Yorkshire chartered surveyors Eddisons has appointed Gerald Cole to manage a new southern division of its machinery and business assets operation.

He will operate from the company’s London office and work closely with the major clearing banks and insolvency practitioners on valuation and disposal strategies. Mr Cole, 49, previously worked for Eddisons in 2000-2001 and has also worked for Henry Butcher, Deloitte & Touche Central Europe and King Sturge.

The creation of a new London arm of its machinery and business assets division builds on the continuing growth of Eddison’s northern plant team, based in Leeds and Manchester.

Eddisons employs more than 200 staff in eight offices.