l HIGH voltage site company Rosh Engineering has appointed Jim Butler as engineering director.

Mr Butler first joined Rosh, based in Birtley, County Durham, as an engineering placement student as part of his mechanical engineering degree at Northumbria University.

His contribution to the business throughout this work experience year encouraged Rosh to sponsor him through his final year at university, and he then took up the post of project engineer on graduation in 1996.

Rising to engineering manager in 2003, Mr Butler helped steer the technical development of the business through the growth that saw the firm move into larger premises three times.

"His appointment to the board is in recognition of Jim's drive and commitment to Rosh Engineering" said managing director Ian Dormer. "He has ensured the business has continued to improve the quality of service we offer to the electricity supply industry, and has also been fundamental to the year on year growth Rosh is experiencing."

l LAW firm Watson Burton has appointed Morven Smith as its new human resources director.

She has joined from British Energy, in Hartlepool, where she was HR manager. Ms Smith will be responsible for personnel management at the firm's Newcastle, Leeds and London offices.

Her role involves recruitment, training, motivational development and strategic overview of human resources.

l ENVIRONMENTAL specialist Jeff Roberts has joined GVA Lamb and Edge property consultants as an associate partner in environmental services.

He is creating a new 'green team' at GVA Lamb and Edge, in Newcastle, which brings together the company's environmental expertise in development, valuation, due diligence, brownfield sites and risk assessment to serve the North of England and Scotland.

Mr Roberts has moved from Waterman Environmental Ltd in Newcastle after three years, and was formerly at WSP Environmental Ltd in London.

Mike Cuthbertson, partner at GVA Lamb and Edge, said he was delighted with the new appointment.

He said: "Jeff's appointment demonstrates how important we feel green issues are in the property sector. He will be working closely with our valuation, development consultancy and agency teams so he will be able to give advice which is commercially aware."

REGENERATION expert Alex Ross has been appointed by North-East housebuilder Yuill Homes to add further strength to its work in this area.

Ms Ross brings more than 20 years of experience to her new role of partnership manager, and a proven track record in delivering regeneration projects, regionally and nationally.

With a background in building surveying, building control, planning and asset management, she has spent the past six years delivering regeneration schemes in Blyth, Northumberland, for the Guinness Trust Housing Association and in Hartlepool, for the New Deal for Communities company Hartlepool Revival Ltd.

Managing director David Mullins said: "We first came into contact with Alex at Hartlepool Revival, as we worked together to deliver two major new regeneration projects in the town. It is testament to our passion and dedication to this work that she has now joined the company.

"This appointment further underlines our investment and commitment to the regeneration of neighbourhoods in the North-East."

l HADRIAN'S Wall Heritage Ltd (HWHL) has appointed Mark Leach as its new marketing manager.

Mr Leach will oversee and implement all UK and international marketing and communications for the organisation, which has responsibility for the marketing, protection and regeneration of the World Heritage Site.

He has returned to the North of England to take up the role, after spending ten years working for the National Tourist Office, VisitBritain, which saw him based in London, Milan and most recently Paris, where he acted as regional marketing manager for Southern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Vineet Lal, communications and branding director at HWHL, said: "Mark has a wealth of experience in marketing Britain as a destination to the world."

l ACCOUNTANT Tait Walker is expanding its forensic services with two appointments.

Former Northumbria police officers Elsa Crankshaw and Steve Mackle have joined the company's specialist forensic services team, which is headed by Frank Nesbitt, a former Northumbria Police fraud investigator.

Newcastle-based Tait Walker is experiencing growing demand from companies across the public and private sectors to investigate cases of suspected fraud. With more than 55 years' experience between them, the two new recruits bring significant expertise to the roles.