Chariot Oil, the AIM-listed oil and gas exploration company, has handed a retained financial brief to Buchanan Communications. The firm previously used Hogarth Partnership. It specialises in offshore exploration off the coast of Namibia. Earlier this month the firm appointed Paul Welch as its new CEO. Welch has worked for Shell International for 12 years, followed by a further nine years with independent companies, most recently Hunt Oil and Pioneer Natural Resources.

Hallin Marine, a firm providing marine and underwater services to the oil and gas industries, has turned to Powerscourt for its retained financial comms. The agency won the account via a six-way pitch thought to include Pelham PR and Buchanan Communications. The firm listed on London's AIM market in 2005 and its operations span South East Asia, India, China, the Middle East, the US, Russia, Australia and the UK.

Michael Faulkner, head of research at the Insurance Times, is joining Cubitt Consulting. He has been with the magazine since 2002 and joins Cubitt as an associate director in its insurance practice, sitting within its corporate communications division.

The European Payments Council has handed a media relations brief to b2b and tech specialist Iseepr. The co-ordination and decision-making body for the European banking industry has brought in the agency as it launches a direct debit scheme across the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) to enable bank customers to make and receive domestic and cross-border euro direct debit payments through all SEPA's 32 countries for the first time.

HB Communications has brought in Antonia Coad from Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial as a senior consultant. She will advise its leading venture capital clients and help to drive new business.

Brady, the commodity software firm, has appointed Buchanan Communications to handle its financial PR. The account will be led by partner Tim Thompson. Brady is listed on London's AIM market following its IPO in 2004 and supplies international commodities firms with trading, risk management and settlement software.