Hessle-based logistics company Neill & Brown has appointed three new directors to help oversee its next phase of growth. Long-term employee Stuart Dean has been made portable movements operations director. He joins the board along with newcomers Paul Allon, who has been appointed the company’s finance director and Dominic Yeardley, the new commercial director. All three are highly experienced in their fields. The trio join CEO Peter Brown, MD Colin Moody and logistics director Carl Andrew. Finance director Ian Halder is retiring after 13 years with the company. Peter Brown said he felt confident that they would all make a positive contribution to the next stage of Neill & Brown’s journey. “These senior appointments have been made as the initial stage of a broader succession strategy and we expect them to play a significant role in increasing our stronghold in the UK, European and worldwide logistics industry from our base in the Humber. “We have seen consistent growth over the last 20 years while maintaining our family business philosophy, and we will always strive to hold on to this this for the benefit of customers. “I would like to publicly thank Ian Halder for his hard work, commitment and sound advice, and wish him a very happy retirement.” Stuart Dean has been with the company for 18 years as a manager in the Portable Movements Department and has a wealth of knowledge in European abnormal load distribution, such as the export of mobile buildings. Dominic Yeardley has more than 30 years’ experience in UK & European logistics and has a solid all-round knowledge of the industry. Paul Allon has more than 15 years’ experience across the manufacturing and construction sectors in which he has led mergers and acquisitions and helped transform companies’ IT and HR functions. He said: “I am very excited about working with the senior team at Neill & Brown. I want to build on its history and excellent reputation, which extends from the Humber across the globe, to enable further growth over the coming years.” Neill & Brown started in Hull in 1917 and employs nearly 150 staff over its strategic Hull sites. It exports and imports goods by road, sea and air worldwide and has extensive warehousing capabilities. It has made continuous investments in its facilities, fleet and services.

Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has appointed Rupert Pometsey as chair of the Board. He will replace Barrington Billings who steps down in December after more than six years in the role. Mr Pometsey, a chartered architect, is currently vice-chair and has more than two decades of senior level experience as a housing development and asset management professional.  He has delivered homes at a capital cost of over £1 billion and is a former Board member and chair of the development company at Ongo Homes in North Lincolnshire. Mr Pometsey is currently working for the London Borough of Haringey on the delivery of an ambitious new generation of council homes. He said: “I am thrilled to be appointed as MHA chair. The association continues to go from strength to strength and has developed a really positive reputation locally, regionally and nationally. “It is especially admired for its community investment activities and its work in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. “I feel privileged to receive the baton from Barrington who is a totemic figure in the housing sector and who it has been an honour to serve alongside as vice-chair.” Lee Bloomfield, MHA Chief Executive, said: “Rupert’s deep knowledge of housing, his familiarity with MHA and his range of professional skills made him the outstanding candidate for the position. I know he will do a fantastic job in the years ahead. “On behalf of the senior management team, I wish to pay tribute to Barrington who has led the Board so impressively – particularly during the dark days of the pandemic when morale could have dipped, but never did. “His contribution to MHA’s achievements over the most successful period in our history, including numerous award wins, will never be forgotten.” Barrington Billings, chair of the MHA, said: “I am so pleased to welcome Rupert to the role, which I regard as one of the best in the country. “Manningham Housing Association has become such an integral part of my life over the past number of years. “The dedication and commitment of my Board colleagues and staff is second to none. They do what they do to make lives better and succeed in that task every single day. “I wish them and Rupert the very best of fortunes for the future.”

Hull family business J.R. Rix & Sons has appointed James Doyle as its new Managing Director. Mr Doyle, who joined the company in 2007, takes over the top role from Rix stalwart Rory Clarke, who was been Group Managing Director since 2017. During his tenure, Mr Clarke has presided over the biggest period of expansion and diversification in the company’s 150 year history. He will remain as a non-executive director of the business to continue supporting the Board, and to assist the next generation of the Rix family on their ongoing integration. Tim Rix CBE, Chairman and Chief Executive of J.R. Rix & Sons, paid homage to Mr Clarke, who officially stepped down on October 1. He said: “Rory’s story at Rix is a truly inspirational one. He arrived to establish a proper credit control department in 1991 – a gigantic job which was not for the faint-hearted. “He took on the challenge and thrived which led to his involvement in just about every aspect of the Rix organisation, making sure we got paid.” In 2003, Mr Clarke was appointed as Managing Director of Rix Petroleum which he grew from a local supplier into a national business with depots from Grangemouth to the Thames, and from Norfolk across to Cheshire. As Managing Director of J.R. Rix & Sons, he has been instrumental in transforming the group from a traditional family business into a diverse company involved in fuel deliveries, shipping, renewable energy, manufacturing holiday homes, and with a significant property portfolio. Mr Rix added that the Rix business is all about the people who work in it. “Rory’s story shows how it is possible to rise through the ranks and excel at the highest level,” he said. Mr Doyle initially joined the business as Managing Director of Rix Shipping in 2007. In 2019, he became Chief Executive of Victory Leisure Homes and has worked closely with the Board in managing and developing all aspects of the wider group. He said: “It is a source of huge personal pride to be taking over the role of Managing Director at J.R. Rix & Sons. I have worked alongside Rory for many years and I have to say, his are going to be very big shoes to fill. “I’m taking over the Managing Director’s role at a highly prosperous point in the company’s history, and much of that is due to Rory’s tremendous contribution over the past 32 years.” Mr Clarke said he was sad to be stepping down as Managing Director, but was confident the business remained in very safe hands. He said: “James has been actively involved in the management of the business at group level for a number of years, and is the perfect choice to succeed me. “I’m looking forward to supporting him and the wider Board in my new role of non-executive director.”