Honour for Darren as he’s made a Fellow of the CIPR

Darren Northeast, Founder and Managing Director of Darren Northeast PR in Bournemouth, has been made a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).

He was nominated for a Fellowship and awarded the professional body’s highest membership grade following a review by the CIPR and an independent assessor.

It is in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the profession.

Fellowships are only awarded to PR practitioners who demonstrate strong evidence of professional excellence, leadership, commitment to the industry, and service to the Institute.

Darren said: “I am very proud to work in the public relations industry, and always have been.

“I have built up my agency over the past 16 years around core values – Passion, Expertise, Trust, and Results – and I embed those values in everything I do.

“This is a huge honour and I am delighted to be recognised amongst the leading PR and communications professionals in the UK.”

Darren, pictured left, is one of seven new Fellows announced in January and has been a member of the CIPR for around six years.

He spent three years at the helm of the regional group where he drove forward work to engage with, and support, the CIPR Wessex members and the wider community, including through large-scale events and talks.

He is committed to nurturing those in the earliest stages of their career, promoting talented young employees within his team, taking on university students for work placements, training apprentices, and working closely with Bournemouth and Southampton Universities, including delivering lectures to their PR and Communications students.

Darren added: “Developing the next generation of PR professionals is something I’m incredibly passionate about and I have dedicated a lot of my career to supporting talented young people and helping them fly.

“Having been met with so much support and encouragement from others as I’ve worked to forge a successful business, it is so important to me to give back to the industry that I love.”

Darren is the second person at the company to achieve this fellowship, with DNPR’s Non-Executive Director, Philip Dewhurst, also holding the accolade.

Philip, who is a past CIPR President, said: “Darren’s relentless energy, enthusiasm, and professionalism, coupled with his strong ethical values, have contributed greatly to his success in the region through his business.”

+++

Promotion is a regional first at Azets

Katherine Broadhurst has been promoted to Corporate Finance Partner at Azets.

The regional accountancy and business advice firm opened an office in Bournemouth last year.

The appointment is a first for the business in the South Wales and South West region.

Based in Cardiff but including Dorset in her remit, Katherine, pictured, was formerly Director of Corporate Finance with Broomfield Alexander now renamed Azets.

She will lead the advisory service line for transactions in South Wales and the South West.

David Owens, Regional CEO at Azets, said: “Katherine’s promotion is a testament to her hard work and dedication.

“Working with clients across the region, as well as international companies seeking to acquire, Katherine has been fundamental in growing our corporate finance offering, which is one of our highest performing service lines.”

+++

New trustee appointed at Lewis-Manning Hospice Care

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care has appointed a new Trustee to its Board.

Jeremy Lune has significant experience in retail and online sales.

He is the CEO of Cards For Good Causes which sells Christmas cards on behalf of more than 200 local and national charities.

The business generates over £5m worth of sales annually.

Jeremy, pictured left, has 35 years of commercial and charitable retail experience.

He said: “Following a cancer diagnosis last year, it has made me think a lot more about what is and what isn’t important in life.

“Getting involved in Lewis-Manning Hospice Care is an opportunity to act on that.

“I think that the work the hospice does is fantastic and very unique.

“I’m very determined to use my time, skills, energy and passion to make a real positive difference to people’s lives.

“I know the retail environment really well, the nature of which has changed dramatically over the last ten years.

“People are shopping differently, using different ways to pay and I think these changes have been a challenge for many.

“Lewis-Manning has huge local engagement and I am looking forward to helping the hospice maximise the potential and opportunities open to them, building on the local engagement, advising and helping the hospice to use the shops literally as a shop window to their organisation.”

Clare Gallie, CEO, Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, said, “As a charity we regularly go through the process of evaluating business needs and identifying potential gaps in our Board structure.

“This led to us advertising for a Trustee with online and high street retail expertise.

“As a result, we are delighted to welcome on board Jeremy who brings some brilliant new skills to our organisation.”

+++

Global standards body names Actisense chief engineer

Andy Campbell has been named by the NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) as its next NMEA 2000 committee chair.

He is Chief Engineer at Actisense, the Poole-based specialist marine electronics brand.

Actisense has been a member of the internationally respected standards organisation since the brand was launched by Active Research Ltd in 2001.

Andy, pictured left, said: “I’ve been an active member of various NMEA 2000 Working Groups over the past 12 years, absorbing the inner workings of NMEA Standards and I now feel honoured and ready to accept the invitation to be the NMEA 2000 chair.

“I’m excited to continue working with manufacturers, technical installers, commercial dealers and boating enthusiasts as we continue to drive these standards forward and cultivate further innovation.”

Actisense has an extensive range of NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183 products.

Its most popular products include NMEA Buffers, NMEA Conversion Gateways, and NMEA 2000 Wi-Fi Gateway.