A WINE distribution company based in County Durham has made two appointments.

Peter Mitchell joins the company as sales and marketing manager for Lanchester Gifts, the gift division of Lanchester Wine Cellars, and will be responsible for developing sales strategy and promotion of the division.

Working alongside him, Ruth Peyton joins as operations manager. She will be responsible for overall management of the division and overseeing the day-to-day operations.

l THE newly-opened branch of Swedish bank Svenska Handelsbanken has appointed a team to help establish the company in the North-East. Led by branch manager Chris Teasdale, a team of senior bankers will work from the base at Winder House, in Kingfisher Way, Stockton.

The appointments include senior corporate managers Tom Ramshaw and Sean Carey, as well as private banking manager John Martinson.

Paul Airey joins as office manager and a further appointment is to be decided next month.

* MIDDLESBROUGH recruitment firm Meridian Industrial has appointed Michael Hart as business development consultant.

He has more than four years' recruitment experience, working with a range of clients in the North-East and throughout the UK.

Brook Watson, Meridian Industrial's operations manager, said: "Not only will he be working with our long-established Middlesbrough team and large client base to further develop our business, he and the team will also be able to benefit from our two new departments launched to further develop our customer service."

l THE board of Community Energy Solutions (CES) North-East has appointed Elaine Snaith as chairman.

Ms Snaith is well known in the region through her position as assistant chief executive of Gateshead Housing Company.

CES works to reduce carbon emmissions and fuel poverty across 20 communities in the North-East.

Ms Snaith has also worked in advisory and regeneration positions at Gateshead Council, North Tyneside Council and Government Office North-East. Having started her career as a teacher, she was also a councillor for ten years, and chaired Newcastle Law Centre.

l GMG Radio has boosted its marketing team with the appointment of Andy Saxton as regional marketing controller.

Based in Gateshead, Mr Saxton will be responsible for regional marketing at Century FM, Real Radio in Yorkshire and Smooth Radio in the East and West Midlands.

l VEHICLE rental company Reflex Vehicle Solutions, based on Teesside, has made two appointments.

Ian Hoskins has been appointed national business development manager and Wendy Stubbs as sales support executive. Mr Hoskins will work at Reflex's base in Grantham and Ms Stubbs will work in sales in the Stockton office.