PUBLIC relations consultant Jackie Gentle has returned to the North-East to join PR and marketing agency DTW.

Ms Gentle has taken on the role of account director at the Teesside-based firm after selling her own Newcastle-based public relations consultancy, Gentle Persuasion.

She will work at DTW's office in Guisborough.

One of her main roles will be to win new business, particularly in the North, and to establish a new account team.

One of her current assignments is to provide PR and marketing advice to the North-East regional development agency, One NorthEast, and she is working on projects for energy sector clients.

She said: "Following a couple of years working out of London covering international markets, it is good to be based in the North-East again. I have always admired DTW, so I'm pleased to be working with the team here".

DTW managing director Peter Whelan said he was delighted to welcome her to the company.

"The majority of our clients are based in London and the South-East, but we do not want to ignore people in our own backyard," he said.

"It is our intention to substantially grow our client base in the North and Jackie, with all her knowledge and contacts in the region, will help us to do this.

"Her appointment is a tremendous coup for DTW."

DTW, which was founded in 1989, now has a 28-strong workforce in Guisborough and Canterbury.

Its clients include Saville Audio Visual, Darlington College of Technology and Atkins Faithful & Gould.