Appointments

Mr Byrne joins from the Leeds office of accountants and business advisers BDO Stoy Hayward, where he was senior tax manager for six years. He is a member of The Institute of Tax and lives near Easingwold.

JWP Creers, which has offices in York and Selby, is among the region's largest independent firms of accountants and business advisers with 12 partners and 65 staff and operates nationwide.

Berwins, the Harrogate-based law firm, is expanding its private client unit with the appointment of solicitor Gillian Minford, who joins from Leeds firm Walker Morris. Managing partner Paul Berwin, said: "It is a significant development in the expansion of the unit and the firm in general."

Gillian, 32, was originally a legal secretary who began studying law when she was 25, qualifying as a solicitor three years ago.

She said: "Working with private clients is something I particularly enjoy, along with the importance of being aware of their sensitivities when dealing with wills and probate."

It is a case of "welcome back" to Bruce McDowell, who is the new head chef at the prestigious four star Aldwark Manor hotel, at Alne, near York, part of the Q Hotels Group.

Bruce, York born and raised, spent three successful years at Aldwark Manor as senior sous chef and has now returned to manage all aspects of the hotel's catering operations, including its award-winning two AA rosette restaurant.

A highly experienced and imaginative chef, he has more than 18 years' experience in the hotel and restaurant business.

Having trained at York College, he began his career at Claridges in London. Since returning to Yorkshire in 1991 he has held senior roles at places such as Linton Springs, Balmoral Hotel, Dean Court Hotel and The Living Room.

Most recently he was head chef at Loch Fyne restaurant in York, which he was responsible for opening, as well as acting as northern region trainer for Loch Fyne restaurants.

Arriving back at Aldwark Manor Bruce said: "This is a fantastic hotel that not enough people know about. I want to help put it on the map in Yorkshire. We will be offering modern English and traditional Yorkshire fayre, using top quality ingredients from local suppliers."

Deborah Heather, general manager of the 55 bedroom and six conference room hotel, said: "Head chef is a key role in the hotel. We are delighted to have recruited someone of Bruce's calibre and experience who can not only maintain but enhance the hotel's reputation for fine, well-prepared, good value food."

Aldwark Manor has a two rosette restaurant, an 18-hole golf course, plus fully equipped leisure club and state-of-the-art spa.

Farmway, the north's leading farmer co-operative, has appointed Richard Martin as its fertiliser technical manager.

The feedstuff supplier for North Yorkshire and the North East has a trading area which stretches from Thirsk and Ripley in North Yorkshire to Wooler, Morpeth and Hexham in Northumberland; Piercebridge in County Durham; Stokesley in Cleveland; Leyburn; and Driffield in East Yorkshire.

Richard will be well known to many North East farmers, having worked for ICI and then Terra Nitrogen for 33 years.

A farmer's son from Devon, Richard graduated in agriculture from Nottingham University before joining ICI as a farm adviser in Yorkshire.

He has held many positions within the company finishing as its business development manager responsible for the company's technical offering and sales to larger farmer clients.

Dave Stephenson, Farmway's head of agriculture, said: "Farmway is committed to offering its customers a full service, along with the products it supplies, and Richard's appointment adds strength to the team we have in place, working closely with Tony Simpson, our fertiliser commercial manager. .

"Fertiliser is a very important and cost effective input to most farm businesses, but the recent increase in price and future environmental restrictions mean that farmers will need the best advice in order to optimise output and stay within the regulations."

Richard is married with four grown up children. He is very involved with local life around his home in East Harlsey, Northallerton and enjoys walking and local dramatics.

Rolawn, the Elvington-based turf grower and leading topsoil supplier has announced a restructure of its depot network management team.

John Carter, Jason Kewen and Alistair Matheson, previously senior depot managers have all been appointed to the new position of regional operations manager.

Mr Carter is responsible for the depot network in South-East England, Nr Kewen, the Midlands and Northern England and Mr Matheson, for Scotland and the Borders.

Philip Cuthbert, Rolawn's commercial director, said: "All three have extensive experience at Rolawn in achieving the very highest standards of customer service.

"They are now in a position to use this experience in managing Rolawn's depot network.

"Our customers have increasingly high expectations, and improving the customer experience is a key objective in our drive to build on our market leading position."