People: Sumo Group; Chameleon Business Interiors; DPP Planning; and more

Sheffield-headquartered Sumo Group says Phil White is its new marketing director, as the company looks to expand and diversify its marketing strategy and content.

Reporting to group director of communications and marketing, Christina Haralambous, he will spearhead major brand and marketing campaigns for studios across the Group.

Having previously worked as a consultant and held senior roles at several marketing and advertising agencies including Ogilvy, White helped develop campaigns, including the ‘IBM Seer’ Wimbledon campaign, which featured an augmented reality app with live data feeds to help people “see through walls”.

The campaign has since gone on to win many awards, including a Cannes Lion.

White said: “I’m incredibly honoured to be joining Sumo Group and am looking forward to building on the reputation of our studio brands.

“Not only will I be working on some of the most prestigious video games brands in the industry but importantly with some of the most creative and innovative individuals too.

“At a time when the video game industry is exponentially growing, and Sumo Group is accelerating its IP and presence across the world, it’s extremely exciting to join the team.”

Haralambous added: “As we continue to expand and build upon our industry leading group of games development and digital art studios, outstanding marketing support for them is of paramount importance.

“Phil will play a critical role in how we create and deliver stand-out marketing programmes for our studios. His proven leadership abilities and impressive experience make him the ideal person to lead and expand our marketing efforts.”

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A Hull workspace interiors, fit-out and furnishing company is welcoming new starters to deliver on its projects planned across the UK this year.

Chameleon Business Interiors – which was established in 1998 and is based at Humber Quays – is expanding and has recruited 11 new members of staff to its team of interior designers and fit-out and construction specialists.

Shaun Watts, chairman, said the business has taken on quantity surveyors, site and project managers, sales and project administrators, buyers and estimators.

He added: “We’ve brought on experts in a variety of areas – from health and safety to design, and site management to operations. This will really benefit our customers and ultimately, the people who will use the spaces we create.

“Our industry is forward-thinking and creative, with the opportunity to develop fulfilling, lifelong careers – not just ‘jobs’”.

Earlier this year, Chameleon said it had significantly increased its turnover in 2021 and now has its sights set on further expansion.

New starters at the business are: Andrew Littler – site manager; John Atkin – construction manager; Deborah Bell – sales administrator; Joshua Riggall – quantity surveyor; Kelly Bugg – project administrator; Mike Brown – project manager;  Steven Brayshaw – SHEQ manager; Iain Boscombe – procurement lead; Stephen Duree – project manager; Monika Anuciauskaite – estimating assistant; and Steve Scarr – sales admin manager.

Watts added: “The last two years have certainly presented us with a few challenges. It’s been a difficult period to navigate and sadly, we’ve seen some businesses close their doors.

“But as the industry bounces back we’ve been busier than ever and I’m optimistic about our region’s future. 2022 looks to be more successful than ever.”

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DPP Planning has made its latest set of promotions as part of its strategy to develop the skills and career prospects of its team.

Across three of its five offices, the urban planning consultancy has promoted a trio of employees in recognition of their professional development and contribution to the company’s growth.

Becoming principal planner is Oliver Corbett who is based out of DPP’s Leeds office. Having joined the business in 2018 as a planner, he was promoted a year later to senior planner before achieving his new position.

Supporting projects in sectors such as student residential and education, he has been involved in a series of stand-out property developments including Laurence Calvert secondary school in Leeds, a new Lidl store in Horsforth Leeds, the new urban extension at Howden North as well as well as the major residential led mixed-use development of the former Corah Factory Site in Leicester.

The other promotions are: Nicola Crowley, who has been promoted from senior planner to principal planner at the company’s Newcastle office and Freya Rideout, who has been promoted to planner at DPP’s Cardiff base.

Gareth Hooper, CEO, said: “We have an extremely talented team that we are keen to support through their professional development.

“Nicola, Oliver and Freya are indicative of the quality of planning professionals we are able to attract and retain at DPP and are rightly rewarded with these promotions.

“In line with our continued growth we have instilled an approach to workforce development that unlocks people’s potential and creates a sustainable business, which delivers long-term benefits to the company and our clients.”

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Electric vehicle (EV) and sustainable infrastructure company, EV3POWER, has named sustainability expert Gareth Dauley as major projects director. 

He is a former director at Limejump and executive vice president at Pacific Green Technologies.

Dauley has 20 years’ experience in the sustainability space and will be responsible for EV3POWER’s major construction and sustainable technology projects.

He will have a particular focus on battery farms, including the raising of funds to launch battery farms across the UK. 

Company CEO and founder, Pete Bevils, said: “I am excited to welcome Gareth to the team. He has the ideal experience to manage and grow our Major Projects division.

“In particular, his expertise in the development of large scale battery farms was of real interest to us.

“We’ve already started our ambitious plans to build over 250mW of large scale battery farms across the UK as part of our ‘Power In – Power Out’ sustainability programme designed to take commercial corporations off-grid and reduce the strain on the network.” 

Dauley said: “To be able to establish the Major Projects team at the forefront of major battery developments across the UK made joining the company an easy decision. 

“Their ambition, outlook and determination to do good in the sustainability space is what excites me and I’m looking forward to bringing some of their innovations to the market.”

This latest hire at Wakefield and London-based EV3POWER comes just weeks after it confirmed former Google executive Rich Pleeth as chief of staff and board member, and experienced EV executive James Hutchinson as chief operating officer.