People: Mobile payment provider appoints CTO; Brewery boosts sales team; and more

Mobile payment solutions provider PM Connect has appointed a chief technology officer, the latest in a series of hires that has seen headcount increase by 48% over the past year.

Andrew Robins joins the firm in September from sports gaming business Inspired Entertainment.

He will lead the specialist development team in designing, creating and maintaining mobile subscription services for global brands – opening up new revenue streams by making lifestyle and sport content, tickets, videos and news articles available to purchase through customers’ phone bills.

James Macfarlane, group CEO at PM Connect, which won the International Trade category at TheBusinessDesk.com’s Business Masters last year, said: “Andrew is the perfect fit for the CTO role at PM Connect, combining years of impressive industry experience with a rigorous, passionate approach. He excels across the development, production and commercial aspects of creating mobile products and services – as well as working within strictly regulated markets.

“Andrew joins us at an exciting time, as we set our sights on further expansion into global territories. Following recent launches across Africa and the Middle East, we are set to continue to expand in line with our ambitious global strategy – with plans to double the number of territories we operate in by 2020.

The tech firm, which counts global sports brands WWE and NBA among its clients, has more than doubled its office space from 2700 sq ft to 6,700 sq ft and recruited 25 people in last 12 months.

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Wye Valley Brewery has appointed Abbie Gadd as head of sales and marketing.

The new role follows Abbie’s impressive track record overseeing the brewery’s new product development and marketing, during which time Wye Valley Brewery has seen a 30% increase in sales.

Gadd has been the driving force behind the brewery’s rebranding and development of new products, while establishing fresh target markets.

During her tenure, Wye Valley Brewery has also evolved into an eco-friendly brewery, with up to 55% of its energy now coming from renewable sources.

Gadd said: “I am extremely excited by this opportunity, which will see the sales and marketing teams working much more closely together to deliver the ongoing demands of our customers and adapt to an ever-changing marketplace. I am eager to build on what has been a successful period for Wye Valley Brewery, as we continue to brew some of the country’s best beers with our commitment to green, sustainable production. Our methods and products have received deserved national and international recognition, and it’s my job to ensure we build on this success.”

Vernon Amor, managing director of Wye Valley Brewery, added: “Abbie has been a fantastic addition to the management team and has brought a new dimension and processes to the marketing department since joining in 2015. Now we’re looking forward to her fresh and innovative approach being applied to the sales function of the business.”

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A grant-giving charity which supports projects in Birmingham and the Midlands is hoping to enhance its national reputation after hiring a branding expert.

Naeem Alvi has been appointed to the Heart of England Community Foundation’s board of trustees after being headhunted by current Trustee Liz McKenzie.

The Foundation is a specialist grant-making charity which awards money to local voluntary and community groups on behalf of a range of donors.

Alvi will look to enhance the Foundation’s branding on a regional and a national scale.

He said: “I’m very excited to join the Heart of England Community Foundation – I have worked in advertising and branding for a decade and felt it was time to support an organisation which really benefits our local area.

“When Liz told me about what the Foundation does, I thought it was a fantastic organisation. It awards grants to worthy groups all over Birmingham and the Midlands that its donors might never have heard of before.

“My goal with the Foundation is to help it build its brand so more people and businesses know about them. I’m going to help the Board plan a bit more strategically when it comes to marketing.

“The Foundation is doing so much amazing work, and I really want people to hear about it.”