International welfare-to-work provider FourstaR Employment and Skills has appointed Robert Melia as chairman.

Currently a senior executive at The Mentor Network, a US company providing community services for people with learning and developmental disabilities, Melia has held senior management positions in a number of companies that provide welfare-to-work services to governments worldwide.

Melia has played a key role in FourstaR Employment and Skills’ operations since its initial tender response to the UK government’s department for work and pensions, which resulted in the company’s appointment as flexible new dealer (FND) provider in Birmingham and Solihull.

We are pleased to appoint someone with Bob’s knowledge and experience in the international welfare-to-work markets. He brings a truly unique skillset and will provide us with valuable insight and advice as we seek to further expand our presence in the UK market [Aaron Henricksen, managing director at FourstaR Employment and Skills]

Mark Brown has joined the executive board of Stevenage Circuits as human resources director. Brown brings with him advanced skills, knowledge and experience from within a number of blue chip organisations.

Legal, accountancy and financial services recruiter Rise Professions has appointed Bill Guthrie as its new managing director. Guthrie joins Rise Professions from HR Consultancy, where he was commercial director, and is charged with building a finance team within the business.

US executive search firm Slayton Search Partners has appointed Jay D’Aprile as senior vice-president in its Chicago office. Before joining Slayton, D’Aprile was at retained search firm Jacobson Executive Search, where he placed a variety of executive-level hires in the areas of underwriting, claims, accounting, business development, legal, network operations and senior administration.

Witan Jardine, UK subsidiary of Australian recruiter Ambition, has appointed Paddy Burtt as associate director of its financial services temporary and contract business. Burtt will develop the firm’s UK financial services temporary and contract business, as well as expanding its change management and interim level offering.

Multi-sector recruiter NRL has appointed Mike Connolly as business development consultant for its Wigan office. Connolly, who has worked for a number of blue-chip engineering companies including Amec, Crown House and Haden Young (now part of Balfour Beatty Engineering Services), has recruited for projects including Liverpool One Shopping Centre, Liverpool Arena and London Underground.

Social care recruiter Amicus Recruit has appointed Paul Argile as managing director. Argile also acquires a controlling interest in the company with immediate effect. Director Ben Arnold will lead the permanent recruitment division and its expansion across the EU.

Frank Carr, founder of Stamford, Connecticut-based Centennial Advisory Group in the US, has joined US executive search firm Battalia Winston International as a partner in the firm’s financial services practice, following the acquisition of Centennial by Battalia Winston. With more than 12 years of executive search experience, Carr has conducted senior level searches for chief investment officers, portfolio managers, institutional investment sales executives and ‘C’ level administrative executives for hedge funds, banks, institutional money managers, mutual funds and insurance companies.

Financial markets executive search firm Kinsey Allen International has appointed John O’Dwyer as head of European energy where he will work alongside Mark Tomlinson, global head of energy & commodities. O’Dwyer joins Kinsey Allen International from DNA Search where he previously worked with Tomlinson. O’Dwyer’s experience lies primarily in trading crude oil and gas oil options, UK and EU power, UK gas and foreign exchange with SocGen, Cinergy and most recently Cargill.