Changes at Nissan, Bernicia, Visit County Durham, DAMHA

Nissan

Nissan Sunderland is renowned for building great cars, but the new Production Director at the plant is proof that Wearside builds great people too.

Lee Watson was born just a few miles from the plant and has lived his whole life in the region.

He said: “Like many people, I can remember when Nissan first came to Sunderland.

“One of my earliest memories is of my dad taking my uncle for an interview before the plant was even built. He got the job and only retired a few years ago after 30 years of service.”

Lee attended Farringdon Comprehensive and then Sunderland College. He started his Nissan career in 1999, taking up a position in the manufacturing team in Unit shop, building engines, before moving onto Trim and Chassis two years later building Primera on the plant’s Line One.

Since then, Lee, has risen through the ranks, working on cars such as the 100% electric Nissan LEAF and record-breaking Nissan Qashqai. In his new role he will lead the plant’s full production team of more than 3,000.

Lee said: “I’m incredibly proud to be taking over as Production Director.

“Both my grandads were shipbuilders, so it’s great to be carrying on the manufacturing tradition.

“Things are a little different today with the cutting-edge tech that goes into our brilliant cars, but the team spirit, skill and workmanship are as strong as ever.”

And he’s in good company at the plant, with 13 of the plant’s senior leadership team having started their careers at Nissan and worked up.

DAMHA

ANDREW Thompson has been appointed as the new Finance Director for Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association.

The 43-year-old joined the Association in September from Karbon Homes where he was Assistant Director – Treasury.

Andrew is no stranger to DAMHA, having served on its Board of Trustees since 2022. However, he had to resign from this position to apply for the post of Finance Director.

In his new role as part of the Senior Management Team, Andrew will be responsible for determining DAMHA’s financial strategy, as well as preparing monthly management and statutory accounts.

Andrew says: “Trying to combine the importance of family, community and helping people enjoy life with access to good quality homes are such important factors and so I am excited about taking up a role at an organisation whose ethos aligns with my own.

Bernicia

North East housing association Bernicia has further strengthened its group board with four new appointments.

Gill Smith, Tom Weightman, Lesley Moody OBE and Steve Crosland bring a wealth of business acumen leading private sector and not-for-profit companies across a broad range of sectors.

Gill is currently CEO of charity the Northern Learning Trust which helps improve the lives of very disadvantaged people and communities with complex needs.

Tim has worked in the construction industry for more than 37 years, specialising in delivery programmes for new, refurbishment and retrofit residential projects, some valued at over £25m.

Lesley has been managing director of her own company AES Digital Solutions Ltd, and Steve has operated a successful consultancy for the past ten years providing human resources and organisation development, restructuring and governance expertise to companies and public bodies.

Visit County Durham

Visit County Durham Ltd has announced the formal appointment of its new Chair.
Duncan Peake from Raby Estates will take on the role having held the post of Interim Chair since last June. Duncan has been on the board of directors at Visit County Durham for six years.

As an experienced chartered surveyor, land manager and rural business leader Duncan has played a key role in the leadership team since taking over from former Chair Ivor Stolliday.
Duncan joined Raby Estates as Chief Executive in 2017 after a successful track record developing some of the UK’s foremost landed estate businesses. He is responsible for business operations across Raby landholdings in County Durham and the Midlands.

Duncan Peake (Image: Submitted)

Duncan will be supporting Visit County Durham to achieve its ambitious plans to promote positive economic and social development in County Durham through the successful delivery of Destination Management Plan priorities, that support the growth and impact of the visitor economy following its recent results which show the value of tourism hit £1.23bn.

Michelle Gorman, managing director of Visit County Durham said: ‘We are delighted to welcome Duncan as Chair. He has been a great support to the Visit County Durham board, team and tourism sector and we look forward to continuing to work with him. As chief executive of Raby Estates, overseeing major developments at one of Durham’s biggest visitor attractions, Duncan is perfectly placed to take on the role.”

Duncan said: “I am delighted to be appointed at such an exciting time for the county’s visitor economy which has grown significantly in recent years. That growth has given businesses in our sector the confidence to invest which means County Durham now has an amazing tourism product.
“The newly established North East Combined Authority also sees culture, tourism and sport as a key part of its economic development plans which will help us to attract even more investment into County Durham and the wider region. 

"I look forward to working with the VCD executive team, board colleagues and partners to ensure our sector continues to deliver more jobs, prosperity, and enjoyment for those living, working and visiting this wonderful county.”

TaperedPlus

TaperedPlus, a specialist in flat roof design and insulation, has appointed Charmaine Day to the newly created role of Chief Financial Officer.

The announcement follows a significant £5.5m investment in the Stockton company by BGF to support its ambitious expansion plans.
With more than 20 years financial experience, Charmaine specialises in highly regulated sectors including construction, medical device manufacturing, and food supply chain.

Charmaine Day (Image: Submitted)

She holds both ACCA and AAT qualifications, underscoring her deep expertise in finance, and previously served as CFO at Leeds-based Surgical Innovations Group.
Founded in 2014 by Aman Chahal and Robert Vass, TaperedPlus, which also has a technical design studio in Wolverhampton, operates across multiple sectors, and provides additional services such as BIM, acoustic, thermal measuring, and surveying.

Since 2020, it has increased its workforce by 70%, tripling revenues, and securing B-Corp accreditation in 2023.
Aman Chahal, CEO of TaperedPlus, said: “The creation of this role marks a critical step in our commitment to investing in people and building a strong leadership team.
“Charmaine’s extensive experience and strategic insight will be instrumental as we continue to scale our business and expand our service offerings. The BGF investment enables us to attract top-tier talent, and this appointment aligns with our vision to elevate TaperedPlus to new heights, both operationally and financially.”

Charmaine added: “I’m thrilled to join TaperedPlus at such an important time. The investment from BGF underscores the strength and confidence in our business model and the significant growth opportunities that lie ahead.
“I’m eager to leverage my experience to enhance its financial strategies, governance, and operational excellence. I look forward to working with the team to drive sustainable growth.”