Appointments: Co-op Group’s new HR chief & more
THE Co-operative Group, has appointed Rebecca Skitt as its new group HR director.
She has 20 years’ UK and international experience in HR with bluechip organisations Unilever and most recently Barclays.
Ms Skitt studied management sciences at UMIST before spending 16 years with Unilever. She joined Barclays in 2008 as HR director for Barclaycard before leading HR in the global retail and business banking division in 2009. She had HR responsibility for 100,000 employees operating in 25 countries and serving 50 million customers.
Co-op Group cheif executive Peter Marks said: “Rebecca has a great track record in transforming organisational culture, capability and performance and I wish her every success in her new role.”
She will join the business on March 11.
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LYMM-based affordable housing developer Mulbury Homes has appointed Andrew Booth as a land director.
Mr Booth joins from Dickens Property Group where he was a partner and director, and he has also worked as a land and planning director for house building firm, Taylor Wimpey.
Greg Mulligan, a director of Mulbury Homes, said: “Andrew brings with him almost 20 years of experience in the field of land acquisition and with Andrew on board we can further strengthen the work we do in delivering high quality developments for social housing organisations.”
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INTELLECTUAL property law firm Mathys & Squire has appointed Dr Catherine Booth to its Manchester team. Dr Booth is a patent attorney specialising in the fields of telecommunications, engineering and healthcare.
She joins the firm as an associate and previously worked in-house for a major pharmaceutical company.
Partner, Peter Garratt, said: “This is an important appointment for us. Dr Booth has more than a decade of experience in protecting and commercialising intellectual property, and the expertise to handle a wide range of technologies from mechanical and electromechanical devices through semiconductors and optics to telecommunications.
“She will now drive our Manchester patent efforts forward to meet the demand we’re currently experiencing as a result of our growing reputation among the North West’s engineering and manufacturing businesses, and the new Patent Box tax incentive.”
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THE Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs has appointed Alexandra Stewart to be Honorary Consul in Manchester.
Stewart, who is a UKTI International Trade Adviser in the international trade team, has been a vice consul in Manchester since September 2007, having started work as the main contact at the consulate office in April 2005.
She is a member of Manchester Consular Association and performs the role of assistant secretary.
Lynn Shaw, head of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce’s international trade team, said: “We’re delighted that Alex has been appointed Honorary Consul. The fact she is one of the youngest Honorary Consuls is testament to how well she has performed in the role of Vice Consul.”
