Multi-sector recruiter Acorn has appointed Adrian Davies as its new business development director, tasked with expanding its national branchnetwork.

“I will be looking at the current market and the opportunities to grow nationally,” said Davies, adding he contacted at least 40 of Acorn’s clients before he took the role to ensure he was making the right move. The company is also looking at new sectors, including nuclear power, and the possibility of acquisitions.

Davies added: “Clearly the downturn in the economy is providing businesses like Acorn with some interesting and exciting challenges. But I believe that in any situation like this there are always excellent opportunities for quality companies like Acorn to grow.”

Acorn’s group marketing and communications director, Dan Langford, said: “Although last year Acorn achieved its record turnover, 2009 will continue to prove difficult. Adrian’s contribution to the company will be a vital factor in attracting new accounts nationwide.”

Albemarle Interim Management has appointed Chris Bernard as operations director and Gary Belchem as finance director.

Headhunters Odgers, Ray & Berndtson has promoted Richard Love to managing partner of its Midlands practice. Love will lead a team of over 30 professionals based in the Birmingham office.

Bill Haynes, chief executive of international professional services company Verridian, has joined the board of Bristol-based recruitment consultancy financial recruiter Cavendish Maine as nonexecutive chairman.

Online recruitment firm StepStone has appointed Jim Cassidy as chief marketing officer.

Laura Hopkins has been hired as a consultant in office support, finance and marketing recruiter Wells Tobias Recruitment’s Reading-based office. Hopkins will specialise in head-office support vacancies. Wells has also promoted Lior Degani to senior consultant specialising in placing legal support and office support staff.

Human resources and change recruitment consultancy Bullet has hired Lucy Eckersley to head its interim function.

Samantha Shaw has joined Warrington-based DATS as trainee recruitment consultant within DATS’ Engineering division.

AFR Consulting, the Bolton-based financial recruitment consultancy, has promoted Tammy Smith to director. AFR has also hired Emily Fornby as consultant in the junior division.

John Robinson will head up Robert Walters’ sales and marketing recruitment division. Robinson will be tasked with growing the division.

Blue Pelican Marketing, part of the Blue Pelican Group (BPG), has appointed Lauren Purvis as an associate consultant. BPG has also appointed legal recruitment specialist Julie Fernandes to head its new legal division. Gemma Swan has joined Blue Pelican Pharma to focus on regulatory affairs.

Nigel Wright Recruitment has appointed new consultants to its offices in Newcastle upon Tyne and Copenhagen. Ben Debnam has joined the company’s North East Commercial team as trainee consultant. Omer Zabala joins the company’s Iberia division, recruiting within the Spanish market. Emilie Stage joins the Copenhagen-based Nordic team.

Jesper Strandberg joins the Nordic office, working mainly within the Swedish market. Lauren Huntington joins in the newly-created marketing controller post.

Multi-lingual specialists The European Marketing Agency recruitment division has appointed Michelle Littlewood as worldwide operations director.

International executive searchconsultancy GRS has taken on five senior hires for its insurance and pensions team: Nick Purdue, Gerard Bland, Simon Dodds, Simon Clark and Mena Woodcraft.

Andy Lee has been appointed to the board of IT recruiter Hotfoot Recruitment. In his new role as regional director, Lee has full
financial responsibility for Hotfoot’s growing Cheshire office.

Graduate recruiter FreshMinds has appointed a new head of interim — Catriona Drysdale — who replaces James Callander, now that he has moved into the role of managing director.

Alan Demirkaya has joined First People Solutions Group’s IT team in London as consultant covering the City and South-East England.
In Bristol, James Adams has been appointed as senior consultant in the contact centre team.