UITENHAGE, SOUTH AFRICA — Volkswagen South Africa has appointed Andile Dlamini (pictured) as its new head of group communications. He replaces Matt Gennrich, who retired at the start of this month after 38 years and will continue as consultant during the transition. Dlamini has 15 years' experience in automotive industry PR, and joined Volkswagen in 2008 as product PR manager.

GLASGOW — Grayling has opened its ninth UK office in Glasgow to meet growing demand for international, integrated communications services in the city. The agency has hired Candace Watermeyer as an associate director to lead the Glasgow offer.

LONDON — TVC Group has appointed former journalist and sustainability comms specialist Ashleigh Lezard as account director to work on parent company The Economist Group’s World Ocean Initiative. She will help to co-ordinate global communications around World Ocean Summit 2019 in Abu Dhabi, which will bring together 400+ political and business leaders, policymakers, scientists and NGOs.

DUBAI — Hill+Knowlton Strategies has appointed Mike Cook as MENA regional director for its Health+Wellness offering as part of its strategy to support the national health agendas of the UAE and Saudi Arabia. He was previously marketing director of Majid Al Futtaim Healthcare, and will report to Bashar AlKadhi, CEO, MENAT.

EDINBURGH — Quality Meat Scotland has appointed Weber Shandwick Scotland as its lead integrated marcomms agency after a competitive pitch. The team will develop and deliver integrated campaigns to promote the quality of Scottish meat. Its first campaign is for Scotch Lamb campaign and includes out of home, press and digital advertising support by radio, social, PR and, in a first for the brand, a TV commercial.

LONDON — Influencer marketing agency Billion Dollar Boy has developed and launched StoryTracker, an AI-powered Instagram Story tracking tool that enables influencers to demonstrate the value of campaigns to brands. The software allows influencers and influencer marketing professionals to locate, categorise, save, download and analyse Instagram Stories before they disappear 24 hours after posting.

LONDON — Communications consultancy MRM has acquired paid media specialist Capital City Media (CCM). CCM founder Mike Richards and director Becky Ford join the executive committee of the newly-created MRM Group and will work with CEO Andrew Appleyard. CCM will continue to operate under its own brand.

LONDON —  Seven Hills has created a new purpose practice, which will be led by director Krissy Koslicki, and an Innovation & Investment practice, which will be led by director Jack Davies. In addition, Susannah Jackson and Matthew Rowlands have been promoted from associate directors to the Seven Hills board.

LONDON — Entertainment and lifestyle marketing agency Allied Integrated Marketing, which is headquartered in Boston, has opened a London office and is rebranding as Allied Global Marketing. Chief digital officer Adam Cunningham is relocating to London to lead the company's expansion into the UK and European markets, and the company has hired Rachel Mansson, previously VP marketing, international new media at NBCUniversal as general manager, international.

LONDON — Online meeting space, desk and resource booking supplier Cloudbooking has hired Wildfire to raise awareness among businesses. Cloudbooking already works with clients including Microsoft, GE, Lloyds Banking Group, Ogilvy, Shop Direct and Airbus.

LONDON — Health communications agency Health Unlimited has appointed Jon Watson as its new executive creative director. Watson will report to glocal CEO Tim Bird and his previous roles include group creative director at Ogilvy Healthworld and executive creative director at Publicis LifeBrands.

LONDON— Healthcare communications specialist Road has hired Anna Ramsey as content manager. Ramsey has worked as a journalist at Aesthetics Journal, ITV News and Closer magazine.