Top financial journalist joins Meropa Communications

Max Gebhardt, former Managing Editor of Business Report, is to join Meropa Communications as head of the financial public relations practice.

Gebhardt, who takes up his position at the beginning of May, will take over from David Carte, who is to scale down his involvement in Meropa Communications as a prelude to retirement.

"We are pleased that Max is to continue the tradition of the country's most senior financial journalists by joining Meropa to represent our JSE-listed and financial services clients, says Meropa chief executive Peter Mann. "Max will be joining David Carte, previously editor of the Sunday Times Business Times, and John Spira, the former Finance Editor of The Star. We are the only consultancy in South Africa able to offer clients three ex finance editors on one team, under the strong management of Graeme Coetzee. The appointment signals our intent to grow strongly in this arena."

David Carte, who has been a director of Meropa Communications for the past 15 years, will continue his involvement with selected clients and will be responsible for editorial quality control.