Car rental firm Avis Europe is rebuilding its in-house corporate
communications function with the appointment of Royal Bank of Scotland
deputy director of group communications Chris Wermann.
Avis is raising the profile of communications throughout the group after
months with just one person heading corporate communications across EMEA
and Asia.
Wermann joins next January as group director of communications,
reporting to vice-president of human resources and corporate affairs,
Lesley Colyer.
Colyer has been leading the function without a team for some weeks, due
to the separate departure of her two support staff. But she confirmed
that after Wermann takes up the position, further recruitment to rebuild
the corporate PR unit will follow.
Wermann effectively replaces Hilary Green, who left nine months ago on
maternity leave, but has since decided not to return to the company.
The role Wermann takes on has been expanded to include internal
communications and investor relations, which was previously overseen by
group finance director Chris Cowan.
Colyer said: 'On the internal comms side, it's about strengthening the
core values of the "we try harder" company philosophy.'
She added: 'On the corporate side, it's about more sustained news flow
of activities outside of the usual results times.'
Wermann's brief covers EMEA and Asia and includes overseeing four-year
retained PR agency Financial Dynamics.
Wermann's role at the Royal Bank of Scotland is being split between
group director of communications Howard Moody and new recruit Carolyn
McAdam, who joins in November as head of group communications from
Scottish and Southern Energy (PRWeek, 5 October).
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