• Recruitment investment firm Bluestones has appointed Tim Trotter as its new chairman. Trotter joins with over 30 years’ experience in business and support services, financial services and media. He is chairman of management consultancy Glenfern, Instinctif Partners, CC Group and others.

• SaaS HR provider Ciphr has appointed David Burns chief technology officer (CTO). He joins the group’s leadership team and board of directors with immediate effect. Burns takes on responsibility for Ciphr’s product development and management and will lead all technical activities for the Marlow-based, ECI-backed group, including development, internal IT, deployment, technical support and implementation.

• Leeds-based resourcing and managed service consultancy Hortor has announced two new appointments. Ryan Jones is appointed strategic development manager to build contacts in the client side and candidates. He was previously a business account manager for online retail company Buy It Direct. Patrick Barrow joins as recruitment resource associate. In his role he will gather marketing insight, develop e-shots and assist the wider team with client pitches.

• Executive search firm Pedersen & Partners has appointed Sasa Stebe as client partner within the leadership consulting practice in the Adriatics. Stebe will focus on mandates within the leadership consulting practice across all practice groups. She has previously spent more than 12 years in senior corporate HR positions with Novo Nordisk, Goodyear HR and NLB Group.

• IT recruitment agency VIQU has appointed Nelia Naude as consultant in its contract team in Birmingham. Naude brings over 15 years’ experience in IT and technical recruitment.