People: Nine hires for strategic land company; Wesleyan recruits chief distribution officer; and more

A strategic land company has continued to strengthen its expertise by adding nine members of staff to its expanding business.

Warwick-based L&Q Estates has hired John Klimczak who has over 35 years’ experience in civil, structural and infrastructure engineering in the private and public sector.

The associate project director at L&Q Estates also has extensive experience on multi-disciplinary projects including residential, retail and commercial developments.

Associate engineering director Aritz Kaushi, has built up 15 years’ experience by being responsible for the delivery of transport planning consultancy advice and assisting in the management of multi-disciplinary projects.

Simon Taylor is looking forward to assisting his colleagues in developing new design management procedures and contributing to the continued delivery of high-quality serviced land to the market as Associate Technical Director.

The member of the Institution of Civil Engineers has experience in delivering large-scale infrastructure projects for HS2, Network Rail and Highways England and was involved in delivering the M1 Junction 19 Improvement Scheme.

Sean Round has been appointed project manager after working his way up the career ladder from trainee civil engineer to assistant civil engineer at a multi-national engineering firm.

Strategic land manager Natasha Brand moved to L&Q Estates from a land agency in the South West while engineering technician Tony Jay was a trainee AutoCAD Technician before gaining experience at a multi-disciplinary engineering, environmental and mining consultancy as an AutoCAD Technician.

Carmen France joined as a project accountant after previously working as the country accountant for a financial services company and finance manager for an accountants and business advisors while Jackie Gloster has become part of the highly-valued receptionist team.

Russell Crow, who has been appointed as planning director, has experience in the public and private sector as a consultant, working most recently as a regional director at Richborough Estates in Birmingham.

Gregg Wilkinson, group managing director at L&Q Estates, said: “We continue to invest in our people and are strengthening our teams across the business to ensure we remain a pro-active company that provides high-quality developments.

“It is great to welcome everyone to L&Q Estates and I know they will bring their own knowledge and skills to help our expansion.”

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Wesleyan, the specialist financial services provider for doctors, dentists, lawyers and teachers, has appointed Richard Harrison as its new chief distribution officer.

He joined Wesleyan in January from HSBC where he led the UK Branch Network and Premier Non Regulated business, responsible for over 7,000 people and 625 branches.

He will now play an integral role in strengthening Wesleyan’s distribution strategy to deliver greater focus on the specialist needs of each of its professional customer groups. He is responsible for the Society’s team of over 300 face-to-face financial consultants, as well the general insurance business and the group’s sales and marketing activity.

Group chief executive, Mario Mazzocchi, said: “Richard will play a vital role in our strategy to deliver a truly specialist service to our professional customers over their life-time. He has excellent experience in leading distribution teams and an impressive track record of delivering positive outcomes for customers, with a strong focus on commercial results. This is obviously important to us as a mutual because we want to deliver the best returns to our customers and members.”

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Birmingham brewery and taproom Dig Brew Co has appointed a new head brewer.

Andy Whyte, a University of Plymouth Masters graduate, will lead the brewing team at the brewery’s premises on River Street in Digbeth.

The 25-year-old from London previously co-owned ‘cuckoo’ brewery Whyte Bär Brewing, which licensed other breweries to create beers to his own recipes.

His craft beer brewing experience began with home brewing while he was a student in Exeter after being disappointed by a lack of variety in the beers on offer at his local bars and pubs at the time.

Dig Brew was established at its former factory premises in 2017 by Oliver Webb, a Slade Art School graduate, with the support of Peter Towler of Mad O’Rourke’s Pie Factory in Tipton.

Dig Brew also runs a pizza restaurant, Dough, and organises a regular programme of food, drink, music and art-based events. Its plans for 2020 include opening an art gallery, coffee bar and a film club on the premises.

Whytesaid: “I am delighted to have joined such a creative community minded brewery that believes in creating exciting new beers that are aesthetically pleasing as well as complex and varied in their flavours.

“I am particularly excited about using my experience of working with different brewers and my analytical skills acquired at university to capitalise on the current interest in New England styles – and I am already working on my own recipe to create a lower alcohol version of Dig Brew’s best-selling Optimo.”