On the move: the latest East Midlands hires

Chartered insurance broker Russell Scanlan has announced the promotion of Rob Wood to commercial team leader.

It comes after he returned to the Nottingham-based firm in 2023, spending the last year working as a senior accounts handler.

In his new role, he will be supporting recently appointed board member Joanne Marriot, who is heading up the commercial and small to medium enterprise (SME) operations of the business.

Wood’s role involves being the day-to-day team leader for one of Russell Scanlan’s key service offerings, helping to manage any technical queries or issues that may arise.

With more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, Wood will be working closely with Joanne to consolidate Russell Scanlan’s reputation for high-quality service.

He said: “It’s an exciting time for Russell Scanlan and I’m thrilled to be supporting the senior team in driving the business forward in my new role. A management role on the commercial side will be a new challenge for me, but one which I’m very much looking forward to. I’m thrilled to have been given this opportunity at such a long-standing company with a brilliant reputation.”

Marketing specialist Cartwright Communications has further grown its expertise in property and construction through a pair of hires.

Jonny Hodges and Ioana Batcu have joined the Nottingham-headquartered agency as account director and senior account executive.

Ioana Batcu and Jonny Hodges

The duo – both formerly of Cavendish – will work across Cartwright’s portfolio of B2B and B2C clients, which includes national and international brands across the built environment, professional services, food and drink, and retail and leisure.

Hodges will split his time between the Nottingham and Birmingham offices and specialises in planning communications and adds to Cartwright’s expertise in that area, working alongside Oliver Sargent from the agency’s London team.

His professional journey has been marked by a strong focus on people and projects, where he has experience in delivering community consultations.

He said: “Leading a project’s narrative and ensuring that the story being told resonates with client and community alike is essential to best practice. Across agencies, I have effectively communicated with different groups of people while being instrumental in several high-profile campaigns, and I’m looking forward to bringing a fresh strategic approach as we continue to navigate a changing landscape.”

Batcu brings expertise in branding, digital PR, and content strategy, having previously worked at SC Johnson and the University of Derby.

She said: “Joining Cartwright Communications marks a pivotal step in my career while on the way to becoming a well-versed marketeer. Having the opportunity to be a part of and learn from a team of naturally creative experts fuelled by curiosity while embracing the unconventional, and equally working on a wide range of clients, I am looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and fully immersing myself in the role.

“With my background in branding and brand management, and equally, content strategy and marketing, I am ready to leverage my expertise to provide our clients with original and ground-breaking solutions that keep their message out at the front.”

Annie Brafield, director at Cartwright Communications, said: “Ioana and Jonny are both superb additions as we look to add further expertise to our growing agency. Both come with a broad range of experience and skillsets that complement our existing team and offering across our three offices.”