New appointments at Meropa Communications

Wendy Tlou

"Wendy is exactly the right person to spearhead our growth into the future. She is a proven communications professional with a strong consulting history which suits our clients," says Mann.

"Her career at South African Tourism included developing and implementing the global communications strategy, the internal communications strategy, as well as its issues and management plans. She has experience in corporate and brand communications, local and global media relations and issues management and is a well-qualified stakeholder manager with a strong network of contacts, including extensive contacts in government. She is a hardworking, determined individual who has an enormous contribution to make."

He added, "The company is sad to see Kau leave and would like to thank him for the enormous contribution he has made over the past five years. We wish him well."

Other key appointments

Patrick Gearing has been promoted to operations director, part of the company's succession planning. "He has proved himself, as the head of our motoring and mobility clients over almost four years. He is an able administrator and will work with Wendy Tlou and our Johannesburg-based divisional heads to run and develop the business. He and his colleagues in Cape Town and Durban will report to me and to the board," adds Mann.

"We are also pleased that Joanne Smith, who has been with the agency for four years, has been promoted to head our private-sector practice. She is a dynamic individual who has proved herself through sheer hard work.

"Yogin Devan, who is promoted as a director of the company, is a former journalism colleague and a 13-year PR veteran. He joined in 2009, as the head of the Durban office. We are delighted to appoint him to our board," he concludes.