People: Jeremy Houston brews up prime promotion

Published on 10/04/2012 00:00

JEREMY Houston could be forgiven for raising a glass or two after landing the role of national account manager at Innis & Gunn, the Edinburgh-based oak-aged beer maker.

Houston joined the firm a year ago as its business development manager for Scotland, but he obviously caught the eye of founder and managing director Dougal Sharp, who has now given him a promotion.

The new manager is now charged with growing the company’s on-trade sales in pubs and clubs – a tough challenge after that segment of the business grew by 90 per cent last year.

Crawford Sinclair, UK director of sales for Innis & Gunn, said: “Jeremy has made a real impact on our Scottish business – particularly in building draught volume – and has negotiated prominent listings with the likes of the Montpelier Group and Fuller Thomson.

“He has shown a real desire and drive to deliver greater penetration in Scotland and will be central to the continued success of Innis & Gunn in this sector.”

Curling up for the decathlon

Louise Cruickshank hasn’t been at KPMG for long, but she’s already rung in the changes at the “big four” accountancy firm – by signing it up to take part in the Activitymix’s “Corporate Decathlon”.

The competition, which was launched in Aberdeen in 2002 and is now running in Edinburgh and London, aims to improve businesses’ financial performance through staff competing in ten inter-company sports “that offer something for every level of fitness and age”.

The activities which make up this year’s event – badminton, carpet bowls, ceilidh dancing, Highland games, hockey, mountain biking, rock climbing, touch rugby, water polo and a personal health challenge – will take place over a period of ten months.

Cruickshank said: “Our first social event is curling, which we are busy preparing and training for. We have had two training sessions, which have been well attended, not just by the team members but also colleagues wanting to show their support, which is a real morale boost.”

Dickson checks the small print

Dawn Dickson will be checking her new contract very carefully indeed after the employment law expert moved from Lindsays to Davidson Chalmers.

Dickson becomes the tenth partner at Davidson Chalmers, where she will focus on client human resources (HR) training, employment seminars and the “promotion of a fixed fee HR and employment service”.

Managing partner Andrew Chalmers said: “Dawn is one of the most highly-regarded employment lawyers in Scotland and a fantastic addition to our dispute resolution team.”