DUBAI—Edelman has named Simon Buerk, currently head of communications at global commodities giant Glencore and formerly head of communications at Shell in Qatar, to lead the firm’s expansion in the Middle East, deepening its energy and natural resources, financial and corporate offerings. Omar Qirem, former chief press officer for UK Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, will focus on expanding Edelman’s Middle East public sector and crisis communications offering. They both report to Iain Twine, general manager, Edelman Middle East and Africa.

LONDON—SABMiller, one of the world's leading brewers, has appointed Bell Pottinger Public Affairs to provide public affairs support on a retained basis after a competitive pitch process. BPPA’s remit includes providing strategic counsel, support for stakeholder engagement, and helping to develop SABMiller’s reputation as a global leader in the beer industry. The account will be headed by BPPA managing director Stephen Lotinga.

LONDON—Hill+Knowlton Strategies has been appointed by Hermes Fund Managers, a leading asset manager with £29.3 million assets under management. The firm’s financial and professional services team has been selected to handle Hermes corporate communications brief. H+K will partner with Hermes to raise further awareness of the business as well as developing a greater understanding of the specialist boutique investment offering amongst institutional investors and key opinion formers.

AMSTERDAM—Elephant Talk Communications, an international provider of business software to the telecommunications and financial industries, has appointed Jan Goeijenbier as director of corporate communications. Goeijenbier will also manage the group's newly appointed public relations agencies—Fishburn Hedges in Europe and Intermarket Communications in the United States—and will be responsible for branding and external relations, reporting to Steven van der Velden, CEO.

LONDON—Fishburn Hedges is launching FHi, a new unit that will draw on thinking from across the agency's specialist communication disciplines and industry sectors to provide the most innovative solutions for clients. The launch of FHi follows the appointment of Eva Keogan as head of innovation earlier this year and is in part a response to increased demand for digital marketing strategies to meet marketing or reputational challenges. The FHi team has created a suite of proprietary tools which it will utilise for clients.

LONDON—McArthurGlen Group, owner, developer and manager of designer outlet centres in Europe, has appointed We Are Social to manage its pan-European social media strategy and execution. The agency will be responsible for McArthurGlen’s social media activity in the UK, Germany, France, Greece, Belgium, Austria and the Netherlands. We Are Social will also oversee all McArthurGlen’s 21 existing Facebook pages for its 21 McArthurGlen Designer Outlets across Europe.

LONDON—A new online service, Usurv, has launched using the power of the web to let PR people run their own quick, accurate, low cost market research, delivering the results of nationwide polls in minutes, rather than days, to provide same-day data for PR campaigns. The new online survey platform was founded by internet entrepreneur Martin Bysh and market research industry executive Guy Potter. Initially available in the UK, Usurv has created a partner network of online publishers and web sites to host short online polls for its customers, while protecting user privacy.

LONDON—Sinead Noble joins Hudson Sandler as an associate director, bringing more than 16 years' experience in the consumer, corporate and financial sector with GCI Jane Howard, Edelman and Daily Crest. Sophie Lister has joined as account manager from Thomson Reuters, and earlier worked at Grayling and then McGraw-Hill.