Verve Advisors to Speed International Growth

New UK technology, telecoms and media research provider Verve has appointed three to its Advisory Board. Professor Patrick (Paddy) Barwise, Gareth Firth and David Packford are all cash investors and shareholders in the company.

The firm says Advisory Board members are appointed to assist the company with building thought and service leadership in preparation for international expansion.

Barwise, who is Emeritus Professor of Management and Marketing at London Business School, has published on a wide range of topics including audience and consumer behaviour, new media, advertising and branding. He was also a founding investor in, and advisor to, the online fieldwork company Research Now which was co-founded by Verve's Partner and CEO Andrew Cooper.

His post on the Advisory Board, will involve contributing to the Verve model, 'How Online Brand Communities Work', which is being developed by Verve Partner and co-founder Mike Hall.

Firth was previously a senior partner at PA Consulting Group, where he led many assignments focusing on helping professional organisations improve their effectiveness. Prior to joining, he spent 12 years as a Civil Engineer. At Verve, he will help the management team build an organisational structure suitable for international growth.

Packford was a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he gained experience in consulting on M&A transactions, finance and structures for international growth. At Verve, he will assist the management team with work on strategic business development and specific growth opportunities.

Cooper comments: 'Paddy, Gareth and David are remarkably well placed and motivated to help Verve take our position as international thought and service leaders in the exciting space of online brand communities for research or marketing.'

Verve was launched in December, offering a combination of generalist market research services and partnerships with US research technology providers to offer their solutions to clients in Europe.

Web site: www.haveverve.com .