People on the move: Freshfield; GPL Group; Custard; Now Healthcare Group

Preston-based marketing communications agency Freshfield has revealed a double promotion and the creation of four new roles, including a new appointment.

The agency has promoted Samantha Booth to PR & communications manager and Alice Davies to digital marketing manager.

It has also created several new roles for members of its existing team.

Ben Hewes takes on the title of head of video, combing it with his PR manager role. Samit Nayi has been named head of design and Mark Brennan becomes head of digital and senior marketing manager.

In addition, Freshfield has appointed Clare Horton as business operations manager. Horton will work alongside the management team to oversee people development, finance, facilities management and compliance.

Simon Turner, managing director of Freshfield, said: “These promotions are all about allowing our people to flourish as marketing professionals and giving us a stronger infrastructure to support our clients.

“The marketing world has changed beyond recognition but we believe we are perfectly placed to give clients access to the full marketing tool-kit from advisory and PR to design, digital and video.”

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Salford-based civil engineering specialists GPL Group has appointed Gareth Street as operations director.

Street joins from construction group Buckingham, where he spent three years as an engineering manager in the company’s rail division.

It is a return to GPL Group for Street who, prior to his time at Buckingham, held a role as contracts manager.

His new role will be to assist the current GPL teams in the delivery of successful projects, improve programme and values and securing opportunities for further project tenders.

Sean Gallagher, managing director at GPL Group, said: “We are pleased to welcome Gareth back to GPL. It has been an exceptionally busy few years for us and his wide range of industry experience will be a vital asset in our anticipated growth and development.

“Gareth’s recent experience in rail is key for us as we look to further expand into that area. He demonstrates a proactive leadership style, leading from the front and always looking for ways to improve the teams.

Street said: “GPL has seen continued growth and has further established itself as a national player in the civils arena. With major projects on board, it is exciting times and I am relishing the challenges and opportunities ahead to help further grow the business and develop our reputation across different disciplines.”

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Manchester-based agency Custard Online Marketing has appointed Alex Duthie as head of SEO, increasing its head count to 13.

He joins from McCann Connected, where he held the position of senior SEO manager.

Duthie brings with him over six years’ experience of organic search marketing, covering both in-house and agency roles in that time.

He said: “It’s a fantastic time to be joining Custard. The company has gone through a period of exciting client wins to add to an already great client base.

“The team are already doing great things and I’m looking forward to taking on the challenge of improving our offering further.”

His focus at the Northern Quarter agency will be leading Custard’s organic search offering to expand the company’s current organic offering, as well as bringing in new business and helping current clients with their online growth.

Managing director Sam Allcock added: “It’s a really exciting time for Custard, as the agency is experiencing continued growth.

“We are committed to delivering excellent results for our clients, so bringing in Alex with his wealth of SEO experience will help us to better achieve this.”

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Digital healthcare provider Now Healthcare Group (NHG), based in Salford’s MediaCityUK, has appointed Emma-Jane French as chief customer to the board to lead on commercial and strategic development.

The group has seen significant growth following her appointment.

French has more than 25 years’ experience in the health industry and was previously managing director of My Clinical Coach, a healthcare start-up direct to consumer service.

In only three years since launching in 2014, the NHG has disrupted the digital health market with its innovative tech and digital solutions. It is predicting that they will be supporting upwards of 20 million people across the world by the end of 2017.

French said: “I am really pleased to have joined the NHG and be part of the journey to deliver digital healthcare services to everyone, anywhere and at any time.

“It is such an exciting time for the digital health industry and NHG are at the forefront of an exciting evolution.

“Our work with the NHS means we are committed to easing the ever-increasing pressure faced by the service, and we are working collaboratively across organisations to deliver health care solutions for our growing population.”

Chief executive and founder Lee Dentith said: “It’s a fundamental period for the NHG and so it’s of huge importance to us to have Emma-Jane to join our board.

“We look forward to strengthening our business offering and using her knowledge and expertise to help us to continue to change people’s lives through the advancements of technology and healthcare.”