New faces

EDINBURGH commercial property specialist Ryden has made two senior appointments at its head office. Stewart Clarke joins the firm from rival CB Hillier Parker as a retail agency partner, and Simon Scott takes up the post of chief operating officer.

Mr Clarke comes from the London West End office of CB Hillier Parker where he was a director in the retail department heading the central London retail agency team. Prior to this he spent four years with Knight Frank in London as an associate partner responsible for retail agency and consultancy work.

He said: "I am really looking forward to working with the partners and their existing clients and strengthening Ryden’s presence in the retail market. Existing clients have been very supportive of my move and I am keen to look at new business opportunities as quickly as possible."

Mr Scott joins Ryden with 15 years’ experience in the service sector at financial director and company secretary level, most recently in the e-commerce sector. He will be assisting Ryden in developing business planning processes and implementing new policies, and will also oversee the development of the finance, human resources, IT and marketing functions.

He replaces current finance partner Alistair Beattie, who is retiring to pursue other interests.

Fiona Morton, Ryden’s Edinburgh regional managing partner, said: "I believe Stewart will contribute significantly to the development of Ryden and his specialist knowledge of the retail sector will be an important additional strength to the service we offer our clients."

Edinburgh and Lerwick-based marketing consultancy Shaw Marketing and Design has promoted Isabel Johnson, who was responsible for setting up its Shetland office in 2000 and has managed it since then, to the post of associate director.

The promotion, according to joint managing director Alastair Bruce, was a "well-deserved recognition of Isabel’s brilliant achievements in creating a thriving new business out of nothing, developing it so that it is now a significant part of the company’s turnover, and creating a strong profile for Shaw in the Highlands and Islands".

He added: "The Shetland office has given us a real insight into the marketing and communication challenges faced by companies and organisations outwith the main population centres, and Isabel’s expertise has been the key to our providing what we believe is a fine service for our growing client list."

Along with account executive Louise Rosie, and with administrative support from Lynn Johnson, Ms Johnson has managed the provision of marketing consultancy, design, press and public relations, website design and development, copywriting, and event management.

"As an associate director, Isabel will play a full role in the management and development of the company, both in Edinburgh and Lerwick," said Mr Bruce. "We know that she will continue to make an outstanding contribution."

Bank of Scotland Corporate Banking in Edinburgh has strengthened its operations with the appointment of James Leslie Melville as head of relationship banking for the south of Scotland.

Mr Melville, previously head of relationship banking for the north, has moved to Edinburgh to take up this new role, where he will lead a 30-strong team who have particular expertise in property development and investment. He is replaced in Aberdeen by Gary Gerrard.

Mr Melville said: "This is an exciting move for me, taking me back to a corporate loan portfolio I used to work with in the mid-1990s, which has grown dramatically in recent years."

Scottish law firm Harper Macleod has appointed a new partner at its Edinburgh office. With effect from this month, associate Hilary Gordon has been made a partner. A member of the firm’s commercial property practice group, Ms Gordon joined Harper Macleod in September 2002 from rival law firm Maclay Murray & Spens.

She deals with a broad range of commercial property matters, in particular commercial leasing and ongoing management and disposal of investment properties.

Professor Lorne Crerar, managing partner, said: "Since joining Harper Macleod, Hilary has proved to be an invaluable member of the team and I’m confident that her presence will bring greater opportunities for our Edinburgh office which has enjoyed tremendous success since opening last year."

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