Two join support network
Jul 31 2008 by Iain Laing, The Journal
THE trade association for the region’s digital media and technology sector has strengthened its team with the appointment of two employees.
Sunderland’s Codeworks Connect, which supports the North East’s thriving community of digital businesses, has recruited Satish Shewhorak as business development manager and Maxeen Turton as marketing and events executive.
Satish previously ran moShine, an award-winning Middlesbrough animation studio, and joins Codeworks Connect with the remit of promoting its services and developing new ones to benefit 270-plus member companies.
He has more than four years’ experience in digital media and, having run a digital media company in the region, has a passion for promoting entrepreneurship.
He said: “I’m delighted to be joining Codeworks Connect and look forward to being able to bring the unique perspective that comes from running a digital media studio in the North East to benefit all of our members.”
Ms Turton has moved from London, where she worked with national media publication Press Gazette as event manager for the British and Regional Press Awards.
With experience in producing, marketing and managing a range of activities, she will be responsible for running the company’s popular Think and a Drink networking events, which give members insights and networking opportunities and have featured talks from the likes of AKQA’s Ajaz Ahmed, Wayne Hemingway and the late, great Tony Wilson.
She said: “North East England is home to a thriving, closely-knit digital sector and many globally successful businesses, such as Sage in the software industry and Eutechnyx in videogames, as well as fast-growing firms such as web agency Th_nk.
“Codeworks Connect’s events programme has played an important role in helping companies like these to collaborate and stay up-to-date with the latest developments in digital, and I’ll be ensuring they continue to do so.”
The organisation provides a range of services to members, including subsidised student and graduate placements, PR support and business leads.
Since it began in 2004, it has helped create or safeguard 250 jobs, placed 300 students and graduates in digital firms and generated media coverage worth more than £5m for members.
