Maru/Blue Hires Director of Strategy & Development

In Canada, respondent access specialist Maru/Blue has hired Mellissa Hill as Director, Strategy & Development.

Launched two months ago by tech-enabled insights group Maru, and headquartered in Toronto, Maru/Blue focuses on giving clients access to known respondents from market communities across North America. These communities include the firm's Maru Voice Canada (formerly operating as the Angus Reid Forum), Maru Voice Business Canada and Springboard America.

Hill (pictured) joins from sampling and data collection provider Critical Mix, where she served as Director, Customer Development, and before this was Director of Sales at research automation platform Methodify, and Senior Director, Client Development for Toluna in Canada. Earlier she spent eight years at Research Now - latterly as Senior Manager, Client Development - having begun her career at Publicis-owned In-Sync Consumer Insight.

Commenting on the appointment, Maru Group CEO Ged Parton said: 'Mellissa's experience is a perfect fit for our innovative, technology-powered data services offer. I am delighted to welcome her aboard'.

Web sites: www.marugroup.net and www.marublue.net .