Patrick Mee's ability to manage change is the reason why he has been appointed as operations director of Massingberd Group Plc, one of Yorkshire's longest-established independent car retail organisations.

Mr Mee, aged 34, who was heavily involved with both Audi and Volkswagen, introducing pioneering changes within the industry, was invited by Mike Massingberd, the group's chairman and chief executive.

His arrival coincides with the company's largest-ever investment programme, totalling around £4 million.

By June 2000 its dealerships in Northallerton, Harrogate and Otley will have been comprehensively refurbished under the Volkswagen retail concept.

The appointment also follows the opening of a brand new Audi Centre in Harrogate last year and the installation of a group-wide IT system.

SHONA Martin (right), 21 has left her home in Sutton-upon-Derwent to join the North-

ampton office of Citigate Technology, as a public relations assistant.

She will work on key accounts in the information technology sector like Symix, a business software vendor and CPS, a provider of mobile location services.

IAN Smith has been appointed regional director for Yorkshire by Miller Homes, part of the Miller Group.

A newly created position, Ian will aim to develop the company's presence in Yorkshire by bringing to bear 30 years of experience..

He has worked for a number of the market leaders in the construction and house building industry and is a former managing director for both Bellway Homes in Yorkshire and Redrow Homes , whose expansion into the county he masterminded.

Geoff Potton, managing director for Miller Homes, said: "Ian is undoubtedly the best person for this position as he can combine his extensive experience in the housebuilding industry with his impressive knowledge of Yorkshire."

GAVIN Hamill, lecturer in actuarial sciences at York University, has been promoted to senior consultant in the retirement practice of Watson Wyatt, the Leeds-based actuarial and employee benefits consultancy.

Gavin, 29, has been with Watson Wyatt since 1995, providing general pensions consultancy advice to a broad range of the firm's clients.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries and holds a first-class degree in mathematics from Southampton University.

JOE Anwyll, of Nether Poppleton, has been appointed deputy managing director of the Swift Group, the touring caravan and motor-home manufacturer, based in Cottingham, East Yorkshire.

Mr Anwyll (pictured below), 43, will be responsible for the company's design and development, production and purchasing operations.

A qualified engineer with a masters degree in programme management, he joins the company from Plaxton coachbuilders in Scarborough, where he was engineering and supply director. Before that, he spent most of his career in the motor industry.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.