan will report to Haven Power’s long-standing chief executive officer, Peter Bennell, who has recently had his role expanded to become chairman of Billington Bioenergy – a leading supplier of sustainable biomass pellets – that was acquired by Drax early last year.

:: Ipswich-based marketing firm Trebuchet has kick-started the year with the appointment of Andrew Matthew as web developer.

Andrew will be strengthening the agency’s digital marketing offering with a focus on design, build and ongoing management.

Director Emma Dinmore said: “We are delighted to welcome Andrew to the team. It’s an exciting period for the agency – our digital offering is continuing to escalate and his appointment will allow us to continue to meet the increasing needs of our clients.”

Suffolk-born Andrew has a passion for motocross and outside work is a member of an East Anglian scrambling club and enjoys competing as part of a Chelmsford-based ice hockey team.

“Having gained a wide range of digital skills, I’m excited to be joining a professional agency that has built an enviable reputation,” he said.

“The agency has formed solid principles aimed at working closely with clients to achieve their ambitions. This has been proven as most of the new business comes from word of mouth, which is testament to the effort that the Trebuchet team have put into their work.”

:: Liona Beckham has joined the fast-growing Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) team at the Ipswich office of law firm Birketts as an associate.

Birketts’ SIPP team deals with commercial property transactions on behalf of some of the country’s largest SIPP and Small Self Administered Scheme (SSAS) providers.

Liona joins having previously spent eight years in Birketts’ residential property team and will be working alongside team leader Oliver Crichton and lawyers Sam Froud, Sarah Smith and David McLaughlin.

Liona said “I am delighted to be joining such a progressive and dynamic team. Having spent eight years in Birketts’ residential team, I am looking forward to transferring and developing my career in Birketts’ SIPP team.”

Oliver Crichton, partner, said: “Liona is a fantastic addition to the team and adds to our already considerable firepower. We are seeing our client base and volume of transactions continue to increase as we cement our place as a market leading provider of legal services in the SIPP and SSAS sector. Liona has the skills and enthusiasm to deliver the high quality levels of service our clients have come to expect.”

:: Birketts has also boosted its planning and environmental law team with the recruitment of associate, Nicola Doole.

Nicola comes with a wealth of experience having advised a number of local planning authorities for many years. She will be based at the firm’s Ipswich office but support colleagues across Birketts’ four offices: Cambridge, Chelmsford, Norwich and Ipswich.

Nicola said “I am thrilled to be joining Birketts specialist planning and environmental law team which is expanding due to increasing activity throughout the region. Birketts provide all aspects of planning law and environmental law to a diverse mix of clients, including local authorities, residential developers, landowners and waste operators. The property division at Birketts has earned a reputation as one of the most successful in the country with over 100 property specialists.”

Tom Newcombe, partner and head of Birketts’ planning and environment team said: “I’m delighted to welcome Nicola to Birketts who will be a tremendous addition to the team. We’ve seen a growing number of instructions, predominantly from developers and landowners but also from local authorities in recent times and the strengthening of our team underlines our commitment to meeting our clients’ needs.”

:: Auctioneers and land agents Robinson & Hall, which has offices in Ipswich, Colchester, Bedford and Buckingham, and is an approved agent for mortgage finance firm the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (AMC) has welcomed David West as an AMC consultant.

David has an in-depth understanding of the rural finance sector, having worked for Lloyds Bank for the last 40 years.

His last role as a regional agricultural manager saw him work with many farmers and rural based businesses in East Anglia for the last 15 years.

David will further enhance and strengthen the AMC work that the Colchester and Ipswich office undertakes.

:: Artisan coffee firm Paddy & Scott’s has teamed up with award-winning businesswoman Rachel Ducker who will be in charge of boosting online retail sales.

Rachel said: “I am thrilled about the opportunity I have been given to work with Paddy & Scott’s. I’ve always been a big fan of their coffee and I feel privileged to now be a part of the team.

“Between us, I believe our knowledge and passion within the industry will take the brand to new and interesting places.

“We have some very exciting times ahead for the retail side of the business and I am ready to come up with some mind-blowing ideas for 2016 – I urge everyone to watch this space.”

Founded in Earl Soham, the firm has grown as a company and now boasts thriving coffee shops in Framlingham, Hadleigh and Bury St Edmunds, as well as operating in over 45 branded outlets across the country and over 700 trade outlets.

Co-founder Scott Russell said they now felt the time was right to push further ahead with online retail sales.

“We’ve been talking with Rachel for a couple of years now,” he said. “Both Paddy and I like her approach to business and effervescent personality, but we have been waiting for the right project.”

Future plans include giving online customers bespoke offers matched to their tastes as well as food pairing with a big online marketing drive planned for Valentine’s Day.

The partnership will also see the launch of a new customer-funded coffee community where a limited number of members can opt to pay a small monthly fee to help fund independent coffee plantations in return for a monthly supply of rarer, specialised coffees not available to the general public.

Rachel, 29, is a former East of England young businesswoman of the year and also heads Apparition Marketing and Design, Bounce Magazine and The Suffolk Hamper.