Appointments: Audit expert takes on new challenge as director of finance at Yorkshire Water

Her appointment follows a 23-year career at Ernst and Young during which time she has led audit work for some of the UK's biggest companies.

YPO, the UK's largest public-sector buying organisation has appointed its first managing director, having created the role as part of the organisation's restructure.

The Wakefield-based company, which provides procurement services to local government, education and other public sector services across more that 100 local authority areas, has appointed Barry Crowther to the board.

He has worked at YPO since 1970.

Fripp Design and Research has appointed Charles Turner as non-executive chairman.

Mr Turner is managing director of Sheffield-based knife manufacturer Durham Duplex and his appointment comes as Fripp, also based in Sheffield, plans to launch a manufacturing facility.

Mr Turner is also chairman of Made in Sheffield

Facilities management company Romec, which has its innovation centre in Leeds, has appointed Dr Stewart Davies from Serco Integrated Services (SIS) as its new managing director.

He takes over from previous managing director Mike Sparrow who has been promoted to a new position within the Balfour Beatty group, which owns 49 per cent of Romec.

Huddersfield law firm Eaton Smith has strengthened its employment law team with the appointment of Kate Booth.

She previously worked at DWF in Leeds where she was a member of the employment team.

The Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) – which operates across 15 UK regions and has its headquarters in Harrogate – has appointed healthcare specialist Dawn Stott as its new managing director.

Originally founded in 1964, the organisation is regularly called on by the government to advise on surgical healthcare and to help improve patient safety.

Alpha media solutions, the print and print finishing specialist, has appointed Kimberley Devine as business development manager.

Property agents Sanderson Weatherall has announced that Jonathon White has been promoted to lead industrial agency within its Leeds office. Mr White, who joined the firm in 2006, has been promoted

to specialise in the industrial sector following a raft of new contracts.

Bergen Energi UK's expansion plans have been further bolstered by the appointment of a new sales manager.

The Leeds-based independent energy expert has added Craig Mackellar to its business development team.