Companies welcoming new arrivals include Sintons, RG Corporate Finance, Irwin Mitchell, OnPath Energy and GSC Grays
Carl Swansbury (left) and Joe Johnston (right), at RG Corporate Finance(Image: RG Corporate Finance)
RG Corporate Finance (RGCF) has appointed Joe Johnston as a corporate finance executive. Mr Johnston joins the firm from PwC’s Newcastle office, where he most recently held the position of senior associate.
His appointment comes as RGCF continues to expand its operations across the North East, Yorkshire and London, supporting a growing national client base and increased deal activity across a range of sectors.
He said: “RG Corporate Finance has an excellent reputation as a dynamic and agile corporate finance boutique, not only in the North East but across the UK. The opportunity to join a firm with strong regional foundations and a genuinely national outlook was very appealing.”
Wayne Lynn of Irwin Mitchell(Image: Irwin Mitchell)
Law firm Irwin Mitchell has appointed Wayne Lynn as head of its family law team in the North East as two former Silk Family Law founders plan to retire. Silk Family Law was acquired by Irwin Mitchell in 2024 and has since been integrated into the firm’s brand. Partners Ian Kennerley and Kim Fellowes are now planning their retirement from legal practice in April, with fellow partner and Silk alumni Mr Lynn taking over leadership of Irwin Mitchell’s 20-strong family law team in Newcastle and Aske.
Mr Lynn has over 30 years’ experience in advising in all areas of family law, with a particular specialism in representing clients who have complex and high-value financial arrangements.
Clare Wiseman, head of family law at Irwin Mitchell said: “We wish Ian and Kim all the best as they move into retirement. Following the integration of Silk Family Law, they leave our family team in the North East in good hands.”
Jo Dunbar, PR consultant at Sintons(Image: Sintons)
Sintons ‘ marketing team has expanded with the arrival of PR consultant Jo Dunbar. Ms Dunbar has been a journalist for over 20 years and has previous staff roles on The Mail on Sunday, Good Housekeeping, Woman and Bella plus a freelance bylines ranging from The Daily Telegraph to The Sun and Grazia to Mother & Baby. She has also consulted on launches for new titles and written press material for clients such as Comic Relief and ITV.
She said: “I’m looking forward to using my skills to bolster the marketing offering at Sintons. I’m delighted to be joining the team and working with so many talented people.”
Managing partner Christopher Welch added: “Throughout 2025, we’ve made new appointments at all levels across the firm. We are pleased to welcome Jo to our busy marketing team to deliver more great content and celebrate our very successful firm.”
Rod Gardner of OnPath Energy(Image: OnPath Energy)
Rod Gardner has joined renewable energy developer OnPath Energy as its new head of health, safety, security and environment. His role will cover the Sunderland firm’s operational and planned renewable energy generation sites, as well as its head office activities.
Mr Gardner previously spent more than four decades with Northern PowerGrid, having joined what was then the North East Electricity Board as a YTS trainee when he left school at the age of 16 in 1984. After completing an apprenticeship and qualifying as an engineer, he worked his way up through a variety of roles with the company, working on and leading projects across the North East and Yorkshire, both in the field and within the firm’s control centres.
He said: “This new role not only gives me the chance to share some of the experience that I’ve built up through my career, but also to keep learning from an excellent team that’s bringing forward some really exciting green energy projects. I’ve always been motivated by making a difference and being involved with lots of different aspects of OnPath’s future development will enable me to do just that.”
Katherine Wigham of GSC Grays(Image: GSC Grays)
GSC Grays has appointed Katherine Wigham to head up its new rural business and leisure agency. Ms Wigham began her career at GlaxoSmithKline in Barnard Castle before moving to North Wales. She joined a Cheshire based leisure property firm and later Savills, where she specialised in a wide range of leisure and trading properties including holiday parks, campsites, mobile home parks, marinas, golf clubs, wedding venues and other hospitality ventures.
The new service at GSC Grays forms part of its expanding farms and country house agency and has been developed in response to growing demand from rural businesses adapting to shifting markets, changing environmental policies, rising input costs and increasingly unpredictable weather.
She said: “Throughout my career, I’ve worked with a wide range of clients, from private owners and developers to institutional investors. I’m thrilled to be joining GSC Grays and look forward to contributing to the continued success of the business in a region I know and love.”
