Appleyard was previously group communications director for Alpha Group, responsible for internal and external communications.
While there she implemented and managed the corporate identity and brand strategy for Alpha Group worldwide, as well as developing the company's reward and recognition programme called Alpha Heroes.
Appleyard spent 17 years at Alpha working in promotions, marketing and communications roles.
Aricot Vert has also appointed Adam Stuart, previously head of client services at Octagon Sport Advertising, as project manager.
Stuart joined Octagon Worldwide in 2000 as brand guardian. He launched a golf training aid, the Magic Move, which is displayed at the Terence Conran Foundation Exhibition at London's Design Museum.
Lin Dickens, managing director of Aricot Vert, said: "It is terrific to be attracting such fine talent to complement our fantastic team. I have made no secret of the fact that attracting and retaining the best talent is one of the prime reasons we moved from Fleet to London.
"Both Avril and Adam will be a huge asset to Aricot Vert."