MULTI award-winning Gloucestershire hair and beauty group Cream has appointed a new company artistic director.

Dean Brindley, 34, has been promoted to the top job after 12 years as Salon Director at the company’s Cheltenham HQ.

Dean, who lives in Gloucester, has worked on company projects across the world from New York to India and has also appeared at London Fashion Week, styling models’ hair for high-profile runway shows.

He has worked on numerous national magazine shoots and he was instrumental in creating Cream’s entries for the British Hairdressing Awards, at which the group was twice named Wales & South West Hairdresser of the Year.

It’s the only salon in the region to have won the coveted award twice.

Scott Smurthaite, Cream’s founder and Managing Director, said Dean’s appointment was well-deserved.

“Dean has always flown the flag artistically for the company,” he said.

“His focus is always on clients, continually researching the fashion industry press so he’s at the forefront of current trends.

“He’s inspirational; he’s creative; he’s a real ideas person with a huge personality; he’s a great manager and a mega-talented hairdresser.”

The new role means Dean will create and and direct new hair trends across the group, as well as promoting the salons’ cutting-edge work.

He will continue to head up the Cheltenham operation, but will also take control of the Gloucester side, developing staff and championing new techniques.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to the challenge. It’ll be great to be able to put my twist on the role. It’s such an honour to be working with so many talented people here at Cream.”

Dean plans to bring even more creativity to the multi award-winning business.

“I’ll be doing a lot of the training, organising courses that trainees, stylists and colourists need to go on and setting up photoshoots,” he added.

“Hopefully I’ll be inspiring and enthusing them to ensure Cream continues to stay ahead of the game.”

Dean will work side-by-side with Scott, 47, who launched Cream’s first salon in Gloucester 16 years ago.

Four years later, he opened the company’s flagship salon in Cheltenham’s Bath Road before moving the Gloucester business to a larger premises in St Aldate Street, where it remains.

The group also runs its own in-house academy, training stylists and colourists in the latest cutting and colouring techniques and industry trends, which Dean will head up.

Cream has this year also opened its first Derma Clinic in Gloucester, which offers expert skin treatments including botox.