* The Institute of Customer Service (ICS) has appointed MIKE CROWTHER as membership director for its North region. Mr Crowther was previously service excellence programme manager for Halifax/Bank of Scotland (HBoS).

The ICS has more than 4,000 institutional and 260 organisational members.

ICS chief executive David Parsons welcomed Mr Crowther's appointment and said: "This is a particularly interesting time for the ICS in the North - one of our most important regions. We are seeing rapid membership growth and a growing interest in all aspects of customer service."