The Birmingham base of national PR agency Grayling has appointed a new head of office.
Louise Bucknall joins the firm from Meriden-based agency Cogent Elliot where she set up the PR arm of the company.
She will provide senior counsel to Grayling's Midlands clients and seek to expand the consultancy's offer as well as sit on the UK Grayling management board.
Ms Bucknall is an award-winning PR consultant with 20 years of internal and external communications experience, having held several consultancy and client-side roles including stints with housebuilder Taylor Woodrow and ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi.
Sally Rhodes, Grayling's managing director for UK regions, nations and Ireland, said: "We are delighted to welcome Louise on board.
"She brings a depth of experience from her many years in PR. These are exciting times for our business and Louise will be a huge asset in leading the Grayling PR Midland team.
"In particular, her expertise in employee engagement and change communications will add real value to our offer."
Ms Bucknall also sits on the Midlands board of trade body the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. She replaces Heather Kirkman who has joined financial services firm Deloitte as senior marketing manager in Birmingham.
