Interviews with business people in the North East

Newcastle University
Business School

Hugh Welch, Senior Partner, Muckle LLP Dec 12 2011

While helping to nurture a small law firm into a legal heavyweight over the last 26 years, Hugh Welch has also spent his career as a staunch supporter of the North East's charitable causes. Andrew Mernin meets the senior partner to talk marathons, milestones and Muckle.Read

Peter Slee, Managing Director, Spark Response Dec 05 2011

FROM a 'job for life' in banking to playing a pivotal role in developing contact centres and e-commerce in the North East. Karen Dent meets Sunderland FC ball boy turned Spark Response managing director Peter Slee.Read

Stephen Phipson, chief executive, Stadium Group Nov 28 2011

HARTLEPOOL'S long-established Stadium Group has a new man at the helm after Nigel Rogers stood down after a decade in the job. Stephen Cape went to meet chief executive Stephen Phipson.Read

Julie Drummond, Managing Director, Drummond Central Nov 21 2011

ADVERTISING executive Julie Drummond has just won the top prize at the North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. Stephen Cape finds out why she was always destined to shine.Read

John Marshall, senior partner, Dickinson Dees LLP Nov 14 2011

FROM work experience in the post room to senior partner at the biggest law firm in the North East, John Marshall has spent his career at Dickinson Dees. He talks to James Marley about moving up the ladder and life outside work.Read

Michael Sandford-Couch, chairman and chief executive of Potts Print (UK) Ltd Nov 07 2011

IT took a round-the-globe trip and road to Damascus-style conversion to set Potts Print chairman and chief executive Michael Sandford-Couch on the path to success. James Marley meets the man who has transformed the family firm into a major employer aiming for a £25m turnover.Read

Gaynor Shotton, Tynedale Agricultural Society Secretary Oct 31 2011

SHE says that if she could have created her ideal job, it would be the one she has. Karen Dent meets Northumberland County Show secretary Gaynor Shotton and talks apprenticeships, Canadian religious sects and why the one-day show is 11 months in the planning.Read

Terry Skee, director of Cleaner Air Solutions Ltd Oct 24 2011

Terry Skee followed generations of his family into the Army. But after a long and sometimes harrowing military career, he launched himself into business and is now director of a fast-growing North East solar panel firm.Read

Kevin Brown, director of Pacifica Oct 17 2011

KEVIN Brown wasted no time after he lost his job at Northern Electric eight years ago.Read

Jackie Maxwell of Doddington Dairy Oct 10 2011

FROM lecturing to luxury ice cream: Karen Dent meets Doddington Dairy's Jackie Maxwell and finds out how she made the leap from teaching people about pigs to creating the North East's original farm-made ice cream business.Read

Paul Chandler, CEO, Traidcraft Oct 03 2011

PAUL Chandler started his career at Barclays Bank and for the last decade he's been a leading figure in battling for a fairer approach to world trade. John Hill finds out more about how Traidcraft's CEO hopes to change the world for the better.Read

Charles Coombs, head of flooring, ScS Sep 26 2011

THE man who helped a small North East carpet chain become the UK's largest independent is hoping to work the same magic at one of the biggest sofa retailers, ScS. Peter McCusker talks to Charles Coombs.Read

Rufus Hall, CEO of Orchid Group Sep 19 2011

RUFUS Hall is the Northumberland lad who grew up to run one of the UK's biggest pub operators which, two years, ago bought the remains of famed Newcastle bar firm Ultimate Leisure.Read

Simon Lenney, Corporate Banker, Yorkshire Bank Sep 12 2011

THE experience of the credit crunch and banking crisis sees corporate banker Simon Lenney hanker for the days when his forefathers practised the banking trade.Read

Jackie Fisher, Chief Executive, NCG Sep 05 2011

WITH a head for business and strong sense of determination, it is easy to see how Jackie Fisher has led the growth and development of Newcastle College.Read

Steve Salam, MD of Dene Films Aug 30 2011

Steve Salam left behind hopes of joining the RAF to move into a world which recently saw him making a 3D film about Roman soldiers. CHRISTOPHER KNOX caught up with the MD of Tyneside-based Dene FilmsRead

William McClelland, Managing Director, Euro Hostel Aug 22 2011

HE started his career pulling pints in the Bigg Market and is now home again in Newcastle trying to bring the public perception of hostels into the 21st Century.Read

Stuart Archer, Chairman, Pumphrey's Aug 15 2011

Coffee blenders and roasters Pumphrey's has been producing drinks to stimulate the tastebuds of connoisseurs for 250 years. CHRISTOPHER KNOX met the chairman of the Tyneside family business to discover how he has taken the business into new markets.Read

Paul Varley, Managing Director, Carillion Energy Services Aug 08 2011

JOHN Hill meets Paul Varley, the man who hopes to make Carillion Energy Services into a £1bn turnover company.Read

Keith Sobey, Managing Director, Centaur Holdings Aug 01 2011

HE describes himself as competitive and stubborn and wishes he'd become an entrepreneur years ago. Karen Dent meets Keith Sobey, a former Audit Commission boss, expert gambler and managing director of sports investment and education company Centaur Holdings.Read

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