Appointments: Plus Dane Group appoints new MD; Gonzalez joins Croft Goode; and more…

NEIGHBOURHOOD investor Plus Dane Group has appointed Claire Griffiths as managing director of regeneration and commercial development.

The North West based housing association is one of the largest affordable housing providers in the region and has a development pipeline of 1,500 new homes across seven local authority areas.

Claire’s new role includes responsibility for developing over 300 new homes each year for sale and rent and managing the group’s commercial subsidiary named Three60.

Claire has worked in housing and regeneration for nearly 20 years and has a background in town planning.

She has previously worked as a regeneration consultant and as an overseas programme manager for Homeless International.

She said: “Plus Dane plays a valuable role in supporting local neighbourhoods across the Northwest and creating vibrant and attractive places for people to live and work through our commitment as a Neighbourhood Investor, and I am delighted to be appointed to this new and exciting role.” 

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PERUVIAN architect Isabel Gonzalez has swapped South America’s fourth largest city for the Lancashire town of Kirkham after landing a job with architecture and urban design practice Croft Goode Architects.

Isabel moved to Lancashire last year after marrying her Burnley-born husband Paul Payne in 2008.

In her native country, Isabel worked for renowned architect Oscar Borasino on a number of award winning buildings in Peru and across Latin America.

She worked on the design and development of the International Labour Organisation’s regional office for Latin America and the Caribbean, a building which is now featured in the prestigious Phaidon Atlas of 21st Century World Architecture.

Isabel said: “I am really pleased to be working for a British practice because it allows me to strengthen my knowledge and learn more about the architecture in England and specially in Lancashire.”

Isabel becomes Croft Goode’s twentieth member of staff.

She met her husband Paul in Lima in 2007 while he was travelling in South America. 

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DESIGN agency Corporation Pop has appointed a new head of digital.

Mark Curtis joins Corporation Pop at its new offices on Shudehill in Manchester from The Gate Films.

He brings with him more than 10 years of expertise in software development and engineering.

Dom Raban, managing director at Corporation Pop said: “We are renowned for our expertise in virtual world development and as this sector continues to grow we needed a leading head to help us exploit our market leading position.

“Mark will be driving forward several exciting new product developments as well as growing our overall digital offering.”

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RICHARD Carter has returned to Salford-based telecoms specialist Nimans as business development director.

Mr Carter spent 20 years with the Manchester-based company but moved to Rocom in 2005 as new business development director.

He later became managing director but left his post following last year’s acquisition of Wetherby-based Rocom by Nimans.

He said: “The lure of helping drive forward the two biggest names in telecoms distribution proved too irresistible to ignore.”