VAN hire giant Northgate has appointed Jill Caseberry as non-executive director.

Ms Caseberry, who joins the Darlington-based company with immediate effect, is a sales and marketing specialist who has worked with blue chip companies such as Mars, Pepsi and Premier Foods, where she was a general manager.

She currently has her own sales and marketing consultancy and is CEO of a food/beverage start-up business.

Northgate chairman Bob Mackenzie said: “I am delighted that Jill has agreed to join the board as a non-executive director.

“She brings a huge amount of sales, marketing and general management experience which will be invaluable as we build on our platform for growth following the successful restructuring programme.”

The business, which hires out vans in the UK and Spain, last week announced plans to expand into the South East early next year, when it aims to open its first new branches since the start of the recession. In the longer term, Northgate also aims to open between 20 and 30 more new outlets to add to the current 60-plus.

Last week, the business revealed that pre-tax profits fell from £32.3m to £28.1m.