IMPACT Consultants has appointed a joint managing director. MARK ADAMS has joined the North Shields business solutions company from QSP, where he was professional services manager for four years. Mark, 39, who will work alongside Stephen Briggs, is responsible for strategic direction and managing collaborator relationships.

JAMIE MILLAR has been appointed as cheesemaker at Shepherd's Purse in Thirsk. He will assist in producing the speciality cheeses that are made in the farmhouse dairy of the Bell family. Jamie, 27, started at the firm as a general assistant in May.

TTE Management and Technical Training has appointed SHARON PEMBERTON as customer relationship coordinator. Sharon has spent the past 20 years in the chemicals industry, working for ICI and latterly Dupont, where she was training and development advisor.

Project cost consultants Faithful & Gould has appointed DAVID DENT as regional director. David, 34, has spent the last 18-months in the Newcastle office, focusing on the regional construction market. And IAN MACKENZIE, 55, has been appointed as regional planning manager for Faithful & Gould's headquarters in Stockton.

Screen and digital printers Simpsongroup has a new company director. GRAEME WILKIE has been appointed as information and communication director, responsible for the strategic development of the company's IT and communications infrastructure.

Consett locks and hinges firm Grorud Industries has appointed 36-year-old DOUGLAS CRAWFORD as area sales manager for Scotland. He will be responsible for developing existing and new customer business among the window and door manufacturers.

STEPHEN DEAKIN is the new general manager of the Copthorne Hotel, in Newcastle. The former general manager of the Hilton Hotel in Nottingham has held numerous posts in the hotel industry, including the Capital Moat House in Edinburgh and the Grand Hotel in Leicester.

Newcastle advertising agency Forsyth Communications has strengthened its account handling team with the appointment of MICHAEL WATSON. The 24-year-old, from Durham, joins the agency as account executive. He joins from Reg Vardy's in-house marketing agency, Vardy Marketing