Amongst the new line up is Richard Rogers, who is promoted to operations director; Dave Watchorn also receives recognition for his contribution to the business with promotion to operations manager - assisted by a £150k investment in a new operating system, which will further enhance performance delivery, the company says.
The account handling department, headed by Andy Watterston as senior account director, has been organised into three groups, each supported by a Project Co-ordinator. This will ensure that each client is serviced by a team, rather than just one individual and will lead to enhanced client servicing.
The Management line-up is completed by Graham Pope, sales director; Carol Gibbs, head of graphics; Brian Dempster, head of systems integration; Jeff Bailey, head of TV services; Chris Jordan, head of theatre & specialist sound and Paul Volker, technical director.
The Board has also confirmed that Munir Samji, chairman of Blitz Charter Group since February 2004 has taken on the additional role of chief executive. Munir has worked in advertising and marketing services for nearly 20 years and was formerly MD of Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising (EMEA). He is also a director of Hebridean International Cruises and was chairman of Evenser Group, which earlier this year successfully sold Melville Exhibition & Event Services, and Arena Event Services Group, in two separate deals. Also joining the Group Board this year is Ashok Makanji as group finance director. Ashok brings with him a wealth of experience, having worked in larger organisations and on a recent listing on AIM.
Since 1 March this year, Blitz has won £1,548,000 of new business to complement its existing portfolio of retained contracts. New business wins include projects from HMX, Samsung, Zebra Events, SAP, BT, Jack Morton Worldwide, Mongoose Partnership, Concorde Events and many others, the company reports.
New commissions from end-user clients include Royal Bank of Scotland, Jones Lang Lasalle, Cable & Wireless and SECC. In addition, Blitz has been appointed approved supplier to the Guildhall in the City of London, while the existing approved supplier relationship with Excel is continuing to pay dividends. Blitz's Graphics Division has secured work on Tour de France, Glastonbury, America's Cup and T in the Park.
Blitz's TV Services division has been appointed as preferred supplier to ITV which has resulted in four new shows, and has also delivered to Lion TV on Castaway, BT Studios, Hot Bed Media and many others, while the Theatre Division has also secured major new contracts including Never Forget - the Take That musical, Aspects of Love, South Pacific and Dancing in the Streets, which all begin their UK tours in September.
(Lee Baldock)
