Appointments: RICS reshapes regional board, Aerelink brings in new CFO; and more

THE Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has appointed a new North West board as part of a restructuring.

Dominic Thompson, sole principal at Hockenhulls in Chester, has been named as the North West board’s new chairman/ Hockenhull has been a board member for more than a decade and has a background in rural surveying.  He is also a member of RICS’ governing council.

Thompson will be supported by nine other board members from the residential, construction and commercial szsectors. Helf of the ten-strong board are women.

Jennifer Welch, operations director for RICS North, said: “Research carried out by RICS 10 years ago showed that only 10% of people employed in the profession were women. A great deal has changed since then.

“The fact that half the new regional board is women is a very positive message for any young women looking to join the profession.”

RICS has 11,000 members in the North West and more than 100,000 worldwide.

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Data network provider Aerelink has appointed Steve Leicester as its new chief finance officer.

Leicester has more than 15 years’ experience as a finance director, including experience of integration acquistions. Widnes-based Aerelink said that this would prove to be important following its acquisition of Rapier Systems earllier this year.

“Steve strengthens our already adept and accomplished leadership team and will bring a different dynamic to the boardroom table,” said Steve Swift, managing director of Aerelink.

“His expertise in commercial finance and his hands-on management approach make him the perfect fit for Aerelink.”

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Hill Dickinson has strengthened its fraud unit with the appointment of Deirdre McGeown as associate.

The unit now employs 65 people and Hill Dickinson said that it plans to add a further ten fee earners “in the coming weeks”. Hill Dickinson said that the fraud unit’s turnover has increased fr5om £7m to £10m within the most recent financial year.

McGeown joins from Barlow Lyde & Gilbert. She will assist the firm’s Manchester-based head of fraud, Peter Oakes.

“Deirdre is a well respected individual within the fraud industry and we are delighted to have her on board,” said Oakes.