*Elizabeth Eastburn has joined the Cumberland after more than two decades in financial services, and will be responsible for the branch network, mortgage hubs, customer experience and complaints.

Having spent 13 years at Virgin Money holding a variety of roles within the retail network and operations teams, she has been appointed Head of Direct Distribution.

“I’m passionate about our purpose. It creates and shapes the decisions we make, gives us the why and drives us to consider how what we do adds meaning and value not just to our colleagues and customers, but also to our communities,” she said.

Elizabeth’s appointment follows Claire Deekes’ promotion to Chief Customer Officer.

 

*Arran Pamphilon has joined Stan Sherlock Associates in Carlisle.

Arran has spent years working with companies including Lidl, Dyson and Rolls Royce. He joins the family firm as an holistic financial adviser.

 

*Penrith businesswoman Asha Marie Richardson, owner of children’s theatre school, Razzamataz South Lakes, has won the Lifestyle Franchisee award at the recent bfa HSBC British Franchise Awards.

Asha Marie joined the Razzamataz Theatre Schools as a teacher in 2018 after having her first little boy Lennox, she since gone on to have her second baby, Marley. In September 2020, she became the new principal of Razzamataz Penrith, and has since developed the school to Razzamataz South Lakes to include classes in both Appleby and Kendal too.

 

*Law firm Muckle LLP has appointed three private client experts to its new Penrith hub. Rachael Stephenson and Tim Boardman join the team as Partners and will be joined this month by Associate Solicitor, Winter Addis. All three have previous experience working together on behalf of farmers, landed estates, trusts, charities and private clients in Cumbria, and their knowledge of the county is second to none.

The company opened its Penrith hub at Edenhall in November.

 

*Lynn Huddart, from Cleator Moor, has been appointed as iSH’s (the Industrial Solutions Hub), office manager. She is iSH’s first appointment and joins the organisation having been finance administrator at Montreal Primary School in Cleator Moor.

Mum of two Lynn, born and brought up in Moor Row, attended Moor Row Primary School, Wyndham School, Egremont, and West Cumbria College, Workington where she studied hospitality and catering and gained an HND in business.

She is based in iSH’s new town centre premises in Cleator Moor in the Phoenix Centre Phase 3, Earl Street.

John Maddison, iSH managing director said: “We are delighted that Lynn has chosen to join iSH and her skills, experience and enthusiasm has already started to make a positive difference to the organisation. With iSH having its heart in the West Cumbria community we are pleased that someone born and brought up in the area and educated here is our first member of the team. “

 

*Alex Bibby has been appointed as a property valuer at H&H Land & Estates in the South Lakes. Based in the Kendal office, Alex has spent nearly 20 years working within the property industry, Alex brings with him a wealth of experience. He joins H&H Land and Estates from Michael Moon Estate Agents.

Alex, who lives with his wife in Kendal, likes to spend his spare time in the great outdoors, a keen mountain biker he has participated in competitions throughout the UK, and when not on a bike Alex will instead be found running or walking, in the fells, to explore new areas.

*The firm has also appointed Alice Fawcett, 20 as an Apprentice Rural Surveyor and Fields Person. She will be based in the Carlisle office of H&H Land & Estates. Her five-year training programme includes a part-time undergraduate degree at Harper Adams University and a two-year APC training programme.

 

*A University of Cumbria academic has won a global teaching excellence award for his fresh approach to teaching finance and accounting which is inspiring his students.

Firoz Jethwa, lecturer in accounting and finance from the university’s Institute of Business, Industry and Leadership, was selected as the UK’s Teaching Excellence Country Champion 2022. He received his award last month from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Academic Partner Excellence Awards. Firoz said: “There are a lot of preconceptions about a subject like accounting. Many people assume that accountants spend all day at their desk crunching numbers. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Accountants help businesses evolve so that they can move on to the next level. They are at the forefront of business strategy.”