People Watch

First president for Renewable Energy Association

Mr Yeo has held government posts in trade and industry, transport, the environment and agriculture and is currently chair of the energy and climate change select committee.
Martin Wright, meanwhile, takes over from Andrew MacLellan as chair of the REAs board of directors Martins career began with the Royal Navy and has subsequently spanned a number of roles in finance before founding marine energy company Marine Current Turbines Ltd.

Gaynor Hartnell, the REAs chief executive, said: Tim will provide the board with invaluable advice on championing renewables in these challenging times, and Martins interests on innovation, cost reduction and making renewables more relevant to the business community will help set our agenda. Martin and I, along with other directors of the board, are very much looking forward to working with Tim and we look forward him presiding over future functions, including our Gala Awards dinner in June.

Chief executive joins WAMITAB

WAMITAB, the waste management industry training and advisory body, has appointed Chris James as its new chief executive.

Mr James succeeds Dr Lawrence Strong, who retired as director general of the Northampton-based organisation on March 31.

Mr James has a masters degree in vocational education and has extensive experience of education and training awards and qualifications. Most recently, he was a member of the senior management team of Asset Skills at the Sector Skills council, with responsibility for cleaning, facilities management, property and housing. He has worked on funding bids for employer investment dund (EIF) projects and on reporting on these to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES). He was also a member of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) advisory group on literacy and numeracy.

WAMITAB chair, M R Hewitt, said: The Board of WAMITAB looks forward to Chris further developing the current activities of WAMITAB and leading the company into new areas of qualifications and awards.

Eriez Magnetics Europe appoints senior manager

Mike Thomas has been appointed procurement and materials manager for Eriez Magnetics Europe Ltd, one of the leading suppliers of magnetic separation, metal detection and sampling equipment in the UK.

Mr Thomas joins Eriez with 26 years experience within procurement, primarily in the areas of engineering, major contracts and services, which has been gained in the steel, chemical, facilities management and construction industries. In past roles he has been responsible for the procurement management of a number of major projects which included working closely with Eriez Europe to successfully purchase and install a Magnetic Separator for use in the production of siloxanes.

In his new role at Eriez, Mr Thomas will manage the purchasing of materials and develop a system for the accurate control of stock. As a part of the senior management team , hw will
also be involved in the expansion and development of Eriez Europes premises in Caerphilly, South Wales.

Mr Thomas said: I am very pleased to be joining Eriez at an exciting time of growth within the organisation and I look forward to working with everyone on the challenges that will present themselves as we [Eriez] adjust to the increasing global demands for our products and expertise. I am also looking forward to increasing my knowledge and understanding of the products and services we [Eriez] sell, and become established within Eriez and the industry sector.

Fresh faces at North East firm

A North East waste and recycling company is continuing to expand following the appointment of new staff members.

Stockton-based Innov8 Disposal, which specialises in the disposal and recycling of IT and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronics Equipment) items, has taken on seven new recruits to keep up with its increasing client base.

The companys newest team members include recycling operatives Anthony Earl and Alan Mortimer, both from Stockton, and driver Angus Robertson, from Middlesbrough. Also from Middlesbrough are new IT technicians Martin Clifford and Ross Chipper, and telesales operatives Victoria Slatcher and Debbie Heeley.

Innov8 Disposal says it owes its growth to its free IT collection service, which provides an incentive for companies nationwide to comply with current regulations concerning the disposal of such items, including computers, old fax machines and mobile phone batteries. The company counts TSG, Cleveland Cable, Teesside University and Stockton Schools ICT Unit among its clients.

Managing director Louise Moore said: Weve gained approximately 380 new clients in one year alone due to the level of service we provide, and were confident that our new recruits will help us to keep up with this demand while maintaining the high standards of service and care that our customers expect and deserve.