CrowdLab Hires Former FreshMinds RD

UK-based mobile research platform CrowdLab has appointed former FreshMinds exec Niall Smith as Research & Technology Director; and a further five staff to support the ongoing delivery of the firm's services.

CrowdLab was founded last year by three partners: Richard Owen, former Global Head of Innovation at Hall & Partners, and Mat Mabe and Jim Willis, directors of digital agency Bulb Studios. The company has developed apps which can be used for research on shopping experiences, or to track participants' daily activities.

Smith (pictured) joins with more than ten years' qual and quant, statistical and analytics experience. Prior to his stint as a Research Director at FreshMinds, he worked at Nottingham-based JRA Research and at Pickersgill Consultancy and Planning in York.

Owen states: 'Niall has a unique blend of being a frontline research practitioner, a wealth of knowledge on backend research operations, and a passion for technology. He will lead the project and development teams on a day-to-day basis, while I focus on the development of business in the UK and on building on projects recently completed in Europe, China and the US.'

Additionally, CrowdLab has added staff in its web, mobile, database and creative teams. Former Synovate exec Fabrizia Corsi joins as Research Project Manager; Dr Asma Adnane becomes Lead Database Developer through a partnership with the University of Leicester's Knowledge Transfer Program; former Hive Online employee Aaron McAdam becomes Front End Web Engineer; Callum Abele re-joins the firm as Lead App Developer after completing his master's degree at the University of Derby; and Mobile Programmer James Hobson also joins from the University of Derby.

Commenting on the hires, Owen adds: 'It is pleasing to be able to bring in young, vibrant talent to the MR industry from non-traditional backgrounds to play our part in refreshing research.'

Web site: www.crowdlab.com .