Grayling has appointed Rebecca Gudgeon as the managing director of its corporate and financial practice, with Jon Meakin moving into Gudgeon's previous role as business development director.

Gudgeon, who has been with the agency for 11 years, maintains her position on the executive board. Replacing Mary Whenman, she currently directs Grayling’s work for Lloyds Banking Group and provides strategic direction to the economist intelligence unit. In addition, Gudgeon oversees Grayling’s long-standing relationship with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and provides issues and crisis management consultancy to Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd.

Meakin was previously director of international business development. He is responsible for both UK and international business development as well as the management across the EMEA region of one of the agency’s largest clients. Meakin, who will also join the Grayling management board, was previously a director at Edelman, where he was responsible for the global Shell account.