People: Hardies constructs new management

Derek Ferrier, pictured, who is presently head of the firm's construction consultancy service, will take over as managing partner on Thursday.

Ferrier, who is also the head of the project management faculty of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in Scotland, succeeds Jim McArthur, who takes on the new post of business development partner.

McArthur says: "We operate in a very competitive, difficult and constantly changing business environment and face many challenges as the general economy very slowly but gradually eases out of recession.

"The partnership spent a considerable time reviewing the way in which we operate and decided that it was an appropriate time to re-organise the management structure of the Firm to provide the most appropriate platform."

Law firm Biggart Baillie has also been busy making a senior appointment. Wayne Lawrence, who has been a partner at the firm for the past 13 years, has been chosen as the new head of corporate.

Managing partner Alasdair Peacock says: "Clients frequently testify to the strategic value and sound judgment Wayne brings to their projects. This, together with his extensive business experience and leadership skills, makes him ideally equipped to take forward the development of our corporate and commercial business."

From commercial to public law, with Planning Aid for Scotland appointing its first marketing and communications officer.

Duncan Thorp is charged with raising the profile of the charity, which helps local communities to "engage" with the planning process.

Meanwhile, Wood Group Engineering (North Sea) has chosen Robin Watson as its managing director of its asset operations arm. Watson takes on a broad portfolio, dealing with clients including Centrica, Ithaca and Premier Oil.

He will also be responsible for the company's significant Hess and TAQA Northern North Sea accounts.

Ex-Dragon all fired up about software company Pearl

FORMER Dragons' Den fire-breather Doug Richard will be turning up the heat at software firm Pearl, after taking a place on its board.

Richard asked to join after being impressed by Pearl's "cloud" business management software when the firm was involved in one of his School for Start-Ups events. Pearl was launched in 2007 by Chris Tanner and Andrew Mulvenna, when they were both 27, following Tanner's frustration at the lack of a "comprehensive accounting, CRM and stock control system" for his skateboard business.

The company has since grown to include six staff.

Richard says: "These young businesspeople have come up with a really forward-looking product, which is appealing to the small business owner, and I'm looking forward to helping them drive it forwards."

Mulvenna says Richard joining is a "watershed moment" for Pearl and that he will help the company to compete with the "big players".

BAD DAY

Sergio Marchionne

FIAT'S chief executive was forced to defend his alliances with foreign firms such as Chrysler after the marque was accused of abandoning its Italian roots. Sergio Marchionne told the car maker's annual general meeting: "Fiat did not go abroad on a whim, and certainly did not go to forget Italy. We are there to make the company stronger."

GOOD DAY

Abdul Qadar

NEWSAGENT Abdul Qadar has been elected Scottish president of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) at the body's annual Scottish conference. Qadar, who runs Ramzan & Sons in Slateford Road, Edinburgh, will represent 1,500 independent newsagents and convenience stores throughout Scotland. He also sits on the NFRN's UK council.