• Recruitment firm Acorn by Synergie has appointed Michaela Posnett as director of sales. Posnett’s responsibilities will include developing sales strategies and driving business growth for the recruiter. She has worked in recruitment sales for the last 13 years.

• Benenden Health has appointed Mike Hay as chief people officer after a six-month interim period in the role. Having held senior HR positions at Saffron Building Society and Nationwide Building Society, Hay will focus on people strategy, workforce development and embedding digital transformation within HR and business operations.

• Glasgow-based recruitment firm Clarkson Owens has promoted Jill Davidson to its board of directors and will launch its senior appointments arm Retainer Recruitment in late spring. Joining the business in 2018, she currently heads up the commercial arm of Clarkson Owens. Her move to board director will also see her become a part-owner of the firm.

• Compass Group UK & Ireland has appointed Hilary Goldby as HR director for its business and industry B&I division. Goldby will report to both CEO Morag Freathy and people director Laraine Kemp, people director at Compass Group UK & Ireland, to ensure alignment with the broader Compass Group UK & Ireland strategy. Goldby brings 19 years’ experience in the HR sector at Tesco, GEOAmey and Dixons Carphone (now Currys).

• Recruitment back-office ecosystem provider Finity has appointed Dale Simkiss as a non-executive director (NED). Bringing experience in the recruitment sector payroll, compliance and back-office transformation, Simkiss will provide strategic support and operational compliance to the recently launched recfintech firm. In his role as NED, Simkiss will provide high-level executive oversight and compliance guidance, helping Finity enhance efficiency, reduce risk, and drive sustainable growth.

• Facilities management (FM) service provider Mitie has appointed Kathryn Dolan as its new chief people officer. Dolan’s career spans global multinational organisations across multiple industry sectors. In her role as CPO, Dolan will lead and evolve the people and culture strategy, drawing on her experience of digital and business transformation, employee engagement, talent acquisition and development, reward and inclusion, equity and diversity.