Verve Names New Partner and UK MD

In the UK, technology, telecoms and media research provider Verve has hired former FreshMinds COO/MD Jeannie Arthur as Partner and UK MD.

Arthur left FreshMinds in November saying she would pursue her 'passion for photography and travel'. She joined the company in 2004 and was instrumental in taking it from start-up phase to a full service agency which was twice named 'Best Agency' by the Market Research Society. Prior to this, she worked with PA Consulting as a management consultant specialising in People and Organisational Change.

London-based Verve was launched in December by the founders of Research Now, Hall & Partners and the iD Factor - Andrew Cooper, Mike Hall and Jon Gumbrell.

Commenting on the new venture, Arthur stated: 'Verve is about becoming the 'espresso' of the market research industry - we provide the quick, to the point espresso hit of substance and value, rather than asking clients to pay more for the extra unsatisfying 'fluff' of a cappuccino!'

Web site: www.haveverve.com .