Appointments: New easyJet commercial role puts Ali among the high-fliers

She will develop routes and scheduling as well as carry out research into local market intelligence.

Ms Gayward joins easyJet following three years at Airport Strategy & Marketing (ASM), a route development company for airports.

At ASM she carried out a number of roles including airline relations director, where she was responsible for developing strategy for airlines and tour operators worldwide.

Leeds-based Hitachi Capital Consumer Finance, the UK's leading provider of in-store and web-based point-of-sale finance services, has appointed Lisa Harrison as head of sales.

Ms Harrison was promoted to the role from her previous position as head of business development.

She has 17 years experience in the industry.

Gerald Grimes, Hitachi Capital Consumer Finance managing director, said: "This is a natural development for Lisa and testament to her success since joining Hitachi Capital."

Yorkshire law firm Dickinson Dees has announced fivepromotions across its pensions, property, corporate recovery and public services departments.

Jackie Gray, who is based at the firm's York office in Bishopthorpe Road, has been promoted to director in the public services department.

The department has more than 45 local authority clients and acts for 20 NHS Trust and PCT clients across the length and breadth of the UK, completing deals worth more than 2.5bn in the last year.

Other promotions are Neil Walker (public services), Tracy Walsh (pensions), David Hambler (property) and Andrew Robertson (corporate recovery).

John Marshall, the firm's newly elected senior partner, said: "This year's promotions reflect the excellent contribution of our staff to the continued development of the firm."

Leeds and Scunthorpe based Clugston Construction, one of the North's leading privately owned building contractors, has extended its senior management team with the appointment of Andrew Allingham as commercial director.

Mr Allingham who lives in Pickering, has been involved in the construction industry for more than 33 years. He has previously worked for Mowlem, Ballast Construction, Crosby Homes part of the Berkley Group and Balfour Beatty Construction.

Leeds-based law firm Walker Morris has announced a string of appointments in its latest round of internal promotions. Four directors and two associates have been appointed. All are solicitors within the firm.

The directors are: Jules Harbage, construction, Richard Outhwaite, property, Lynsey Oakdene, commercial dispute resolution, and Emma Wright, commercial.

The associates are: Louisa Deboer, employment, and Victoria Burgess, finance commercial.

The internal promotions are complemented by a recent strategic hire for the firm – the commercial group further strengthened its team with the hire of associate Robert Goldstone, from SJ Berwin.

The firm's recent appointments will bring the total numbers in the firm to 51 partners and 16 directors.